Jay says “Happy Independence Day” with a buffet of American music, starting with “The Banjo” and ending with “America the Beautiful.” In between, you will have many melodies, many voices, all adding up to America. Have a great one.

Gottschalk, “The Banjo,” Ivan Davis

“Camptown Races,” Marilyn Horne et al.

Ives, Symphony No. 2, New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein

MacDowell, “To a Wild Rose,” J. J. Sheridan

Hoiby, “Lady of the Harbor,” Ursula Kleinecke-Boyer, María Pérez-Goodman

Lowry/Copland, “At the River,” Marilyn Horne et al.

“American Salute” (an arrangement by Morton Gould), Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy

“Ride On, Jesus” (arr. R. Nathaniel Dett), Florence Quivar, Armen Guzelimian

“The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” Leontyne Price et al.

Ward, “America the Beautiful,” Ray Charles

Introducing this episode, Jay says, “Gonna throw a little ballet at you”—and he does. Some music from ballets. He also throws in some arias, some jazz, and more. An interesting, diverse, soul-pleasing episode.

Tracks played:

Massenet, “Elegy,” the Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan

Massenet, “Elegy,” José van Dam et al.

Massenet, “Elegy,” Art Tatum

Massenet, “The Dream,” Tito Schipa

Massenet, “Gavotte,” Victoria de los Angeles

Desyatnikov, piano prelude, Lukas Geniusas

Prokofiev, excerpt from “On the Dnieper,” Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar

Glazunov, “Hail” and “Grande bacchanale” from “The Seasons,” Minnesota Orchestra, Edo de Waart

Glazunov, Symphony No. 5, “Heroic,” last movement, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, José Serebrier

Jay discusses, and plays, an old song: “A Soft Day.” You also have a little music from Brazil. And a composer who escaped the Nazis. And some Cole Porter. Also, what about the question of Wagner? Can you listen to him, SOB that he was? Finally, Franco Zeffirelli died—which leads to a reflection on him, and to an aria. In short, there’s plenty to think about in this episode, and plenty to hear.

From Norway, a story about Mrs. Grieg—and some music by Mr. From Israel, some thoughts about Bruch, Bloch, and others. This episode also includes a dollop of Rameau, a spiritual, a heavenly piece by Chopin, and more. Food for thought and soul.