Battle Cry of Freedom: Songs of America's Struggles
America has never been as divided as it has been since the 2016 Presidential election. Or has it? This program, taking its title from the most popular Union song of the Civil War, presents songs that played significant roles throughout two centuries of America's national, political, and racial struggles, from the Revolutionary War through the Civil Rights movement. 
(Note: Due to the current political climate, we will not be presenting on nor encouraging discussion of current events). 

Chicago History in Song
This program covers the city's history from its Potawatomi origins through its growth as one of the nation's jazz centers. The following events are included in song: the great Chicago fire, the Columbian Exposition, First Ward alderman Bathhouse John Coughlin. Also included are original our compositions regarding the Potawatomi Native Americans and the 1915 Eastland Disaster. 

Christmas Carols of Old England
Have you ever wondered why most of our Christmas songs have a decidedly English Victorian feel to them? No one reviewing the enormous body of American Christmas songs would ever think that there was a time when a large section of this country and England did not celebrate Christmas. The English concluded this phase after only a few years, but the New Englanders maintained their neglect until the 19th Century. (This is why Washington's crossing of the Delaware and attacking Trenton, NJ on Christmas Eve was such a surprise to the English and their Hessian auxiliaries, but not such a big deal to the Continental Army.) The English had a great revival of Christmas songwriting during the later 1700's and early 1800's. This spurt reached its completion during the mid 19th Century. Since so much of America had "taken the century off", so to speak, we had to borrow heavily from this English tradition. This is why so many of our Christmas images are Victorian: Dickens Christmas Carol, people in top hats and top coats performing carols, gaslights, etc.

The English songs range from anonymous folk tunes through 4-part hymns all the way to classical compositions. It is perhaps the most varied and prolific musical output created to commemorate one single event. Our program reflects this variety, covering both well-known and obscure compositions, with brief introductions to each song. 

The Generation Gap
Who had better music, the World War II Generation or the Baby Boomers?  This seems like a fairly mellow consideration today, but once it wasn't. Back in the day, people who favored one style or another were very outspoken, not only in defense of their own generation's music, but also in running down that of the other. It was a time when the generations were at odds on many topics, so the contest between the music became a symbol for what was going on in general. It was indeed an era of the Generation Gap. 

But at the same time, we could almost call this program, "Bridging the Generations." We have found in working with this material that, if you get beyond the competition, the two sets of music, ironically, go very well together. The different styles and rhythms offset each other, resulting in a diverse and interesting hour of music. So music that once served as a symbol of division can now serve as a symbol of reconciliation and harmony.

Our program consists of well known songs from each generation, presented in pairs for balance. 

Love Songs of Four Generations
While researching our programs on American song, we have discovered that Americans have sung about the things that meant the most to them at the time: westward pioneers sang about new land, slaves sang about freedom and soldiers sang about war. Especially as America became settled, composers composed more songs about love. Love--especially from about the mid 19th century--was a very popular subject, the subject of some of America's most beloved songs.

"Love Songs of Four Generations" takes songs from our different programs, and, starting from 1855 ("Listen to the Mockingbird"), goes through the 1980s ("Time After Time") with beloved American love songs. Such a collection not only gives one a sense of the variety of the genre, but also gives a glimpse of how our views of love have changed. A perfect program for Valentine's Day.


Mark Twain's Music Box  
In 1878, when Samuel Clemens was traveling through Europe and was given a music box which had the capacity to play 10 different tunes, he had a very difficult time choosing the playlist. This is because, while he was in Europe to obtain an education in high-brow culture, his upbringing (and his real musical tastes) had been distinctly backwoods. Through narration, readings, and music, "Mark Twain's Music Box" explores Twain's musical tasts and opinions, running the gamut from poignant to hilarious, as found in his writings and biographical information.

Joining John and Kathryn in this program is banjo player Daniel Hoenisch, fiddler Deborah Hostetler, and bass player Marcus Hostetler. Cost: $350.00.

Mr. Tambourine Man: 1960s Coffeehouse program
While the phrase, "the Sixties" usually conjures up a single image in our minds, it was actually a time of rapid changes and coexisting contradictions. A large gap separates the world of 1962 from that of 1969. Young people experienced awakenings of social awareness and political involvement at the same time that the virtues of "turning on and dropping out" were extolled. Furthermore, America in 1960 was far from a homogenous social order. The country had very well defined regional--even neighborhood--boundaries.

There was one unifying factor, however: the music. The decade began with the portable transistor radio and ended with 'underground' (and later mainstream) FM radio. One very special expression of the Music was the existence of an army of troubadours that perfected and performed it in many kinds of settings. Large numbers of individuals took up the guitar and would play selections from "the Music" in dorm rooms and fraternity houses, at parties and campfires. There were even wandering minstrels who would drop in on various coffeehouses to perform their sets. And in the words of Joni Mitchell, they would often be found "playing real good...for free."

"Mr. Tambourine Man" attempts to capture and reproduce this special musical experience. We have put together a collection of songs a person might have heard in a coffee house setting in 1969 or 1970. The program is divided into three sections, arranged topically. "It's Only Love" covers the theme of love, its joys and sorrows, ups and downs. "Dear Prudence" has songs addressing the problems of life, self and experience. "The Times They are a Changin'" includes songs that chronicle an awakening political conscience, with its frustrations as well as inspirations. 

Notable women in American Song: Composers, Performers, and Inspirations
This program is a presentation of women who have made significant contributions to either the performance, composition, or inspiration of American song. While many women have served as inspiration for great American songs (and this program includes some of the more significant of these), "Notable Women" also showcases significant composers and performers.

Covering everyone from Judy Garland and "Rosie the Riveter" to the prolific blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby, this program is an entertaining bled of fascinating information on both well-known and obscure women, along with a presentation of the beautiful songs they made famous. Included are: Jessie Bartlett Davis, Billie Holiday, Maybelle Carter, Dorothy Fields, Julie Andrews, and Carole King. 

The Settings of American Song
"The Settings of American Song" begins with a question: 'How did we experience music in the days before electricity?' The program blends an acceissible discussion of trends in American history with a wonderful selection of American music. It leaves listeners with a clear impression of how our ancestors used song to express their emotions in their own particular settings, and gives a personal glimpse into the broader historical and musical trends that helped shape our nation. Included are Pilgrim psalms. Native American flute music, Revolutionary War fife music, pioneer songs, Civil War, 19th century parlor songs, and cowboy songs. 

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: The Concept Album That Never Was. Or Was It? 
When it first appeared 50 years ago, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was believed to be a concept album, a record that developed a single, unified thought. However, all of the Beatles at one time or another have denied that this was the case, that it was just an album like any other, made up of unrelated songs. The only difference was that it had a title song reprised at the end and a lot of nice artwork on the cover to promote that title track.
John thinks there might actually have been a theme, and this program/lecture conducts listeners through the album to make the case for it. Time:Two hours (incl. a 10 minute break). Cost: $150.00

Songs of the Civil War 
(This can also be a Revolutionary & Civil War Songs program)
The Civil War took place in the days before electronic forms of communication (except the telegraph). As a result, music -- either performed or printed -- played an important role. It was used to stir patriotic fervor (in the camps and on the home front), to sustain morale, to regulate camp life, to reflect on life and loves back home, and even to report news of the battles. 

Published music, whether in the form of pocket songbooks, broadsides, or printed sheet music, proliferated during these wars. The output was staggering: in the Civil War alone over 10,000 war-related songs were published. Much of this enormous body of music has gone into obscurity with the passage of time and generations. some also were laid aside because their only function was to provide camp or battle orders. A few songs remain in the public consciousness because they had galvanized a national identity of some sort, or because they served to affirm that the war effort had been worth the sacrifice the nation had paid.

Our program reveiws all aspects of the music of the war -- the forgotten and utilitarian compositions as well as those that are still famous. We also discuss the settings of the songs and the various kinds of performers who would have presented them. 

Songs of World War I
The years 2017-2018 will mark the centennial of America's relatively brief but highly influential involvement in the cataclysmic First World War. Woodrow Wilson's 1916 presidential campaign slogan had been "He kept us out of the war" but when German actions became too much to ignore, the United States joined the Allies on April 6, 1917. Music then became a major impetus in whipping up patriotic support to send young men and women "over there."  Our program includes the most influential of these American songs, plus borrowed British songs from earlier in the war, sung both by the troops and on the home front. Also included are songs created by a young Irving Berlin for his popular military-themed 1918 musical, Yip Yip Yaphank.  

Songs of World War II 
During World War II, American soldiers marched off to battle, rallied their courage and reflected on life back home through songs. Americans on the home front kept their perspective and solidarity with the troops through music. Radio, records, and even movies were used to stir up and maintain patriotic fervor. Part of this program was repeatedly performed for World War II veterans (via Pillars of Honor) who gave our song selection an enthusiastic thumbs up!
Note: For 2017-2018 we will be adding the song White Christmas as December, 2017, will be the 75th anniversary of the song's immense popularity among WWII military personnel.