Music of The Kennedy White House

Various Artists (Artist), Pablo Casals (Artist), Paul Winter Sextet (Artist), Count Basie (Artist), Leonard Bernstein (Artist), London Philharmonic (Artist), Orchestra of the Americas (Artist), Ella Fitzgerald (Artist), Chubby Checker (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 1, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Museum Music, Inc.
• ASIN: B00005JJR4
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,278 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Fanfare For The Inauguration Of John F. Kennedy - London Philharmonic

2. Camelot: Medley - Orchestra Of The Americas

3. Corner Pocket - Count Basie

4. Run All The Way - Mahalia Jackson

5. I Won't Dance - Lester Lanin

6. Mack The Knife - Ella Fitzgerald

7. Bells And Horns - Paul Winter Sextet

8. Wolverine Blues - Al Hirt

9. The Twist - Chubby Checker

10. Fanfare For The Common Man - Dallas Symphony Orchestra

11. Cant Dels Ocells (Song Of The Birds) - Pablo Casals

12. The Banjo - Eugene List

13. Billy The Kid: Celebration Dance - Aaron Copland

14. Io Son L'umile Ancella - Grace Bumbry

15. Brigadoon: There For You, Go I - Alan Jay Lerner

16. West Side Story: Somewhere - Leonard Bernstein

17. Knickerbocker Holiday: September Song - Walter Huston

Editorial Reviews

Music flourished in the Kennedy White House. Unlike any President that came before him, John F. Kennedy, influenced by his wife Jacqueline’s deep love of culture, brought an appreciation for music and the arts literally to a national stage. Classical music, opera, gospel, jazz, and even rock ‘n’ roll were embraced by the Kennedys, and concerts were de rigueur events for entertaining dignitaries and heads of state. Many of the most acclaimed composers of the twentieth century were Kennedy White House visitors, including Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland. The Kennedy White House supported a wide range of musical artists and encouraged Americans to seek out a greater involvement with the arts. Music of the Kennedy White House is a celebration of the music that the president and the first lady loved. It spotlights their personal favorites, including Mack the Knife from The Threepenny Opera, Chubby Checker’s The Twist, and September Song from Knickerbocker Holiday, along with classic selections from Kennedy White House performers. Included are songs by gospel legend Mahalia Jackson, iconic vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, Dixieland trumpeter Al Hirt, and jazz great Count Basie, who were among the many leading musicians of the day chosen to participate at the Kennedy inaugural festivities. Also featured is Leonard Bernstein's Fanfare For JFK, which was written for the new president and premiered at the inaugural gala, with the composer conducting, on January 19, 1961. The performance by virtuoso cellist Pablo Casals on November 13, 1961 (which included Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor) was perhaps the most celebrated concert given at the White House during the Kennedy years. Among its two hundred invited guests were many of the nation’s most prominent composers and conductors. In 1962, after completing a tour of Latin America under President Kennedy’s Cultural Exchange Program, the Paul Winter Jazz Sextet became the first jazz group ever to perform at the White House. An original recording from that performance, never before released, is included on this CD. Earlier that year soprano Grace Bumbry made her American debut at the White House following a state dinner for Vice President Lyndon Johnson. Other memorable Kennedy White House music events included a piano concert by Eugene List (which included the piece The Banjo) given during a visit by former President Truman and his wife, and a spirited dance party led by society big band leader Lester Lanin in the White House’s historic East Wing. Broadway musicals and ballet productions also found a home at the Kennedy White House. Performances included the American Ballet Theatre’s production of Billy the Kid, with composer Aaron Copland in attendance and Brigadoon, with lyrics by President Kennedy’s Harvard classmate Alan Jay Lerner. Another popular Lerner & Loewe musical, Camelot, provided what became the unofficial theme of the Kennedy administration. With their leadership, charisma, and style, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy encouraged Americans to participate along with them in exploring and enjoying music in its many forms.

Jonathan Romeo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories, July 14, 2001

By 

Bob Zeidler (Charlton, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music of The Kennedy White House (Audio CD)

As part of its major exhibit of Jacqueline Kennedy memorabilia this year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art commissioned the release of this "Music of the Kennedy White House" retrospective. Truly a trip down memory lane for this music lover who came of age in 1960 and did his part to "vote in" a First Family with some cultural aspirations. Such bittersweet memories they are, too: So much taken away so soon.

Almost no one from that era on this recording survives to this day: Casals, Bernstein, Copland, Ella and most others are long departed. Of the very few who are left, all but one seem to be comfortably retired.

But that one is worthy of special mention: Paul Winter, and his early (post-college) Sextet. Barely a year out of college, and almost a year to the day before that fateful event in Dallas, this driving "hard-bop" jazz group was the first-ever jazz ensemble to perform live at the White House, at Jacquie's request. And the track here - a live performance of "Bells and Horns" that is better than a performance found elsewhere on a "Ralph J. Gleason Presents" album (now remastered and available elsewhere at Amazon.com) - is a winner. That Paul Winter was to go on to other musical vistas, transmogrifying his style over the years to become quite a different artist today is largely beside the point: This is good, elemental hard-driving jazz, and the "horns" (alto and baritone sax and trumpet) are uniformly excellent, particularly his Desmond-like alto.

Not everything here will be to everyone's taste, and, regrettably, too many of the tracks have been simply licensed from commercial CD's for purposes of providing an overview of the artists and composers (and their performed works) who were present. (Winter's is one that is "live," as are several others.)

A clear runner-up for "memories" honors: Pablo Casals performing "Cant Dels Ocells" ("Song of the Birds"). So beautifully done that it opened my tear ducts.

Those WERE the days.

Bob Zeidler

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kennedy Presidency Still Shines Brightly, March 27, 2009

By 

Rae Ann (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Music of The Kennedy White House (Audio CD)

I have been looking for years for the 1960's White House performance by the great cellist, Pablo Casals, but to no avail. He came out of exile and to the United States to honor our new, young, hopeful President.

Then I found this CD. What a find! Great music of a special time in our history. Thank you Mrs. Kennedy for insisting that the cultural life of our country (or any other) is as significant to its history as the men and women who forge the laws to govern.

5.0 out of 5 stars Camelot Indeed!, January 11, 2007

By 

M. Karass (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Music of The Kennedy White House (Audio CD)

The CD arrived in great shape and I have been enjoying it very much ever since. I would use and recommend this vendor for future purchases.