Applause (and hints on clapping) for classical music
The East Room of the White House was turned into a chamber ringing with classical music from celebrities such as violinist Joshua Bell on Wednesday as part of the fourth installment in First Lady Michelle Obama’s ongoing performance series.
President Barack Obama welcomed the hushed crowd, which included a handful of high school musicians and members of Congress, by telling those unsure of when to applaud during classical performances they were not alone.
Former President John F. Kennedy had the same problem, he said, until he enlisted his social secretary to discreetly signal him to clap.
“Fortunately, I have Michelle to tell me when to applaud,” he kidded. “The rest of you are on your own.”
The performance, which also featured Sharon Isbin teasing the themes of “Asturias” by Isaac Albeniz from her classical guitar and pianist Awadagin Pratt sneaking the melody of Hail to the Chief at the end of a piece, capped a day of master classes and workshops hosted by the First Lady for more than 100 student musicians at the White House.
During the evening performance 8-year-old Sujari Britt, from New York, played alongside renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein, eliciting cheers from the audience and a standing ovation from Obama.
“Fiesta Latina” changes the rhythm at Obama White House
President Barack Obama celebrated the growing contribution of Hispanic culture and music to the United States with a “Fiesta Latina” at the White House, part of a musical series started by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Latin music “moves us and tends to make us want to move ourselves,” the president declared.
Actors Eva Longoria Parker, George Lopez and Jimmy Smits began the show joking that Obama is Hispanic.
Gloria Estefan followed with her Billboard hit “No Llores,” accompanied by Jose Feliciano and percussionist Sheila E.
While the celebration of Hispanic music brought other entertainment heavyweights as Marc Anthony and Jeninfer Lopez, Los Lobos, Thalia and Pete Escovedo to the White House, the evening’s standing ovation went to the newest member of the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic member of the high court.
Bachata also came out of the dance clubs and onto the White House’s South Lawn, with the Bronx-based group Aventura performing a style of music that has begun to dominate dance floors alongside Salsa and Merengue in clubs across the country.
The music was first heard at parties in the Dominican Republic in the 60s but, largely thanks to Aventura, it has recently taken hold in the United States. The four-man music group debuted in 1999 and is known for combining the ballad-like music and its strumming guitars with r&b, hip-hop and Reggaeton.
I am absolutely speechless over the arrogance and shamelessness of this White House. Was the purpose really to “celebrate” hispanic music?
Was it to rub elbows with celebrities while promoting yourself as a man of the people who welcomes Hispanics into the Democrat party?
Hopefully this was not funded with tax payer money.
All of this while there are two wars going on? The last president couldn’t even golf without hearing from the media.
This was shameless narcissism and self promotion on the part of everyone who attended.
The music was excellent – to bad it was all political.
Why does Sarah Palin’s biopic sound so familiar?
ST. PAUL – “Mother. Moose hunter. Maverick.” As a film on vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin began at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night, a strangely familiar melody played in the background.
The swelling strings triggered associations of family, oil and … J.R. Ewing? Yes, the song bore a striking similarity to the theme song from “Dallas.”
Listen for yourself:
Sarah Palin bio (from about 0:35)
Dallas opening credits (from about 0:10)
Cousin Bobby and tom: get a grip, this person ought not to be 1000 miles within the Oval Office. Tom: Wow—way to go with the fantabulous acheivements, Palin, doin’ real good up there in Alaska; why not stay there?
Country star John Rich performs for McCain
PANAMA CITY, Florida – Republican presidential candidate John McCain, whose musical tastes are known to include the disco band Abba, took in some country music on Friday — courtesy of Nashville star John Rich. Rich, half of the star duo “Big and Rich,” staged a waterside concert for McCain in the Florida Panhandle, a traditional Republican part of the battleground state. McCain’s rallies earlier this year included the tune, Johnny B. Goode, and once he got tired of that, Abba’s 1977 hit “Take a Chance on Me” was his song of choice. Music at his events are now an eclectic mix from the Rolling Stones to Tina Turner and Brooks and Dunn. Rich, in between songs, declared himself a west Texas conservative who gets frustrated when he turns on the television because “I always see the other side” of the political spectrum represented. So, he said, he wrote a song called “Raising McCain,” which he performed. “We’re all just raising McCain,” he sang. “You can get on the train, or get out of the way, we’re all just raising McCain.” At that point, McCain pulled up in his Straight Talk Express bus with his wife, Cindy, and Florida Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and his fiance. Noting the military veterans in the crowd, McCain said: “We will not surrender, not in Iraq or Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world.” Rich’s musical partner, Big Kenny Alphin, was not at the Country First concert, and is reported to have given money to the campaign of Democrat Barack Obama.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage
Photo credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder (McCain speaks July 21 outside Maine Military Museum in South Portland)
John has put the words to what many of us feel – It’s a great song Mr. Rich, of course that’s no surprise considering the composer. Hopefully Mr. McCain will use it as it would surely energize the campaign. My husband,a disabled Vietnam vet, dog handler who worked with 101st Airborne among others, and I are 100% behind Mr. McCain and John Rich. I encourage everyone to go to JohnRich.com and purchase either one of the Raising McCain T-shirts and flood the country with them, in fact buy several as I am going to do and give them as gifts!
AND Don’t forget to mske your voice heard and vote!
Thanx for the valuable information. I wonder Obama gets sleepy with kids performing………. keep posting. Will be visiting back soon.