How can one capture Martin Luther King in a short blog post? Or one piece of music? It’s a daunting task that took me through lots of pieces, many of which I had never heard before.

American jazz musician and composer Dave Brubeck wrote a piece in 1969 called “The Gates of Justice.” It is a religious concert work, taking its text primarily from the Psalms. However, in one movement, Brubeck  incorporates portions of King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, as well as the ancient Jewish leader, Hillel the Elder: “If the time for action is not now, when is it?”

Brubeck had a fascinating life, including a scandalous graduation from a music conservatory without being able to read music, starting one of the US Army’s first interracial bands, and developing strong religious views despite growing up in a non-religious family.

The words of Hillel remain pertinent today, and probably, always: “If the time for action is not now, when is it?”

It’s always a struggle to draw clear lines around what is and isn’t Art Music. One good descriptor is a piece’s ability to remain popular long after it was new. Simply put, trends come and go, but the stuff that’s really good lives on for decades or even centuries.

Kile Smith is a living American composer who wrote a large work “Vespers” for two professional ensembles, The Crossing choir and Piffaro renaissance wind band. The movements are in Latin and German; it was premiered in Philadelphia. It uses modern compositional idioms and ancient German hymn tunes. It sounds new and ancient at the same time. It breaks new ground while reminding us of something we feel like we already know.

If you like what you hear, I highly recommend listening to the rest of the work. You can find it on youtube, or (the better option) you can purchase the album from iTunes or Amazon.

Dovetailing off of yesterday’s post, another fanfare; this one, to me, feels more appropriate for the first morning of the New Year.

Aaron Copland wrote the Fanfare for the Common Man in 1942 in response to the US joining into World War II. The title says it all; this fanfare is for YOU.