'Air and Simple Gifts' John Williams at Obama Inauguration

What a great element for this inauguration! John Williams, perhaps the most popular of contemporary serious American composers, was commissioned to write a piece for the event. He produced something available to us all, based on a Shaker dance, "Simple Gifts", widely known and beautifully appropriate. Indeed, a piece previously used by that most American of composers, Aaron Copeland. William's piece was scored for a quartet that included not only the traditional violin, cello, and piano, but clarinet, again harkening back to American sources and experience. The group, harmonizing across ethnic divisions by consummate skill, included two of the world's greatest musicians.