Springsteen’s extraordinary post-9/11 album, “The Rising” turns twenty years old this month. Could Bruce write those songs today?
What Is Owed?
by Andrea Ayvazian | Mar 14, 2022 | Music
Most houses of worship pay an annual licensing fee to sing hymns and contemporary music each week in worship services. But what about Spirituals sung in predominately white churches—music that is not copyrighted, songs that have no known author, songs not published until after the names of their creators were long forgotten. What is owed today?
What Do Musicians Say? Keeping On Keeping On in Times of Struggle and Hardship
by Andrea Ayvazian | Jan 28, 2022 | Music
Singer-songwriter-activists reflect on what keeps them going year after year and what advice they would offer activist-singers coming up behind them.
Change Sings: A lyrical message from Amanda Gorman
by Andrea Ayvazian | Nov 1, 2021 | Music
“We’re what the world is becoming, and we know it won’t be long. We all hear change strumming. Won’t you sing along?” Andrea Ayvazian reflects on the hits—and misses—of Amanda Gorman’s new lyric book Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem.
Singing to the Klan
by Andrea Ayvazian | Sep 10, 2021 | Music
How singing gave us strength when confronted by the KKK and a reflection on the role of music in animating social movements throughout American history.