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As part of the Smithsonian’s yearlong celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the 21st Century Consort, with Folger Consort and Gamelan Raga Kusama, present Time Stands Still, a monumental musical experience in the historic Arts and Industries Building. Spanning time and traditions, the program celebrates the richness of American creativity through music that reflects the nation’s enduring capacity for innovation and cultural exchange.The program highlights Korean American composer Juri Seo’s luminous reimagining of America the Beautiful, offering a contemporary reflection on a familiar national anthem, and culminates with Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of American music. Drawing inspiration from musical traditions ranging from medieval European chant to the interlocking rhythms of Balinese gamelan, Reich’s landmark composition transforms diverse influences into a distinctly American artistic language. In this sense, the work serves as a musical metaphor for the American experiment itself, shaped by the convergence of histories, cultures, and ideas into something new.
The performance also honors the legacy of the Arts and Industries Building. A symbol of nineteenth-century American ingenuity and industrial ambition, the building has long served as a site for national celebration. As both the Hirshhorn and the 21st Century Consort look toward their next half century, Time Stands Still reflects on the past while imagining the future, offering a powerful meditation on continuity, innovation, and the evolving story of America.
Join Consort director Christopher Kendall at 4 PM, before the performance, for a discussion of the themes and music presented.
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Event venue
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue at Seventh Street, SW,Washington D.C., Washington, United States
Tickets
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