Comments on: Aretha Sings, John Williams Composes For Obama Inauguration

By: Bill Clogston

Bill Clogston — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:39:49 +0000

The music is neither Williams or Copelands. It is originally from an Irish melody, most likely not copyrighted.

Hampshire

By: Online

Online — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:49:45 +0000

Пинайте своего хостера – сайт с трудом открылся

By: Larissa

Larissa — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:01:06 +0000

Thank you Jason B. for saying what I was going to say. I’m glad that people recognize the Shaker Hymn “Simple Gifts” from Appalachian Spring but was sad to see that they thought Aaron Copland write that piece.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:09:41 +0000

The original public domain tune, borrowed by Williams, was also borrowed by Copeland.

For another example, most Disney movies are based on old public domain stories, so although Disney made the little mermaid famous, the story itself is not copyrighted by Disney. Their actual presentation of the story (the movie) is copyrighted by them, but the story is not.

It works the same for this song. Copeland made the tune famous, but it was public domain long before he touched it, so it’s fair game for anyone to use. Copeland’s presentation of the tune is copyrighted by him. Williams’ interpretation of the song, on the other hand, is public domain, since he was commissioned by the government to do the song for the inauguration, and anything created by the government is public domain. Obama’s speech, for example, is public domain, since it was part of an official act as president.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:57:24 +0000

that inaguration was awesome. I watched it from home and my mom and i cheered for Obama. The Obama girls are so relaxed and they don’t even seem nervous. The Media needs to leave them alone because of how little they are and they just want to live normal lives. Good Luck President Obama.

By: katie

katie — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:54:07 +0000

This was very cool to witness. Obama was a wonderful pick. He will do a wonderful job

By: barry r slater

barry r slater — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:05:02 +0000

what an interesting conversation
the difficulties of histories
the language is not original
what I use it for is
quaker and shaker are not the same
adding and subtracting
what is true
civility
air

By: jaxson

jaxson — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:29:29 +0000

john williams – star wars – rules!

By: Dean

Dean — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:07:42 +0000

Remember that the Quakers up to the late 19th century did not believe in group singing or instrumental group ensembles.

By: Dean

Dean — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:00:25 +0000

Actually you are all incorrect. Copland based the familiar theme you heard today on a Shaker song called “Simple Gifts” that was but a portion of “Appalachian Spring”. The rest was his own composition.

By: frank

frank — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:07:03 +0000

It’s a Williams piece, though the use of the old Quaker tune, the same melody Copland used in his “Appalachian Spring” is certainly in part a not to Copland, and his prominent place in musical representations of America.

Again: neither Copland nor Williams wrote that melody; both used as a building block for original pieces.

By: jen bond

jen bond — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:26:26 +0000

RE: music composer – not Williams

John Willimas arranged the inaugural piece but did NOT write an origianl piece – it was based on a very familiar tune of Aaron Copeland – the quintessential Americana-classical composer. Of course they would select Copeland for today. Please clear this up.

By: jen bond

jen bond — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:23:39 +0000

John Williams arranged the music – he based it on Aaron Copeland – quintessential americana-classical composer – a natural choice for today – John Willimas did NOT write that piece as original – get the story straight please.

By: David

David — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:42:53 +0000

Actually, Simple Gifts goes back even before Copland. It was written by Joseph Brackett in the middle of the 19th century. Copland used the tune in Appalachian Spring, and it’s also been used by many other composers.

By: Jason M

Jason M — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:55:05 +0000

It is an arrangement of a song that Copeland also did an arrangement of. It’s based on “Simple Gifts” a Shaker hymn that is a public domain song. However by adding an “Air” it does technically become a new composition just as Appalachian Spring was a new composition since it has a new copyright (and some added notes).

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:51:42 +0000

It’s Copland… mostly. The introductory parts appears to be a Williams composition with wisps of Appalacian Spring, here and there, but then transition into what is clearly Copland’s music.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:52:21 +0000

I’m not certain on the accuracy of Jim’s comments. Based upon Yo-Yo Ma’s website, the Williams composition is a new work.

http://www.yo-yoma.com/news/yo-yo-ma-perform-new-john-williams-composition-air-and-simple-gifts-president-elect-barack-obam

“On the heels of Yo-Yo Ma’s current success with his best-selling album, ” Songs of Joy & Peace,” the superstar cellist has been invited to perform at the inauguration of President-elect Obama on January 20, 2009. After Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. is sworn in by Justice John Paul Stevens, Yo-Yo Ma along with Itzhak Perlman on violin, Gabriela Montero on piano and Anthony McGill on clarinet will perform the new work composed by John Williams, “Air and Simple Gifts.” Then, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will administer the oath of office to Mr. Obama, who will then deliver his inaugural address. “

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:20:49 +0000

Again we have a correction. The song Inaugural Ceremonies song was composed in 1944 by Aaron Copland not John Williams and is called Appalachian Spring. John WIlliams did an arrangment of it but he did not compose it.

It was a good arrangment of Copland’s song.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:47:38 +0000

“Williams also wrote music for Obama’s election-night rally in Chicago’s Grant Park. ”

That is actually incorrect. The song at Obama’s election night rally was Titans Spirit (Score) written by Trevor Rabin.

By: The Obama effect - from London | almost witty

The Obama effect - from London | almost witty — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:16:23 +0000

[...] The inauguration music was apparently composed by John Williams – the same man who composed, amongst other things, the themes to Superman and Indiana Jones. The [...]