SKYSCRAPER SONGS - 2) Atlantis / 3) The City from my Window

Classical group New Music New York performs three songs of mine honoring text from Ayn Rand's fiction.

Music by Richard Gleaves
Beth Anne Hatton, Soprano
Malina Rauschenfels, Cello
Andrew Pau, Piano

Text:
#2) Atlantis (adapted from Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand)

Clouds had wrapped the sky and had descended as fog to wrap the streets below. As if the sky was engulfing the city. [I] could see the whole of Manhattan Island. A long triangular shape cutting into a invisible ocean. It looked like the prow of a sinking ship. A few tall buildings still rose above it like funnels, but the rest was disappearing under grey-blue coils, going down slowly into vapor and space. This is how they went, [I] thought: Atlantis, the city that sank in the ocean, and all the other kingdoms that vanished; leaving the same legend in all the languages of men and the same longing...

#3) The City from my Window (adapted from The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand)

I never think "how small I am" when looking at the ocean. Never. I never think "how small I am" when looking at the planets. Never. Or at mountain peaks. Or at the Grand Canyon. Why should I? When I look at the ocean, I feel the greatness of man. I think of man's magnificent capacity that created ships to conquer all that senseless space. When I look at mountain peaks, I think of tunnels and dynamite. When I look at the planets, I think of airplanes. And when I see the city from my window, no, I don't think "how small I am" but I think if War came to threaten this, I would like to throw myself into space, over the city, and protect these buildings with my body.

Composer's note:
When the World Trade Center was destroyed on September 11th, I was administrative assistant at a small restaurant company across the street. I had worked for five years at the foot of the Twin Towers and loved them as if I'd built them myself. At sunset I would take the elevator to the South Tower observation deck and look out at the ocean, at the city, and plan my future. I was a struggling young writer, and I had adopted those buildings as my proof that achievement was possible. I loved their grandeur, their ambition, their promise of unlimited possibilities.

I watched them come crashing down. And I've grieved their greatness ever since.

I was reminded that September morning of a passage from Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead beginning "If war came to threaten this...". Those words have lingeredbecoming Skyscraper Songs- my tribute to New York, to the achievements of Western Civilization, and to all the irreplaceable futures lost that day.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ayn
• Rand
• Atlas
• Shrugged
• Fountainhead
• Cello
• Soprano
• Piano
• Richard
• Gleaves
• World
• Trade
• Center
• Tribute
• classical
• alternati

[Thuggishsplicer1]

I am a composer myself and a cellist/pianist. I am also an Objectivist! This is wonderfull. The composition has complex ployphonies and chord progressions that make it simply joyous to listen to. Bravo!

[Theprinceofponeage]

I kind of agree.

[dcgc34]

It is a little awkward for me to listen to Rand's literature sang with music, maybe because I know what is coming next and want to get to it faster, as the words weren't written to be lyrics (I am newb when it comes to music). But I enjoy the music and interpretation, and can feel the amount of meaning and emotion behind it. The composer's note and the quote about protecting the buildings with my body filled me with so much emotion and almost brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for the upload.

[edgekrusher23]

Beautiful songs, but I have a hard time watching the singer.

[nihilvox]

maybe its just the singer.

or, far more likely, its that now whenever i read the quotes these lyrics were adapted from, i read them to the rhythm of this music, and i'd rather not.

[traptluva4ever]

The lyrics are adapted from quotes and ideas from the woman who the songs are honoring.

You people wouldn't understand anyways.

[SingDude]

Yeh, songs with lyrics really suck! (?!)

[SingDude]

Yeh, songs with lyrics really suck (?!)

[nihilvox]

Beautiful. My only complaint is that it has lyrics.

[SingDude]

Great job! The music is very evocative and the performes are excellent. I really like the mist effect at the beginning and the animated cityscape during the interlude.