David Lang: The National Anthems & The Little Match Girl Passion

Grant Gershon and the Los Angeles Master Chorale bring the composer’s cycle to life in vivid detail. Combing through the texts of the national anthems of the world, David Lang sought to create one singular meta-anthem that would reflect the spirit of all nations. The result was The National Anthems, a song cycle that expresses the universal desire for freedom and wellbeing through a musical language that simultaneously aims for acute dissonance and extreme clarity, creating a gorgeous, postmodern collage. “Fame and Glory” features shimmering tone clusters and precise string interventions, evoking the innovative vocal and orchestral writing of John Adams and Arvo Pärt.