Sounds of a New Nation

Teddy Abrams, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano

Schuman, Chester from New England Triptych
Billings, Part-Songs and Fuguing Tunes
Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 9
Ives, A Symphony: New England Holidays

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding with the music that resonated through the American colonies during the fight for independence. Sounds of a New Nation brings to life the anthems, hymns, and symphonic works that shaped the soundscape of early America, juxtaposing patriotic fervor and European influences, and hear these anthems and hymns woven into the dizzying tapestry of Ives’s A Symphony.

William Billings, often called America’s first composer, captured the revolutionary spirit in his Part-Songs and Fuguing Tunes, while Chester—a rallying cry of the era—later found new life in Schuman’s New England Triptych. Charles Ives’ A Symphony: New England Holidays paints a bold and nostalgic portrait of early American traditions, echoing the music of the past through a modern lens.

Even as America declared its independence, European music remained influential. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9, composed in the same revolutionary era, just an ocean away, brings the elegance and sophistication admired on colonial concert stages.

Join us as we mark this historic milestone with a concert that captures the sound and spirit of 1776—music that inspired a revolution and shaped a nation.

This event is available now to Louisville Orchestra subscribers—either as part of a subscription package or as an add-on purchase. Subscribe today for priority access before tickets go on sale to the public.

Special thanks to our series sponsor

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