Verdi's Manzoni Requiem

I remember this piece played by the New Jersey Symphony in Liberty State Park on the first anniversary of 9/11. The dress rehearsal was shown on television, with the musicians singing and playing to empty seats, as if to those who had died on 9/11. It was played and sung at Terezin by inmates of the concentration camp, who sang to the Nazis of G-d's enduring covenant with "Abraham and his seed." And Verdi, an agnostic, wrote it in memory of the Catholic Manzoni. It is uniquely humane music that tells of terror in the face of death while offering the balm of hope and forgiveness.

Chana Yosefa

Christine Ebersole sings for Billy Burke

Hi

go to u tube and play this link
http://youtu.be/OrKo_EeagB8
its 9/11 Actress Christine Ebersolle sings for 1st responder firw fighter billy burke who died on 9/11.
Her speech before she sings is very moving.
She sings Amazing Grace. That audio is poor. If she has a recording - play the recording.
You'll have to get permission to use the audio of her speach but that should be easy to obtain.
Peter

Peter Van Olinda

Dvorak's New World Symphony--- "The Going Home" movement

I had never heard this symphony until the assassination of JFK. At that time this movement was repeatedly played on the radio. It felt right for the extremely sad time. Although it is so well known now, it still seems like a piece appropriate to play for this extremely sad anniversary.

Barbara

"tori amos" "i can't see new york"

This song brings to mind for me the people who died that day. We often think of the participants, the heros, of 9-11, such as the firemen or the brave passengers on Flight 93, and I, like everyone, honour them. But what touches my heart are the innocent victims - someone, for example, like Zoe Falkenberg. This is the memory that Tori Amos honours.

Antony Van der Mude

The Lark Ascending

This gorgeous composition by Ralph Vaughan Williams has always evoked a sense of innocence and freedom, beauty, and a connection to the spiritual in nature. It's at times solemn, peaceful, and soaring,...perfect. I'm not religious, but have always felt the presence of God when I listen. The version recorded by the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields (Neville Mariner) with Iona Brown's violin breaks my heart, it's so beautiful.

Fiona

The Humming Bird Chorus from Madame Butterfly (Puccini)

As a wordless, melancholy tune, on can reflect on what this tragedy on 9/11 meant for them. It connected my soul to the friends and strangers I (we) lost that day.

-Stone

Barber's Adagio for Strings

I'd like to hear it because of its beauty, intense emotion and cathartic pathos. (What I would NOT like to hear is "Amazing Grace.")

Bill Gillespie

All songs written about NY.

Celebrates the uniqueness & grandeur of NY & makes me feel that we can overcome anything.

Arne

Another Hundred People (COMPANY)

in the days following the attacks as we all attempted to get back to what now passed for our regular lives, we entered buses and exited trains; "a city of strangers", but we weren't really strangers anymore.
Scott Simon played this a week or two after the attacks and it moved me to tears. It still has that effect on me.

Kristina

Brahms "A German Requiem"

... performed in English, preferably with the Alice Parker translation (Robert Shaw edition), such as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's recording.
In 2001, the Monmouth Civic Chorus (Red Bank, NJ) performed this in a fund-raiser for the victims of 9/11. The consoling text chosen by Brahms is comforting to followers of all faiths.

Gerald Metz

"Gracias a la Vida"

By native chilean song writer Violeta Parra. It Is a song about giving thanks to life for what we have, like eyesight, words, tears, happiness and memories of the ones we love

Luis Jerez

Ask families

Ask the families of those who died what a favorite piece of music was for their family member who died. Then on 9/11 announce each piece of musice with, "this was so-and-so, age x, from such-and-such a place's favorite tune." In this way we will be able to remember that person individually and recall what a wide range of people perished that day. Each time we remember a dead person, they live on through our memories. Our collective memories become a powerful tool for not forgetting. Good luck on your project.

Ann Rabinowitz Dantzig

The Song of the Meadowlark

I can't think of a single "song" (in the traditional, cultural sense) that is more comforting than the clear, natural song of the Meadowlark. Why not! What a refreshing, eternally hopeful break listening to, say, 30 seconds (I'd rather 3 minutes, but I'm not irrationally out of touch with your expectations) of this lovely, healing call.

Doug "Rabbit" Sutherland

George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue

I've always felt this piece was associated with New York City and aside from being a beautiful song out right, it seems to illustrate the hopefulness and grace of the American experience. Some phrases are frantic, others are calm, some seem innocent and playful while others are mature and serious. Portions are happy, while others emote sadness. At times it is a whisper that rises to bellowing joy.
Unlike any other place I've lived, New York is animated with all of these emotions and the city has triggered them all in me just by virtue of physically being here. When I think of the destruction on Sept. 11, I think of the hope that created this city and country, not the evil that tried to tear it down. I think of the people who believe in our continued experience, rather than the misanthropes who do not believe it should exist. I am saddened by the lives that were lost, but encouraged by the ones who remember those lives.

Andrew Meissner

Faure Requiem

It's achingly beautiful, gentle and low-key. The Pie Jesu movement, sung by a boy soprano, is so plaintive in its sweetness and simplicity that it always brings me to the verge of tears. The lack of bombast in Faure's Requiem is especially conducive to quiet reflection, which makes it well suited to this sad anniversary.

Susan Kirshner

Paul Simon - A heart in New York

this song brings me right back. I lost my cousin on 9/11. I can't remember if there is something specific about the song that reminds me of him and that day or just the mention of the "tall skyline". It brings tears every time.

Ellen Honigstock

On The Transmigration of Souls, by John Adams

This piece completely captures the atmosphere of 9/11 and the aftermath. It seems remarkable that an artist could be able to present the exact feelings in his art, so soon after the tragedy.

Wanda Finch

Joel Puckett's "This Mourning"

A great piece - confusing, chaotic, sad, but ultimately uplifting - that commemorates the victims of the Pentagon attack.

Michael

Sweet Melissa by the Allman Brothers

I hope I explain this clearly. During the time around 9/11 my husband and I were trying to get pregnant with our 2nd child and we had some difficulty.

When the towers fell I was at work and stood around like everyone else. I prayed all day and all week that I were pregnant so that some of the good souls lost that day could be reborn with a child.

It so happens that I became pregnant sometime during the weeks following 9/11. When we were thinking of names for our daughter Melissa was on the short list. My husband was home working and had just heard the song Sweet Melissa on the radio. So we decided to name our daughter Melissa. Everytime I hear the song I think of 9/11 and our daughter. The special beautiful soul she must have inherited from someone we lost.

Lorraine Orlick

"Alabama" by John Coltrane

It's a beautiful piece, written in response to an earlier act of terrorism (the 1963 bombing by the KKK of a church in Birmingham, Alabama).

jon