In Sunday’s (1/31) Los Angeles Times, Lawrence B. Johnson writes, “Imagine a postmodern Aaron Copland or Charles Ives with a pop cultural twist, and you’re primed for the music of Michael Daugherty. … At age 55, Daugherty is also the exuberant master of his craft, an artist whose sophistication and compelling appeal can seem utterly at odds with the often kitschy titles of his works. Such is the quirky, sly, smart composer whose ‘Mount Rushmore’ for chorus and orchestra will receive its world premiere this week at the Pacific Symphony’s American Composers Festival, led by music director Carl St.Clair. Daugherty, the Pacific Symphony’s composer in residence for its 2009-10 season, was commissioned to write ‘Mount Rushmore’ for the festival, themed ‘The Greatest Generation.’ It will be performed by the symphony and the Pacific Chorale. … ‘Mt. Rushmore is a complex icon of American history,’ Daugherty says. ‘It means a lot of different things to different people. It can be viewed as a symbol for democracy, a travesty against American Indians in that it carved up sacred ground, or a huge tourist trap, or an icon you must visit.’ ”
Posted February 1, 2010
