[Apollo 13]

...and Gershwin in turn was THE inspirator for my own American popular music hero: Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. He taught himself to play the piano and from 1962 to this day he plays ‘Rhapsody In Blue’, to feel good and lift himself out of a bad mood...
It’s safe to say that without Gershwin, Brian Wilson’s triumphant masterpieces ‘Pet Sounds’ and ‘SMiLE’ would never have seen the light of day.

Coming up tomorrow: my thread on another American treasure: guitarist John Fahey (well, since I consider this one a resonant success, I feel new encouragement).

But do continue to wrote about Ives... I just love your replies on this one!
Cheers, A13.

[stravinskyrules]

"Three Places in New England" is my favorite Orchestral Work by Ives (Tilson Thomas and the Boston Symphony have definitive version IMHO), however the last 5 minutes of his 3rd Symphony never fails to move me to tears....I think his 3rd is his most unrated orchestral work.

The Concord Sonata rocks....I still play it in my car at full volume when I pull up to a hot chick at a stop light.

A bit of trivia: Bruce Hornsby used the opening phrase from the 3rd movement of the Concord Sonata ("The Alcotts") as the intro to the tune "Every Little Kiss" on his platinum "Way it Is" album.