The Brian Lehrer Show The Public Song Project Concert
Aug 1, 2025
Simon Close, a producer for All Of It, dives into the inspiring world of the Public Song Project, where artists create new music from public domain works. He discusses the creative process behind a fresh take on Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, revealing themes of anxiety and artistic freedom. Also highlighted are the unique interpretations by the Boston-based group Dream Glow, merging opera with neo-soul, as well as a concert featuring the project’s winning compositions at Brooklyn Public Library, celebrating shared cultural legacies.
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Broad Public Domain Embrace
- The Public Song Project invites musicians to create new works based on public domain art, embracing a broad historical range.
- Though the recent public domain update focuses on works from 1929, artists are encouraged to explore and reimagine pieces from much earlier times, like Beethoven.
Tom Lehrer's Public Domain Choice
- Tom Lehrer willingly relinquished copyright to his songs in 2020, freeing them for public use.
- He believed more could come from his work if audiences could freely parody or distort it, rejecting payment requests.
Reimagine Public Domain With Purpose
- Use public domain works to explore and reinterpret historical themes or cultural issues.
- For example, Kevin Sun reimagined a jazz standard to reflect his Chinese American identity and critique the original's orientalist aspects.