90′

Music/theater piece by Philip Glass, Allen Ginsberg and Jerome Sirlin.
Libretto by Allen Ginsberg.
Published by Dunvagen Music Publishers.

Commissioned by the Spoleto Music Festival USA, Charleston, SC and the American Music Theater Festival Philadelphia, PA.

2S, Mz, T, Bar, B; ssx (fl), ssx (tsx, bcl)/ 2 perc (timp, SD, BD, tuned drums, tgl, tamb, cow bells, wdbl, anvil, finger cyms, cym, tpl.bl) 2 syn (1 piano), hand claps

May 26, 1990 at the Spoleto Music Festival USA, Charleston, SC. Concert version:April 29, 1990 at the American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia, PA.

Drawing upon Ginsberg’s poetry, this music/theater piece is a portrait of America that cover’s the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, seen by the collaborators Glass, Ginsberg and Sirlin. Its content ranges from highly personal poems of Ginsberg to his reflection on social issues: the anti-war movement, the sexual revolution, drugs, eastern philosophy, environmental awareness. The six vocal parts represent six archetypal American characters- a waitress, a policeman, a businessman, a cheerleader, a priest, a mechanic.

Hydrogen Jukebox at Wise Music Classical

RECORDINGS:
Hydrogen Jukebox on Nonesuch
GlassJukebox on Nonesuch
Tara Hugo Sings Philip Glass