Route 66 in 1926: Inspiration for the "A.D. 1926" movement of the Route 66 Suite for symphony orchestra
Start Date
12-4-2024 2:30 PM
Location
CASB 104
Document Type
Presentation
Abstract
Colloquially called “Route 66,” U.S. Highway 66 became official on November 11, 1926, connecting Los Angeles, California and Chicago, Illinois. Over the next several decades, the highway had been realigned several times, leaving some of the earlier alignments abandoned. In seeking inspiration for "A.D. 1926," the opening movement of my forthcoming composition for symphony orchestra (the Route 66 Suite), I located and then traveled the original path of U.S. Highway 66 several times between 2021 and 2023. I took photographs and recorded video to help remind me of these places, and I continue to use them to help spark inspiration for composing the music for “A.D. 1926.”
This presentation shares some of the places along that original path, of which some are extant, and others demolished. Photographs of buildings that no longer exist help to provide context for the time period and to inspire the music of this movement. Much of that original alignment has never been paved, so the photographs and video that I took while driving these dirt roads help to recall those experiences. As many early Route 66 travelers camped alongside the road, I also camped at select places and select nights to get a feel for travel ca. 1926.
The presentation discusses how these aspects of Route 66 in 1926 have been impacting the music of “A.D. 1926,” which I am still composing. The original alignment often follows the railroad, so sounds of steam locomotives were part of a 1926 Route 66 soundscape and thus are being incorporated into the music. I also discuss how elements of music that would have been performed in 1926 have been impacting “A.D. 1926” (e.g., the “Charleston rhythm).
I close the presentation by showing how the music in “A.D. 1926” relates to other music of the suite. For example, theaters ca. 1926 relate to “The Show Will Go On,” hotels operating in 1926 relate to “Vacancy / No Vacancy,” and ghost towns that were once active in 1926 help to inspire “66 Ghost Towns.”
Keywords
music composition, early 20th century
Route 66 in 1926: Inspiration for the "A.D. 1926" movement of the Route 66 Suite for symphony orchestra
CASB 104
Colloquially called “Route 66,” U.S. Highway 66 became official on November 11, 1926, connecting Los Angeles, California and Chicago, Illinois. Over the next several decades, the highway had been realigned several times, leaving some of the earlier alignments abandoned. In seeking inspiration for "A.D. 1926," the opening movement of my forthcoming composition for symphony orchestra (the Route 66 Suite), I located and then traveled the original path of U.S. Highway 66 several times between 2021 and 2023. I took photographs and recorded video to help remind me of these places, and I continue to use them to help spark inspiration for composing the music for “A.D. 1926.”
This presentation shares some of the places along that original path, of which some are extant, and others demolished. Photographs of buildings that no longer exist help to provide context for the time period and to inspire the music of this movement. Much of that original alignment has never been paved, so the photographs and video that I took while driving these dirt roads help to recall those experiences. As many early Route 66 travelers camped alongside the road, I also camped at select places and select nights to get a feel for travel ca. 1926.
The presentation discusses how these aspects of Route 66 in 1926 have been impacting the music of “A.D. 1926,” which I am still composing. The original alignment often follows the railroad, so sounds of steam locomotives were part of a 1926 Route 66 soundscape and thus are being incorporated into the music. I also discuss how elements of music that would have been performed in 1926 have been impacting “A.D. 1926” (e.g., the “Charleston rhythm).
I close the presentation by showing how the music in “A.D. 1926” relates to other music of the suite. For example, theaters ca. 1926 relate to “The Show Will Go On,” hotels operating in 1926 relate to “Vacancy / No Vacancy,” and ghost towns that were once active in 1926 help to inspire “66 Ghost Towns.”