Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is a dramatic work for chorus and orchestra inspired by the monumental sculpture of four iconic American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Drawing from American musical sources and texts, the work echoes the resonance and dissonance of Mount Rushmore as a complex symbol of American history. Like the monument, the libretto is carved out of words of each President. This epic major work from Grammy Award-winning composer Michael Daugherty is in a sweeping programmatic style that encapsulates the modern spirit while utilizing nationalistic themes and influences. Each of the four movements focuses on one of the Presidents and utilizes both familiar and obscure texts and motifs that represent the historical context surrounding these American historical figures.