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Break out your flannels! It’s safe to say it’s officially pumpkin patch season, and it can’t be long now before Jack Frost pays Toledo a visit. As you’re unpacking your Autumn wardrobe, check out Alvin Leung’s flannel-inspired electroacoustic composition that’s featured in our Patchwork Suite podcast, Variation No. 2.

The Patchwork Suite is a collection and showcase of original, contemporary variations on a single classical theme, and for season one, we asked composers to play off a waltz theme by Enrique Granados and tap into the textile medium for extramusical inspiration. You’ll find the complete introduction to the podcast, including backstory on the Granados theme, in the very first episode, and each subsequent episode explores a single variation and the composer’s artistic process behind it.

So when you pull up Alvin Leung’s Flannel, you’ll hear how he cast the Granados theme in a frosty light by breaking it into small, snowflake-like crystals and building up an ambient musical blizzard around it, all to evoke the mood and complex texture of flannel. His fabric of choice is one of ten textiles that’s musically explored throughout the season, then the penultimate episode unites the diverse variations as suite— and a figurative patchwork of creativity.

It's truly a pleasure to host The Patchwork Suite podcast, which I hope may serve as a bridge between eras, art forms, and people of many different walks of life; which is why I could not have been more honored when the Press Club of Toledo recently recognized the series with the 2024 Touchstone Award in Radio Long Form. My heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the composers, and I hope you’ll celebrate them with WGTE by allotting some time to check out the complete season!

- Mary Claire Murphy

A History of Voting and Its Impact on Classical Music

Let’s talk about something on every American’s mind right now: Voting. One of the most fundamental pillars of democracy, voting has evolved dramatically over the centuries. The history of voting and democratic evolution has been intricately linked with the cultural and artistic developments of societies, including classical music. As political landscapes changed and voting rights expanded, these shifts influenced composers, their patrons, and the broader artistic community. Classical music, often shaped by the power dynamics of its time, responded to and reflected the changes in political authority, societal participation, and the fight for equality.

The Age of Absolute Monarchs: Patronage and Control

In the Baroque and early Classical eras (17th to mid-18th centuries), voting rights were restricted primarily to the aristocracy and wealthy landowners. Monarchs like Louis XIV of France and Frederick the Great of Prussia wielded enormous power, and the political structure of these times was largely authoritarian. For composers, this meant working under royal or aristocratic patronage.

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), for instance, composed primarily for churches and princely courts. His music reflected the values of order and hierarchy, mirroring the rigid political structures of the time. Bach’s work was often constrained by the demands of his patrons, who controlled the direction and style of the compositions.
• George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) also relied on royal patronage, most notably from the British monarchy. However, Handel’s oratorios, such as Messiah (1741), were popular with the emerging middle class in England, where voting rights, though limited, were being expanded to property-owning men. This growing class influenced public taste and helped transition classical music from private royal courts to public concert halls.

The Enlightenment and Revolutionary Spirit

The Enlightenment of the 18th century, with its emphasis on individual rights and democratic governance, sparked revolutions in both politics and art. The American and French revolutions, driven by calls for broader voting rights and political representation, also influenced composers. Music began to reflect the spirit of freedom, equality, and change.

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was deeply influenced by Enlightenment ideals and the French Revolution’s push for liberty and equality. His Symphony No. 3 (1804), originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte (before his imperial ambitions became clear), embodied the revolutionary spirit. Beethoven’s music marked a departure from the constraints of aristocratic patronage, asserting artistic independence in an era when political movements were also advocating for the autonomy of individuals.

The 19th Century: The Rise of Nationalism and Democratic Movements

As the 19th century progressed, political reforms across Europe and the Americas led to expanded voting rights for men, particularly through the abolition of property requirements. This era also saw the rise of nationalism, which was closely tied to democratic movements. National identity, political participation, and music were deeply interconnected.

• Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849), though primarily a composer of piano works, was a staunch supporter of Polish nationalism. His music, especially his Polonaises and Mazurkas, evoked the spirit of his homeland, which was struggling for independence from foreign powers. The fight for national sovereignty and the right to self-governance was closely linked to the broader push for voting rights and democratic representation across Europe.
• Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) is another prominent example of how the expansion of voting rights and democratic ideas influenced classical music. Verdi’s operas, such as Nabucco (1842), became symbols of Italian nationalism and the Risorgimento movement, which sought to unify Italy and establish a democratic government. The famous Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco became an anthem for Italian patriots, who were fighting for both political unification and the expansion of democratic rights.

Women’s Suffrage and the Role of Female Composers

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the rise of the women’s suffrage movement, which sought to extend voting rights to women. This fight for equality had significant cultural implications, especially for female composers who had long been marginalized in the world of classical music.

• Clara Schumann (1819–1896), one of the most celebrated pianists and composers of her time, worked in an era when women’s political participation was non-existent. Though she didn’t directly engage in the suffrage movement, her music and career challenged the traditional roles of women, paving the way for future generations of female composers to gain recognition and influence in a male-dominated field.
• The broader feminist movements of the 20th century brought more attention to female composers like Amy Beach (1867–1944), whose symphonic works were performed alongside those of her male contemporaries. As women gained the right to vote in many Western countries, the visibility and contributions of female composers increased, reflecting the growing societal acknowledgment of women’s rights.

The 20th Century: Voting Rights and Music for Social Justice

The 20th century was marked by significant strides in voting rights, particularly in the wake of the civil rights movement in the United States and decolonization across Africa and Asia. Music, including classical music, became a platform for expressing the fight for social justice, equality, and political participation.

• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975) composed in the politically charged environment of Soviet Russia, where voting rights were technically universal but heavily controlled by the Communist Party. His Symphony No. 5 (1937) is often interpreted as a veiled critique of Stalin’s regime, reflecting the tension between authoritarian control and the people’s desire for political freedom.
• Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990), an American composer and conductor, used his platform to support civil rights and social justice. His works, including Mass (1971), reflected the tumultuous political landscape of the 1960s and 1970s, when the fight for voting rights, particularly for African Americans, was central to the broader civil rights movement. Bernstein’s involvement in political activism paralleled the expansion of voting rights through the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The 21st Century: Globalization, Digital Voting, and the Changing Landscape of Classical Music

In the 21st century, the world has seen both progress and challenges regarding voting rights, with new technologies and global shifts in politics having a direct influence on culture, including classical music. With the rise of digital voting, changing demographics, and renewed struggles for equity, classical music continues to respond to and reflect the political landscape.

• Digital Influence and Global Movements: As the world became more interconnected, composers have increasingly drawn inspiration from global political movements. Issues such as climate change, immigration, and human rights have become central to both political discourse and artistic expression. Max Richter, a 21st-century composer, has produced works such as Voices (2020), inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Richter’s music is a direct reflection of the globalized political climate, where issues of democracy, voting rights, and human dignity intersect with artistic creation.
• Voting, Social Justice, and New Media: The digital age has brought about new ways of engaging with democracy, including online activism and digital voting, which have made political participation more accessible in some areas, though challenges like voter suppression persist. This modern engagement has influenced contemporary composers, especially those who use technology to expand their music’s reach. Tan Dun, a Chinese composer, uses multimedia in works like Internet Symphony No. 1 (2009), showcasing how classical music has adapted to the digital age and new forms of audience participation.
• Representation and Diversity in Classical Music: As movements for racial justice and gender equality have gained momentum in the 21st century, classical music institutions have begun to reevaluate their own representation. Organizations like Chineke! Orchestra—Europe’s first professional orchestra made up of primarily Black and ethnically diverse musicians—reflect a modern commitment to democratizing classical music and expanding its reach beyond the traditional elite audience. These changes parallel the ongoing fights for voting rights and political representation across the globe.

Where We Are Now: Voting and Classical Music, A Symbiotic Relationship

The expansion of voting rights through the centuries has not only shaped political systems but also influenced the course of classical music. As societies became more democratic and inclusive, music reflected the changing times, incorporating themes of nationalism, personal freedom, and social justice. Composers, often constrained by the political structures of their eras, either conformed to or challenged the status quo, using their works to comment on the political movements of their day. Just as voting empowered individuals to have a voice in their government, music gave them a voice in the cultural narrative, making both forces central to the evolution of modern society. In the 21st century, as classical music embraces new technologies, global diversity, and social activism, it continues to be shaped by the evolving political landscape, proving that the relationship between voting rights and artistic expression remains as vital as ever.

-Brad Cresswell

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