TLI Presents: “This Is America,” Part 1, with Johnny Gandelsman, violin

Violinist and producer Johnny Gandelsman developed This is America in 2020, out of a time of rupture and disconnection. Thinking about ways that one person could make a small difference, he brought together commissioning partners across eleven states and territories to commission 22 new works. He invited the composers, all US-based, to reflect on the time we’re all living in. Since that initial burst of creativity This is America has been performed throughout North America and grown to encompass 28 compositions for solo violin.

“This is America celebrates America’s rich cultural tapestry and its myriad perspectives, thoughts and ideas, offering a vivid counterpoint to the idea that this land can be understood through a singular, dominant point of view. Each composition reflects on the current state of American society in a personal and intimate way, looking through an unflinching lens at universal topics like separation, loneliness, hope, and love.” - Johnny Gandelsman