An American Dissonance (2025)
A Note from the Composer
Art has long served as a mirror to society, reflecting its struggles, tensions, and aspirations. Through painting, music, literature, theater, and other forms of expression, art often offers a window onto the landscape of a society. Artists capture the experiences of marginalized communities, memorialize the impact of war and injustice, and conceptualize the emotional weight of social and political upheaval. Art not only documents these challenges but also provokes dialogue and thought, inspires empathy, envisions possibilities for change, and (occasionally) encourages action. By translating societal struggles into creative expression, art provides both a record of human experience and a powerful lens through which audiences can confront and understand the complexities of the world around them.
Jason Nitsch (2025)
An American Dissonance is organized into six distinct sections, which should be performed as continuously as possible.
Preamble
George Washington (1783) — Letter to the Governors of the States
“The establishment of our new government seemed to be the last great experiment for promoting human happiness by reasonable compact in civil society.”
The founding of the United States was a bold experiment in liberty, born out of resistance to tyranny and a desire for self-governance. Inspired by the ideals of freedom, equality, and natural rights, the Declaration of Independence in 1776 marked the beginning of a revolutionary struggle that would establish a new nation built on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. Out of conflict and compromise, the United States emerged as a symbol of hope for self-determination and the enduring pursuit of a more perfect union.
Proceed with Caution
John Adams (1777) - Letter to Abigail Adams
“You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make a good use of it.”
In its early years, American democracy faced significant struggles as the new nation sought to define and sustain its ideals of freedom and equality. The young republic wrestled with deep divisions over states’ rights, slavery, and the balance of power between federal and local governments. The fragile unity forged during the Revolution was tested by economic hardship, regional rivalries, and conflicting visions for the country’s future. Many citizens were excluded from participation in democracy, including women, enslaved people, and Indigenous nations. Despite these challenges, the United States continued to evolve, slowly expanding its democratic principles through debate, reform, and the persistent efforts of those who demanded a more inclusive and just society.
Temporary Peace
Abraham Lincoln (1858):
“As I would not be a slave, so would I not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.”
Following the American Civil War, the United States entered an uneasy truce marked by both hope for national healing and deep, lingering divisions. The Union’s victory ended slavery and preserved the nation, but Reconstruction exposed sharp conflicts over how to rebuild the South and integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into civic life. Federal efforts to enforce civil rights met fierce resistance from white supremacists and former Confederates, leading to violence, political turmoil, and the eventual rise of segregationist laws. Though the country was technically reunited, the social and racial wounds of the war remained unhealed, leaving a legacy of tension that would shape American society for generations to come.
A World at War
Woodrow Wilson (1917):
“We entered this war because violations of right had occurred which touched us to the quick and made the life of our own people impossible unless they were corrected and the world secured once for all against their recurrence.”
During the World Wars, the United States underwent dramatic social, economic, and cultural transformations. World War I marked the nation’s emergence as a global power, with industry booming and citizens rallying around the war effort, even as dissent and civil liberties were sometimes suppressed. By World War II, the country became the “arsenal of democracy,” mobilizing millions of workers and soldiers while reshaping the economy for total war. Women and minorities took on new roles in factories and the military, challenging traditional social boundaries, though discrimination and inequality persisted. At home, rationing, propaganda, and a sense of shared sacrifice unified much of the population, setting the stage for America’s postwar rise as a world leader.
Free at Last?
Martin Luther King Jr. (1968)
“If America does not use her vast resources of wealth to end poverty and make it possible for all of God’s children to have the basic necessities of life, she too will go to hell.”
The Civil Rights Movement in the United States was a long and difficult struggle to end racial segregation and achieve equality under the law for African Americans. From the 1950s through the 1960s, activists faced violence, arrests, and intimidation as they challenged deeply rooted systems of discrimination in schools, public spaces, and voting rights. Peaceful protests, sit-ins, and marches—such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington—brought national attention to the injustices faced by Black Americans. Despite fierce resistance, landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 marked major victories. Yet, the movement’s struggles underscored that equality required not just new laws, but a profound change in the nation’s conscience.
Portent
Barack Obama, 2020:
“True democracy is a project that’s much bigger than any one of us. It’s bigger than any one person, any one president, any one government. It’s a job for all of us. It requires everyday sustained effort from all of us — the work of perfecting our union is never finished.”
In the 21st century, the United States has faced complex societal struggles and conflicts that reflect deep political, economic, and cultural divisions. Issues such as racial inequality, immigration, economic disparity, and debates over healthcare and education have fueled tension and sometimes civil unrest. Political polarization and the rise of misinformation have challenged trust in institutions and strained democratic norms. At the same time, movements advocating for social justice, environmental action, and human rights have highlighted the nation’s ongoing efforts to confront inequity and redefine its values. These struggles illustrate that, even in a modern and technologically advanced society, the pursuit of unity, fairness, and a more inclusive democracy remains a work in progress.
The democracy of the United States faces a precarious and increasingly fragile state, marked by deep political polarization, attacks on voting rights, and widespread distrust in institutions. Efforts to undermine elections, manipulate information, and erode checks and balances have raised concerns about the resilience of the nation’s democratic norms. Social and economic inequalities, combined with partisan media and declining civic engagement, further strain the foundations of governance. While the United States has long been a symbol of democratic ideals, these challenges highlight that its democracy is neither guaranteed nor immune to internal threats, requiring vigilance, accountability, and active participation from citizens to preserve its survival.