“A MORE PERFECT UNION: Musical Reflections on Five Amendments to the U.S. Constitution” will present concerts in months prior to America's 250th, interpreting constitutional amendments through the lens of contemporary music. New commissions and existing works by 30 diverse American composers, including 8 Pulitzer and Grammy Award-winners, and 11 World Premieres by Philadelphia composers, will examine our nation’s blueprint for democracy, provoking both profoundly serious and light-hearted thoughts on freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition; the right to bear arms; the abolition of slavery; women’s suffrage; and the repeal of prohibition. 

The U.S. Constitution was authored by forward-thinking “Founding Fathers,” who were in hindsight, far from perfect men. It therefore comes as no surprise that some extremely important and blatantly obvious rights were omitted in their first edition! A MORE PERFECT UNION will explore legislation that was necessary to improve the foundational structure of our government, penned here in Philadelphia, with a series of free and pay-as-you-wish events at historic sites and indoor/outdoor venues, concluding with a musical bar-crawl. 

Concert: Cherry Street Pier

Monday, June 8, 7:00 pm, Free or Pay As You Wish

Jay Krush – Some Assembly Required (flashmob)

Second Amendment Highlights

    Philly Fife & Drum Company

    Raven Chacon – Report

    Thomas Whitman – Fanfare for the 2nd Amendment / Say It Loud!

Chuck Butler – Stop the Presses: A Cautionary Tale