Make Music New York Comes to the 9/11 Memorial Plaza
Since 2014, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum has participated in Make Music New York (MMNY), an annual musical celebration phenomenon that fills New York City with music each year on June 21, the longest day of the year. Now entering its 12th year, MMNY hosts more than 1,000 free performances in public spaces throughout the five boroughs.
This year, the 9/11 Memorial is proud to be partnering with MMNY to present an open-call performance of Mozart’s “Requiem in D Minor, K. 626” at 12:30 p.m. on the 9/11 Memorial Glade. This musical tribute is presented in partnership with the music and art department of the Borough of Manhattan Community College.
The performance is inspired by a project called the “Rolling Requiem,” which took place in 2002 on the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Initially spearheaded by the Seattle Symphony Chorale, the project organized 145 performances of Mozart’s Requiem that day in 40 states and 23 countries, in honor of those killed in the attacks.
Later in the evening, beginning at 5:00 p.m., a rotating cast of dozens of pianists will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s “The Well-Tempered Clavier” on four grand pianos located on each corner of the 9/11 Memorial plaza. The musicians participating in “WTC @ WTC” range in age and skill level, and will provide three hours of continuous music. Pianos are generously provided by PIANOPIANO.
To watch a portion of last year’s performances, click here.
By Courtney Slack, Events and Special Projects Coordinator, 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Tuesday, June 12, marks the second anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., in which 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded by a gunman. During a tribute at the 9/11 Memorial in the days following the tragedy, then 9/11 Memorial & Museum President Joe Daniels said that the 9/11 community mourned with the city of Orlando and the families and friends of the victims.
Paying tribute to first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice is why the New York City Police Department and New York Fire Department have made a visit to the 9/11 Memorial part of their recruits’ official training. Since many of those who join the NYPD or FDNY follow their father or a loved one into the service, many times one of those recruits is honoring their own father who was killed as a result of the 9/11 attacks.