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Midnight Music: Threnody to The Victims of Hiroshima
Krzysztof Penderecki was born on this day in 1933. He burst onto the international scene with the piece shown here, Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima. His music can be heard on films like The Shining, The Exorcist, Children of Men, and several David Lynch movies. This dedication to the victims of Hiroshima actually came several years after the premiere of this piece. In 1964, Penderecki wrote: "Let the Threnody express my firm belief that the sacrifice of Hiroshima will never be forgotten and lost." This piece perfects the use of tone clusters to create haunting dissonances that will leave you breathless. Enjoy.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
