Time Stands Still

As part of the Smithsonian’s yearlong celebration of America’s 250^th anniversary, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the 21st Century Consort, with Folger Consort and Gamelan Raga Kusama, present Time Stands Still, a monumental musical experience in the historic Arts and Industries Building. Spanning time and traditions, the program celebrates the richness of American creativity through music that reflects the nation’s enduring capacity for innovation and cultural exchange.

The program highlights Korean American composer Juri Seo’s luminous reimagining of America the Beautiful, offering a contemporary reflection on a familiar national anthem, and culminates with Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of American music. Drawing inspiration from musical traditions ranging from medieval European chant to the interlocking rhythms of Balinese gamelan, Reich’s landmark composition transforms diverse influences into a distinctly American artistic language. In this sense, the work serves as a musical metaphor for the American…