Ever since I made the decision to pursue a career in music, I have done everything I can to immerse myself in every aspect of it, from performance to research. So, when I hit a dead-end with my initial plans to write an essay on the similarities between Presidents Obama and Lincoln, I turned to what I knew best. I went to Mugar at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night and pulled every music score I could find that had something to do with Abraham Lincoln. The variety of viewpoints, interpretations, and formats that these pieces held was an inspiring look into how Abraham Lincoln’s legacy was interpreted musically throughout the twentieth century.
LUCAS LAVOIE is a rising sophomore in the College of Fine Arts, studying clarinet performance and music education. He was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and spent his childhood enjoying music, video games, and all the natural wonders the Southwestern desert has to offer. He would like to thank Professor Shawn for his encouragement and support on this topic, his middle and high school band directors Mr. Robinson, Mr. Irish, Mr. Seaton, and Dr. Messier for sending him down this path, and Mugar Library for their valuable collection of scores and books.