The Americans are finished

I’m going to admit that the American bracket, here in The World Cup of Composers, is boring me to tears so let’s just get it over and done with so we can get on to the Germans and the Austrians.

Eric Whitacre versus Ferde Grofe. I like Grofe but Whitacre is trying to advance music in new ways such as his virtual choir. The virtual choir brings singers from over 100 countries together.

Henry Cowell versus Stephen Sondheim. This is an interesting one but Cowell wins. Sondheim might be the greatest of them all but his music is performed in a more theatrical style. Cowell is the dean of American classical music and advances.

Leonard Bernstein versus Amy Beach. Amy Beach is one of a few women in the Cup but she doesn’t have enough juice to oust Bernstein.

John Adams versus William Grant Still. William Grant Still was the first African-American to conduct a major orchestra in the U.S. and was the first African-American composer to have an opera broadcast on television but John Adams goes to the next round.