Cellist brings songs of patriotism, protest and praise to Carmel

Cellist and historian Alex Prizgintas will use music to explore the many ways Americans have expressed patriotism, faith, solidarity and dissent when he brings his distinctive amplified-cello performance to Reed Memorial Library in Carmel Hamlet next month. 

“America: Songs of Patriotism, Protest, and Praise” will be presented Friday, Sept. 11, at 5 p.m. at the library. The program will combine music and storytelling, drawing from hymns, patriotic anthems and songs of protest and resistance that reflect different aspects of the American experience. 

Rather than offering a traditional cello recital, Prizgintas uses technology more commonly associated with rock musicians to transform the sound of his instrument. His setup includes distortion, delay and wah-wah guitar pedals, along with a looping station that allows him to layer different cello parts and build what he describes as a “wall of sound” through a 1,000-watt amplifier. 

The result is a program that can move among musical styles and eras, incorporating elements of baroque, jazz, folk and rock ’n’ roll. 

Prizgintas accompanies the music with narration that provides historical background on the songs and the eras in which they emerged, making the performance part concert and part history lesson. 

“In these shows, not only do I gather music but also reinterpret it with tools such as a looping station, guitar effect pedals, a mixer, and an amp, and share it in a format that is part drama, part concert, a bit of storytelling, and mostly a show,” he said. 

That combination of music and history reflects Prizgintas’ own varied background. 

In addition to being a classically trained cellist, he graduated summa cum laude from Marist College with an undergraduate degree in regional history and later earned a graduate degree there in public administration. He also serves as president of the Woodbury Historical Society and as town historian for Woodbury in Orange County. 

Prizgintas said those interests have given him two distinct audiences — people who know him through his cello performances and those familiar with his lectures on regional history. 

“My bifurcated interests certainly keep me busy developing new stories to share about our Hudson River Valley as well as expanding my concert programs that strive to keep audiences engaged, enlightened, and hopefully entertained,” he said. 

“America: Songs of Patriotism, Protest, and Praise” is built around the idea that freedom of speech and religion are cornerstones of American democracy and that music has long provided a vehicle for Americans to express both their shared ideals and their differences. 

The performance will be held at Reed Memorial Library in Carmel on Friday, Sept. 11, at 5 p.m. Registration is required. To register, visit the Reed Memorial Library website or call 845-225-2439. More information about Prizgintas and samples of his performances and lectures are available at alexprizgintas.com. 

Article provided by Alex Prizgintas