E Pluribus Unum
Didgeridoo - Josh Merlis
Didgeridoo - Alex Feaser
Bongos- James Johnson
Congas - Jon Smolin
Tambourine - Mike Grecco
Bass - Nick Macchia
Guitar - Mr. Mastrota
Agogo bell - Mike Grecco
Cowbell - James Johnson
Guiro - Mike Grecco
Clave - Josh Merlis
A few hours after the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, it appointed a committee to design a seal for the United States that would symbolize its national sovereignty. The committee members -Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams-prepared a very complicated design that Congress failed to act on. However, one prominent feature survived in the version Congress ultimately approved - the motto E Pluribus Unum, Latin for "Out of Many, One."
From Our Documents, 100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives
Throughout the history of America, the consolidation of different groups of people has not always been easy or peaceful; there is always the potential for increased tolerance and respect. Part of the original American experiment was an attempt to create a social environment where different groups of individuals, from different ethnic origins, and with different religious and philosophical beliefs could peacefully live together as one united people. It is interesting to think about how much America has influenced the world since 1776.
The last song, E Pluribus Unum, was composed without lyrics. By recording a diverse assortment of musical instruments including two Australian aboriginal didgeridoos, we experimented with the idea that we could create some kind of harmony out of all the different sounds. For the last song of the CD, we tried to let the music speak.
Mr. Mastrota
All songs and essays are the intellectual property of their respective authors and are protected under United States copyright laws. The image on the inside label is credited to Mark Hess. The CD design is the Original Design of the Great Seal of the United States as reproduced from Our Documents, 100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives. History Raps & History Rocks is ™ Peter Mastrota 2001. A Music History of the American People is Copyright © South Studio Productions 2004. Site design is Copyright NuTech Web & Services © 2005. All Rights Reserved.
