America: Songs of Patriotism, Praise, & Protest with Alex Prizgintas

As part of Putnam Valley Library’s ongoing America 250 celebration, we are delighted to welcome back Alex Prizgintas—author, musician, historian, and preservationist—for an afternoon exploring the music that has shaped American democracy.

From the nation’s founding onward, the freedoms of speech and religion have formed a cornerstone of civic life. This program examines how patriotism, praise (faith), and protest have worked together as vital forces within American culture. Through key hymns, noble anthems of patriotism, and songs of solidarity and resistance, Alex reveals how music has given voice to belief, dissent, unity, and change.

Blending historical insight with live cello performance, America: Songs of Patriotism, Praise, & Protest highlights how these musical traditions reflect our differences—and how those differences have helped form a stronger, more resilient democracy.