Remembering Sept. 11th with Music

The September Concert has free performances around the world each Sept. 11th.

Drawing on the power of music to soothe and heal, The September Concert was established to allow people in New York City (and all over the world) hear music for free each September 11th. There were at least two dozen events scheduled in New York City today and tonight, from the plaza in front of the New York Public Library main branch (Fifth Ave. and 42nd St.) to various parks and even in subway stations.

I've been to September Concert events several times over the last few years, and have found them to be just what I was looking for: a way to observe or mark 9/11, but in a low-key way, without speeches, lines, or crowds.

Though many of September Concert events have already occurred by the time of this posting, a number are going on tonight. Here are a few notable selections:

• Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen St.): Stage One has music until 1 a.m.: 7 p.m. - Josh Lovell; 8 p.m. - Dani Elliott; 9 p.m. - Alfonso Velez; 10 p.m. - Aiden Moore; 11 p.m. - Dirty Bullets; 12 a.m. - Freddie Stevenson
  
• Rockwood Music Hall: Stage Two has a program from 7 p.m. until 11:30: 7 p.m. - Monica Allison; 8 p.m. - NICKCASEY; 9:15 p.m. - Jesse Ruben; 10:15 p.m. - Kyle Patrick
  
• "The Heart of Jazz" concert at Ashford and Simpson's Sugar Bar (254 West 72nd Street): More than 50 top NYC jazz artists gather for a marathon concert, 2 to 10 p.m.
  
• Vocal music at St. Patrick's Cathedral (14 E 51st St.): featuring the Choir of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York Choral Society, and Young People's Chorus of New York City, 7 to 8 p.m.

 UPDATE: One of the September Concert events was a classical concert in a unique location: the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Temple of Dendur. The concert featured several pieces addressing loss and remembrance, performed by the Wordless Music Orchestra. You can listen to the Temple of Dendur concert and read about it here. (You can stream the concert or download it as a podcast.)

Is there any music you listen to on Sept. 11th that helps you deal with the events of 2001, especially on this 10th anniversary? WNYC Radio in New York has been playing listener suggestions this afternoon, and they have ranged from Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" to Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" — an odd mix, to be sure.