CEDILLE MARKS RUTH BADER GINSBURG’S BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY WITH PATRICE MICHAELS’ “ON THE JOYS OF RECORDED MUSIC”

Cedille released On the Joys of Recorded Music, a digital single, just ahead of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s birthday on March 15. Written by soprano and composer Patrice Michaels, the song is performed by “luminous” (New York Times) soprano Alisa Jordheim and Chicago collaborative pianist extraordinaire Kuang-Hao Huang. The piece adapts the text of a 1999 letter from Justice David H. Souter to James Ginsburg, founder and President of Cedille Records and son of Justice Ginsburg, expressing Souter’s delight on hearing a then-recent Cedille recording. Originally composed as part of Michaels’ song cycle, THE LONG VIEW: A Portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Nine Songs, featured on the critically acclaimed 2018 release Notorious RBG in Song, the piece was withdrawn and not recorded or released at the time due to permission constraints.

As she conceived and created THE LONG VIEW, Michaels gathered stories, including some standouts from members of Justice Ginsburg’s family, and sought permission to incorporate them into the cycle. Among these was a etter Justice Souter sent to James Ginsburg, praising Rachel Barton Pine’s Cedille debut recording, Handel: The Sonatas for Violin and Continuo. In the letter, Souter marvels at the emotional impact of the recording, writing that it moved him as deeply as any live performance, and expresses gratitude for both the music and the experience of hearing it. Charmed by his mix of humor and sincerity, Michaels composed a setting of the letter’s text as “On the Joys of Recorded Music.” After completing the song, she attempted to contact Justice Souter multiple times; she eventually learned that, as a matter of long-standing personal policy, he did not permit the publication of any of his writings that might result in “financial gain” during his lifetime.

“I had to shelve the song… There was nothing I could do except quietly chuckle at the notion that this music was likely to result in financial gain… so I put ‘On the Joys of Recorded Music’ in the drawer,” Michaels recounts. After Souter’s passing in 2025, the rights to the letter transferred to Jim (as the recipient), reopening the opportunity for the song’s release.

“The song pays homage to Handel, to Rachel Barton Pine’s artistry, to Jim Ginsburg’s vision to record and distribute performances of this brilliance, and to a very special mother’s pride at her son’s accomplishment. It was utterly delightful for me to weave Justice Souter’s words into a baroque-infected, jazz-meets-classical song style. Alisa and Kuang-Hao’s performances bring out every nuance.” – Patrice Michaels

On the Joys of Recorded Music is made possible by support from the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fund for Vocal Recordings at Cedille Records.

Through its Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fund for Vocal Recordings, Cedille continues to honor the late Justice’s legacy by championing vocal music, RBG’s lifelong passion. Cedille thus fosters projects that reflect her love for the art form while supporting the artists who bring these works to life.