[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 37 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
[Page 1534]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 6820--Classical Music Month, 1995

September 9, 1995

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Classical music is one of the glories of the world, a living 
tradition that enriches the lives of millions of Americans. In the 
concert halls of our bustling cities, in the community centers of our 
small towns, and in countless homes everywhere, classical music brings 
joy and inspiration to our citizens. Its phrases and themes have long 
spoken to our national love of beauty and our common passion for 
spirited expression.
    More than one hundred years ago, the Bohemian composer Antonin 
Dvorak came to America--traveling from New York to Iowa to admire the 
awesome potential of this great land. The New World Symphony, Dvorak's 
tribute to our country, touches us still with its references to the 
music of Native American and African American people.
    Indeed, classical music is a universal language. Whether the 
musicians speak English, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, or Hebrew, all 
recognize the same notes. Whatever cultural tradition is evoked by its 
cords and rhythms, classical music stirs emotions we all share. Among 
the many music lovers gathered to enjoy a performance, each individual 
listener feels the powerful dynamism of music's resonant voice.
    This month, let us celebrate the artistic excellence that brings 
classical music to life. We honor the many remarkable composers, 
conductors, and performers of the past whose works continue to delight 
us, and we applaud today's musicians, whose talents remind us of the 
continuity and grandeur of the human experience. Each has contributed to 
the vast body of music that entertains and inspires people around the 
globe.
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the 
Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 
1995, as ``Classical Music Month.'' I call upon government officials, 
educators, community organizations, and all the people of the United 
States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
activities paying tribute to the extraordinary diversity and artistry of 
classical music.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of 
September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-five, and 
of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
twentieth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 10:47 a.m., September 
11, 1995]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on September 11, and it was published in the Federal Register 
on September 12.