Take a Musical Journey Through Stuyvesant Square Park
Bring your headphones and let the park come alive in a whole new way. We’ve created a Spotify playlist (about 1 hour) inspired by the art, history, and tranquility of Stuyvesant Square Park. Each piece was chosen to echo the park’s landscapes, sculptures, and quiet corners—turning a simple walk or sitting on a bench into a sensory journey.
🎧 “Stuyvesant Square Park Playlist”
1. Antonín Dvořák — “Largo” from Symphony No. 9 in E minor, From the New World (1893) ~12 min
A must-have centerpiece. Dvořák lived nearby on East 17th Street while composing this symphony—a meditation on America’s landscapes and spirituals. The sculpture of him in the park commemorates that creative period.
2. Aaron Copland — Suite from Appalachian Spring: VIII. Moderato (1945) ~3 min
Evokes open skies and renewal—ideal for a morning walk. Copland’s Shaker-inspired optimism pairs beautifully with the park’s gardens.
3. Duke Ellington — “In a Sentimental Mood” (1935) ~4 min
Harlem’s jazz master reflects on the quiet grace of New York life. Imagine this drifting through the trees at sunset.
4. George Gershwin — “Walking the Dog (Promenade)” from Shall We Dance (1937) ~3 min
A witty, urbane piece—perfectly literal for park strollers and their canine companions.
5. Charles Ives — “Central Park in the Dark” (1906) ~7 min
A New Yorker’s avant-garde love letter to the sounds of the city and nature merging. A nighttime counterpoint to Dvořák’s daylight.
6. Florence Price — “Adoration” (1951) ~4 min
Lyrical, tender, and quietly spiritual—mirrors the park’s contemplative spaces and the nearby St. George’s Church.
7. Billy Strayhorn — “Chelsea Bridge” (1941) ~4 min
Moody, impressionistic jazz inspired by a city bridge, evoking the neighborhood’s architectural grace.
8. Leonard Bernstein — “Somewhere” from West Side Story (1957) ~3 min
A yearning New York melody about peace and belonging—echoing the park’s role as a shared public refuge.
9. Philip Glass — “Opening” from Glassworks (1981) ~6 min
Minimalist, hypnotic, and modern—a downtown energy that reflects the city’s ongoing pulse beyond the park gates.
10. Judy Collins — “Both Sides Now” (1967, written by Joni Mitchell) ~4 min
A reflective coda. Folk warmth meets urban melancholy—ideal for sitting on a bench beneath the trees.
👉 Listen to the “Stuyvesant Square Playlist” on Spotify (you will need a free Spotify account)
Slow down, listen deeply, and rediscover Stuyvesant Square Park through music. Enjoy.