Composer/performer Gabriel Kahane stopped by for the Nonesuch Selects video series, in which artists visit the Nonesuch office, pick some of their favorite albums from the music library, and share a few words on their choices. He chose recordings by Ambrose Akinmusire, Punch Brothers, Sam Amidon, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Richard Goode & Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Fred Hersch, and his father, Jeffrey Kahane.

"To Be American," from Gabriel Kahane's 2022 album Magnificent Bird. Kahane both mines and interrogates nostalgia in the song, which he wrote during the roiling, national tumult of October 2020. "It's fitting,” he says, “that a song preoccupied with the past would feature musicians who are some of my oldest friends. This song, as much as any on the album, is a showcase of my musical community." The video, directed by Robert Edridge-Waks, contains excerpts from “ALCF James Kilgore Films Clip 5220” by James Kilgore (CC BY 4.0) and “West Palm Beach FL Candlelight Vigil -Occupy Our Homes- 12-6-2011” by flymaus (CC BY 3.0).

"Sit Shiva," from Gabriel Kahane's 2022 album Magnificent Bird, finds the composer/singer/songwriter skirting the rules of his digital hiatus in order to mourn, online, the death of his maternal grandmother; in typical fashion, he mines not just pathos, but humor and grace amidst his family’s grief. The video, directed by Kahane and Robert Edridge-Waks, contains excerpt from "New York stock shots" by Urban Safari Film Inc. (C) 1995 City of Vancouver (CC BY 3.0).

Gabriel Kahane's "Little Love," from his 2018 album, Book of Travelers. Video by Robert Edridge-Waks.

Gabriel Kahane's "What If I Told You," from his 2018 album, Book of Travelers. Video by Robert Edridge-Waks. Original footage by Tamara Ober.

Gabriel Kahane's "Baltimore," from his 2018 album, Book of Travelers. Video by Robert Edridge-Waks. Original footage by Tamara Ober.

Gabriel Kahane's "Model Trains," from his 2018 album, Book of Travelers. Video by Robert Edridge-Waks. Original footage by Jim Findlay.

Gabriel Kahane's "November," from his 2018 album, Book of Travelers. Video by Robert Edridge-Waks. Original footage by Jim Findlay.