On the afternoon and evening of March 25, 1911, a devastating fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City killed 146 workers, many of them young immigrant women trapped behind locked doors and inadequate fire escapes. In a horrifying scene that shocked onlookers, a number of workers jumped from the upper floors to escape the flames. The tragedy served to expose brutal factory conditions and, despite the owners later being acquitted in court, sparked sweeping workplace safety reforms and strengthened the growing labor movement in America. The victims of this disaster would be commemorated, and given voice, in 2019 by McArthur "Genius" Grant winner Julia Wolfe in a new work comissioned by the New York Philmarmonic. This afternoon, in honor the 115th anniversary of the tragedy, and in cunjunction with Women's History Month we will hear the world premiere recording of Julia Wolf's deeply moving musical account of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, its background and aftermath—Fire in my Mouth.
Foley Schuler's musical selections—and stories behind the music—can be heard every weekday afternoon from 1 until 4 on Blue Lake Public Radio.
