Take a tour through music history – from chant to present day – through the lens of the motet. What's a "motet", you ask? Is it real, you ask? We are not entirely sure. Composer Mark Buller, whose music has been performed worldwide, and who has been commissioned by organizations like Houston Grand Opera, will be your tour guide. Get on board the great Classroom coaster. We have cupholders and a great soundsystem. Audio production by Todd "Tween" Hulslander with insightful insight from Dacia Clay...
Sep 29, 2014•39 min•Ep. 61
A small step in the evolution of the trumpet. "Ear Trumpet 1". Photo by Eknath Gomphotherium, used with permission. How did the trumpet morph from a simple horn that announced kings and queens, in to the sophisticated, nuanced instrument it is today? Monumental Brass Quintet trumpet player, public school music teacher, and inventor of the Buzz Clip brass player training tool, Mark DiClaudio tells how Haydn's Trumpet Concerto and a guy named Anton Weidinger literally poked holes in the instrument...
Sep 22, 2014•26 min•Ep. 60
In this episode, Classical 91.7's Saturday Morning Music host and contra dancer extraordinaire, Amy Bishop takes Dacia on a journey with Smetana, Strauss, and Gershwin to learn about tone poems, invoking a surprising number of mermaids and mimes. Audio production by Todd Hulslander with "insightful" suggestions from Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: Smetana's "The Moldau" from Tchaikovsky/Smetana , Chesky CD65 Richard Strauss' "Death and Transfiguration" from Metamorphosen, Tod Un...
Sep 15, 2014•36 min•Ep. 9
In this episode, conductor Brett Mitchell — Assistant Conductor for the Cleveland Orchestra, man of too many accolades to mention, and former Assistant Conductor of the Houston Symphony — talks about John Williams' use of leitmotif in the score to the original Star Wars movie. Listen, you must. Audio production by Todd "Tatooine" Hulslander, with use of the Force by Dacia Clay. For more about Brett Mitchell: www.brettmitchellconductor.com...
Sep 08, 2014•32 min•Ep. 4
Think you know your classical tunes? Play along in this host-humiliating "drop the needle" quiz show! Test your skills while listening to quiz master, Opera Cheat Sheet host, and Classical 91.7 program director St. John Flynn point and laugh at Dacia. Good luck! Send us an email to let us know how you do: dclay@houstonpublicmedia.org . Classical 91.7 program director St. John Flynn with Whoopee cushion. Photo by Dacia Clay. Audio production by Todd "Test Mastah" Hulslander with a really good try...
Sep 01, 2014•36 min•Ep. 59
The human voice is (very probably, we're pretty darn sure) the first classical music instrument. Grammy-nominated producer, choral and orchestral instructor, and artistic director of Grace Song, Inc. , Keith Weber takes us on a journey through the evolution of choral work. He also explains why choir singers are generally in way less peril than opera singers. Audio production for this episode by Todd "Tasty" Hulslander with smart-mouthed comebacks from Dacia Clay....
Aug 25, 2014•28 min•Ep. 58
August is Arts Appreciation Month ! During August, Houston Public Media Arts and Culture is paying tribute to art forms that have inspired other art forms. We thought this Classical Classroom rerun fit with that theme perfectly, hence the rerunning. The remix has been alive as long as the Beastie Boys' "License to Ill". JK! It's been around for as long as music. Learn how composers have been inspired by, paid tribute to, given tips of the hat to, and plain ripped off, each other since the very b...
Aug 18, 2014•34 min•Ep. 17
Take an interstellar journey to one of classical music's most influential works. Climb aboard the great Classroom space coaster for a trip to Gustav Holst's The Planets ! Composer, MusicLab intern, and self-described professional nerd Joshua Zinn is our captain on this journey through one of classical music's most influential and popular works. Who was Holst? How did he write the music for Star Wars before the movie existed!? How does one actually pronounce "Uranus"? All of these questions and m...
Aug 11, 2014•36 min•Ep. 57
Producer Todd is "out of town on vacation" this week, so we are bringing this oldie-but-goodie out of the vault. Hope you enjoy it! If you do, check out Classical 91.7's River Oaks Chamber Orchestra broadcasts every Wednesday in August. Go here for more info. In this episode, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra's Artistic Director, founder, and principal oboist, Alecia Lawyer takes Dacia inside the mind of an oboe player. In this strange world, people grow their own (bamboo), enjoy fame alongside Willi...
Aug 04, 2014•25 min•Ep. 10
Giuseppe Verdi: composer of Aida , La Traviata , Falstaff , and haver of an adorable Italian accent. But as Eric Skelly – cohost of the Opera Cheat Sheet podcast and Buffy the Vampire Slayer superfan – tells us, Verdi was so much more. He was an innovator who changed opera forever. Learn about how he did this and who he was in this episode! Audio production by Todd "With a T" Hulslander with nervous pacing by Dacia Clay. All music in this episode by Giuseppe Verdi. For more about Opera Cheat She...
Jul 28, 2014•40 min•Ep. 56
It's Classical Classroom's first field trip! We go to the studio of Early Music expert and musician, Matthew Dirst – home to the professor's lovely harpsichord. Matthew transports us to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, when there was a harpsichord in (almost) every home. He also tells us what's going on in Harpsichordia now, and what may be to come. Audio production by Todd "Tickling the Ivories" Hulslander, with backup dancing by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode: – Music of the Hydra...
Jul 21, 2014•22 min•Ep. 55
You're at a classical music concert. The music stops and the crowd goes wild! Wait. No. Only YOU are going wild. And everyone is staring at you. You sink down low in your seat and hide… Don't let this happen to you! Listen to this enlightening episode of Classical Classroom with MusicLab intern Zoe Miller to find out when it is and isn't a good idea to clap, and why. Learn about the movements of a symphony and how to tell where you are in a performance. Yaaaay! Audio production by Todd "Tiberius...
Jul 14, 2014•31 sec•Ep. 54
We put on our pith helmets, grab our binoculars, and train our compasses south for this Classical Classroom expedition to Brazil and Argentina. Pianist and educator Tali Morgulis talks about composers Villa-Lobos, Ginastera, Prado, and Piazzolla, how the classical music of South America differs from that of Europe, and…the tango! Audio production by Todd "Tango" Hulslander, with nuevo by Dacia Clay. All music used in this episode comes from the CD Archipelago of Light by Tali Morgulis: – Sonata ...
Jul 07, 2014•31 sec•Ep. 53
In this special 4th of July edition of Classical Classroom Research Presentations, Dacia ponders why Americans listen to Russian music on their Independence Day. She uncovers the [not really that] secret history of how one man and his love of pyrotechnics made Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture the theme music for America's most patriotic celebration. Written, produced, and otherwise manhandled by Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: – Pyotr Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture , Boston Pops Orchest...
Jun 30, 2014•6 min
Ravel's Boléro . Next to most of the soundtrack to Koyaanisqatsi , it's possibly the most repetitive piece of music ever written, amiright (respect, Philip Glass)? As it turns out, I am wrong, so wrong. In fact, Boléro is a piece built entirely around change. Howard Pollack, professor at Moores School of Music, author, lecturer, and guest on BBC specials and NPR shows like Morning Edition and Fresh Air , is our tour guide through this amazing piece of music by a very subtle and sneaky composer. ...
Jun 23, 2014•31 sec•Ep. 52
Franz Schubert was a man on a mission, distracted from composing music by neither the praise of Beethoven, nor the prospect of his own death. But the dude still had to pay the rent. Internationally acclaimed classical pianist, music teacher, and performer Clive Swansbourne explains what "impromptus" were, and how Schubert took them to the next level with the power of the pinky finger. Audio production by Todd "Drop It Like It's Todd" Hulslander with backup dancing by Dacia Clay. Music used in th...
Jun 16, 2014•31 sec•Ep. 51
How did classical guitar – and therefore, all guitar as we know it – almost become extinct? Who was the hero who saved it from the brink of doom? Why aren't guitars an orchestral instrument? And why are guitarists nails so shiny? Classical guitarist Valerie Hartzell – member of the Presti Trio and director of the Classical Minds Guitar Institute – answers all of these burning questions and more in the big 5-0 episode of Classical Classroom. Audio production by Todd "Terrific" Hulslander with "he...
Jun 09, 2014•35 min•Ep. 50
How are the Black Keys and Beethoven alike? They both had the low-down dirty blues. JK! They both compose(d) music for two instruments! You've heard his symphonies. Now hear cellist Norman Fischer – of the Fischer Duo , the Concord String Quartet, and Rice University's Shepherd School of Music – talk about Beethoven's chamber works for cello and piano. Why did Beethoven create music for a new, tiny arrangement of instruments? Did he do it for the dolla dolla billz? Did he do it to impress a king...
Jun 02, 2014•31 min•Ep. 49
Since it's the end of National Chamber Music Month , we thought it would be fitting to give you a taste of our upcoming episode, featuring Norman Fischer. Norman plays cello in the Fischer Duo, and is on the Board of Directors at Chamber Music America , the group who invented National Chamber Music Month. The full episode will be coming your way Monday, June 2nd! Audio production by Todd " Totaled Todd " Hulslander with catering by Dacia Clay. Music in this preview: – Sonata in A Major, Op. 69 b...
May 30, 2014•7 min
Take in tenor types with two of the Texas Tenors. How, exactly, does one know that he is a "light lyric tenor," or a "Spinto tenor," or a "dramatic tenor"? Is there like, a Tenor Task Team? Two members of the Texas Tenors – JC Fisher and John Hagen – teach the types of tenor to us. We also learn about "classical crossover" music and why it is a gateway drug, turning innocent classical music newbies into addicts by the thousands. By the way, if you like this episode, check out the Texas Tenors on...
May 27, 2014•33 min•Ep. 48
Dacia Clay is either presenting a case to the Supreme Court or having a pint in Adams Morgan, I can't remember which. Anyway, she has not shown up to work, so we are going to re-run a previous show about chamber music. What's that? It is National Chamber Music Month? Well now, that just works out, doesn't it? Enjoy… –Todd Chamber music, performing live as a group, and how movement informs music! In this episode, WindSync wind quintet talk about all of those things and about life as a touring gro...
May 19, 2014•21 min•Ep. 24
Learn 100% more about the tuba in this episode than you've ever known! Norwegian tuba soloist and chamber musician Øystein Baadsvik is the only tuba virtuoso in the world to make a career exclusively as a soloist. He is also the only tuba player in the world to have a great story about touring with a punk band. He joins us all the way from Norway to tell us about this shadowy instrument: its size, its repertoire, and its fnugg. Audio production by Todd "Tall Texan" Hulslander with slings and arr...
May 12, 2014•37 min•Ep. 47
May is National Chamber Music Month ! Oh, what? You're not excited? Maybe that's because you don't know exactly what chamber music is yet. Which means you should probably listen to this research presentation to find out more about it. Then you, too, can get excited about a form of music that's had an effect on everything from symphonies to garage bands. Whoo chamber music!! Audio production by Todd "T Bone" Hulslander with apoplectic paroxysms of approval from Dacia Clay. Music in this research ...
May 05, 2014•6 min
What do we mean when we say "classical music"? Sure, sure: it refers to a period of music, like "Baroque" or "Romantic". But we largely use the word as a sort of generic brand-name for a specific variety of sound. In this episode of Classical Classroom , genre-ignoring violinist Todd Reynolds attempts to define classical music. Does he succeed? Does he give up and just start talking about Prince instead? Maybe and maybe! Listen to this episode to find out. Audio production by Todd "Timbalander" ...
Apr 28, 2014•30 min•Ep. 46
That's not a violin – it's a woodbox! Daniel Bernard Roumain talks about creative appropriation in classical music. The Haitian-American composer's creative world was cracked open when he realized that everything – including the definition of "violin" – was ripe for reinterpretation. As a kid in garage bands, he took the decidedly uncool violin and made it his own. As a classically trained musician, he brings classical music together with hip hop, rock, bluegrass, and other genres to create his ...
Apr 21, 2014•28 min•Ep. 45
The bass: classical music's strange, lonesome hero. In this episode, bassist and composer Michael Kurth gives us a glimpse into the Bizarro World of bass players. Then, he talks about why he started composing, and what inspires him – including the Pixies and ring tones. Listen, if you dare! Audio production by Todd "Toasty" Hulslander with happy whistles, clicks, and beeps from Dacia Clay. Music in this episode includes: – Music from Michael Kurth's website: www.reverbnation.com/michaelkurth – "...
Apr 11, 2014•29 min•Ep. 44
Rachel Barton Pine , classical violinist, and member of the metal band Earthen Grave , has played with orchestras all over the world, and under the baton of many renowned conductors. But in this episode of the Classical Classroom, she comes back to a piece – over, and over, and over, and over – studied by every young violin player. Rachel shows us how Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E Minor has been interpreted by violinists across history and cultures, and how this ebullient piece is given new...
Apr 04, 2014•33 min
Coming at you this Friday, Rachel Barton Pine teaches all about the many different sounds of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E Minor. Hear how violinists have interpreted the piece over the years, and learn why Rachel was dressed like a cowgirl.
Apr 02, 2014•31 sec
It's Women's History Month up in the Classroom! Houston Public Media's own Amy Bishop (see also, Episode 9: Tone Poems) teaches us all about female classical music composers, from the millennia-old ethereal sounds of Hildegard von Bingen , to the contemporary works of Jennifer Higdon . Why have so many women composed classical music but so few have become household names (yet)? We jiu jitsu that question and others in this episode! Audio production by Todd "von Toddgen" Hulslander with double-pl...
Mar 28, 2014•34 min•Ep. 42
Pattern preludes are enigmas inside of conundrums wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. No – wait. That's not right… Pattern preludes, according to composer Karim Al-Zand's website, are, "…pieces constrained by a single idea (usually a rhythmic or textural ostinato) through which a composer expresses a narrowly focused thought. Patterning is especially well-suited to preludes, which are by convention short, concise and introductory." Bach, Chopin, Debussy, and others wrote pattern preludes. These li...
Mar 13, 2014•34 min•Ep. 41
