Conductor JoAnn Falletta walks through Rimsky-Korsakov's symphonic poem. Who was Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and why does he have two last names? And why would a 19th century Russian composer write a symphonic poem based on a collection of West and South Asian folk tales written in Arabic in the 16th century? What does it all mean?? Most* of these questions and more are all answered within by Buffalo Philharmonic / Virginia Symphony Orchestra conductor, guitarist, music advocate, and all around amaz...
Apr 20, 2015•34 min•Ep. 84
This week, composer Nico Muhly is premiering a brand new work, How Little You Are , in Austin. He talks about the classical (or, concert) music world's premiering process, and about how and why listening to classical music golden oldies is different than listening to a new work, about the inspiration for his new piece, and of course, about Prince. Music in this episode: – Mozart: Magic Flute. Conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. – Bach: Magnificat. – Stravinsky: Petrouchka. Michael Tilson Thomas co...
Apr 13, 2015•26 min•Ep. 83
Branford Marsalis ' stark 2014 solo album In My Solitude includes jazz standards like "Stardust" next to C.P.E. Bach's Sonata in A Minor for Oboe, Wq. 132. His jazz discography is peppered with classical releases. What's that all about?! Where do jazz and classical intersect? How is playing one different from the other – or is it? Find out in this episode! Branford Marsalis. Photo by Palma Kolansky. Courtesy of the artist's website. Audio production by Todd "The Twister" Hulslander with a firm h...
Apr 06, 2015•31 min•Ep. 82
March is Music in Our Schools month! In this second edition of our MusicWorks series, we take a field trip to an public high school that's a kind of music education utopia – Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) (or, Fame High School, as I like to imagine it). We chat with Brad Smith – HSPVA's orchestra conductor – and with two student musicians about classical music's role at their school and in their lives. Music in this episode all played by the HSPVA Orchestra and ...
Mar 30, 2015•31 min•Ep. 81
Producer Todd thought he needed to take a "vacation" with his "family" last week, so we are giving you this month-appropriate rerun before returning next week with a slew, a treasure trove, a veritable cornucopia of new episodes. Meanwhile, sit back, relax, and learn about these great women of classical music. – Dacia —————————————– 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 ...
Mar 23, 2015•34 min•Ep. 42
What's it like to be more or less the only character in a live, full-length opera, playing the role of a real-life intense person who lived life intensely, while accompanied by an electric guitar? Mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer dishes about playing Isabelle Eberhardt, the inspiration for Missy Mazzoli's opera Song from the Uproar: The Lives and Deaths of Isabelle Eberhardt , with the NOW Ensemble . Mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer. Photo courtesy of Ms. Fischer's website. Audio production by Todd "T...
Mar 16, 2015•28 min•Ep. 80
Why did the number of female guitarists diminish over time? Was it a comet?? Find out here! It's Women's History Month , and all month, we're bringing you amazing women in classical music! In this episode, guitarist Valerie Hartzell, creator/director of the Classical Minds Festival and Competition , talks about the ladies of classical guitar. Who are they? Why did their numbers diminish over time? And what can we do about it?? Audio production by Todd "Not Tony Danza" Hulslander with editing by ...
Mar 09, 2015•32 min•Ep. 79
Each day during February, we posted a "Classical Music Moment in Black History" on our Facebook page to show the contributions of black artists to classical music throughout history. We've collected our twenty-eight February entries in this article. By the way, these entries were originally part of an episode of the Classical Classroom podcast (audio included below). Composer Chevalier de Saint-Georges. In the mid-to-late 1700's, Chevalier de Saint-Georges was an Afro-French composer who was als...
Mar 06, 2015•12 min
"Indie-Classical", "Alt Classical", "Nonclassical"… whatever you want to call it, George Gershwin may have been one of the first people to do it. Pianist Simone Dinnerstein explains Gershwin's sound, its French influences, and what makes it uniquely classical. Pianist Simone Dinnerstein. Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco. Courtesy of Ms. Dinnerstein's website. Audio production by Todd "Teeny" Hulslander with editing by Mark DiClaudio, and one giant leap by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode: "Rhapsody...
Mar 02, 2015•20 min•Ep. 78
This episode is so old that Producer Todd didn't even have funny middle names yet. But it's so good that we wanted for you guys to hear it again. Because Debussy. And Tracy Jacobson. I mean, come on. Back next week with more new stuff! —————————– WindSync Wind Quintet bassoonist, Tracy Jacobson, takes Dacia along on her journey to continue her musical education as a professional musician. She steps outside of her comfort zone and into Debussy's piano works. Come with us to Paris, talk in your mu...
Feb 23, 2015•36 min•Ep. 12
Composer Stephen Paulus passed away last October and left a void in many hearts along with an amazing legacy. Composer Alex Freeman teaches about Paulus the man, and the music he left for us. Music in this episode (both by Stephen Paulus): – Pilgrims' Hymn – Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Composer Alex Freeman. Photo by Aino Launis. Courtesy of the composer's website. Audio production by Todd "Tastee Freez" Hulslander with punches and kicks from Dacia Clay. For more about Stephen Paulus: www....
Feb 16, 2015•42 min•Ep. 77
We're excited to share our new subseries, MusicWorks! It's a show where you'll learn about what classical music is doing in the world right now. You'll hear inspiring artist stories, plus we'll go into the sometimes unexpected places we've discovered classical music thriving while we've been learning about it on the Classical Classroom . We hope you dig it! In our first MusicWorks episode, soprano Sonya Yoncheva tells the story of how she happened upon her passion – singing opera – by being true...
Feb 09, 2015•27 min•Ep. 76
One of the distinguishing characteristics of chamber music is its inherent "democracy" – each part is of equal importance. Aaron Humble and Paul Rudoi of the Cantus Vocal Ensemble explain how it works when everyone involved in making the music is a special snowflake. Audio production by Todd "Sir Toddsalot" Hulslander with unflagging devotion to somethingerother by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode, all by Cantus: From A Harvest Home – "My Journey Yours" "How Can I Keep from Singing?" "The Pastu...
Feb 02, 2015•30 min•Ep. 75
Okay. So our HAL 9001 hasn't come in yet, and you're getting another rerun episode. But dang – it's a good one! And! We have so much new stuff we can't wait to share with you once HAL arrives. Stick with us! <3, Your friendly Classical Classroom production team ————————————————– All about the flute!! Joel Luks, CultureMap Houston editorial staffer and columnist, and classically trained flutist, teaches all about the history and surprising range of the dainty, lovely, badass, whale-sound-makin...
Jan 26, 2015•38 min•Ep. 21
What makes Mozart's violin concertos so special? Is it that he only wrote 5 of them? That he wrote him when he was a teenager? That they are both beautiful AND hilarious? What is it?? Violinist Rachel Barton Pine returns to the Classroom to spell out why these pieces are so special – generally and personally – that she decided to record all of them. Violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Photo by Andrew Eccles. Courtesy of rachelbartonpine.com.Audio production by Todd "Mr. Titters" Hulslander with that f...
Jan 19, 2015•24 min•Ep. 74
The HAL 9000 that we use to produce these little gems has met an untimely demise. Fear not! We've got a brand new HAL 9001 on order. Until next week, please enjoy this old gold from the Classroom vault. ——————————— Was Tchaikovsky's Symphony VI (aka "Pathetique", aka "Suicide Symphony") a suicide note or did he die of cholera, per the Official Word? You decide after this intweeging lesson with clarinetist and Shepherd School of Music Professor of Music, Michael Webster! Audio production by Todd ...
Jan 12, 2015•37 min•Ep. 28
Muzio Clementi is often called the "Father of the Piano" and is known for his sonatinas. But as it turns out, this smarty pants single-handedly changed classical music and made it what we know today. Jeremy Eskenazi, founder of the Muzio Clementi Society , tells all about the quiet mover and shaker in this episode – from a Tardis in Australia (seriously!). Jeremy Eskenazi, founder of the Muzio Clementi Society. Photo courtesy of the Society. Audio production for this episode by Todd "Tall Texan"...
Jan 05, 2015•35 min•Ep. 73
Think you know Beethoven's Fifth? Think again! Beethoven's Fifth. We've never done a show on it because everybody knows it! Right? Emily Reese, on air host for Classical Minnesota Public Radio, host of Top Score (part of the Infinite Guest podcast series), and creator of MPR's Learning to Listen , says that we are wrong, so wrong! Emily takes us through the entire symphony, which, as it turns out, is completely surprising and amazing. Plus, we play drinking games! Or at least give you some to pl...
Dec 29, 2014•39 min•Ep. 72
The former Moores School director and composer teaches us about carols, and shares some of his favorites. It's Christmastime in the Classroom! David Ashley White – Professor of Composition at (and former director of) the Moores School of Music , composer, and guy who writes hymns for actual hymnals – teaches us what makes a "carol" and shares some of his favorites with us. There are oldies, goodies, and stuff you've never heard. We assure you, it will put you in the Christmas spirit. Not the gho...
Dec 22, 2014•39 min•Ep. 71
Pianist, Shepherd School of Music professor, and recording artist Jon Kimura Parker – or as we like to call him, Captain Jon Solo – talks about the hidden world of the guest soloist. From the singular experience of performing with an orchestra in one ear and a concert hall in the other, to rehearsal times that will give you stage fright just hearing about them, it's a behind-the-scenes tell-all exposé of concertic proportions. (That's a word. We swear.) Audio production by Todd "The Tobogganator...
Dec 15, 2014•35 min•Ep. 70
Okay, I lied last week: Producer Todd is still working on the new Two Star Symphony album (for which we are pretty darn excited). But! Never fear: We have unearthed a timely gem from the vault to keep you busy until next week, when we will really for real have a new episode for you. Please enjoy! PS, The info about the Mozart Festival at the end of this episode is outdated. However, you can still find tons of information over at www.themozartfestival.org . —————————– Mozart's death, on December ...
Dec 08, 2014•7 min
(Producer Todd is off recording Two Star Symphony's new album right now (sweet!), so we have unearthed some old gold for you from the vault. Please enjoy this repeat of our class with conductor James Gaffigan. We'll be back next week with another spankin' new episode.) Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 is dramatic, cinematic, erratic, sarcastic, and full of existential longing – according to Chief Conductor of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, James Gaffigan. Why is it important to listen to this symp...
Dec 01, 2014•29 min•Ep. 39
Classical music: the future frontier. These are the voyages of the podcast Classical Classroom. It's mission: to explore strange new music – Sorry. I'll stop. Where was I? Right! Composer, performer, and Mannes College of Music composition faculty member, Missy Mazzoli talks to us about the future of classical music, from the future, aka, New York. Also talked about in this episode: Beth Morrison , Schoenberg, David Little , pillow fights, Lars von Trier , eighth blackbird , Richard Reed Parry ,...
Nov 25, 2014•35 min•Ep. 69
What makes creativity? Is it money? Is it a gift from the Powers That Be? Is it won through trials and tribulations? Shepherd School of Music Professor of Violin Kenneth Goldsmith unveils the ancient formula. He looks at how Haydn, Grieg, and Ravel – composers from different life circumstances and different times – all used their mysterious powers of creativity to explore the same theme. Audio production by Todd "Tether Ball King" Hulslander with a really good try at defense by Dacia Clay. Music...
Nov 17, 2014•36 min•Ep. 68
What would the movies be like without music? They're like peanut butter and jelly, Luke and Darth, et and cetera… Would we be as moved at a movie without music? Film composer Vivek Maddala takes us behind the scenes to show us how movies use music to toy with our emotions. But like, in a nice way. Audio production by Todd "Sir Toddius of Toddsville" Hulslander with curtsies and bows by Dacia Clay. All music used in this episode is by Vivek Maddala and is from the film, "American Revolutionary: T...
Nov 10, 2014•28 min•Ep. 67
"You gotta hear this one song. It'll change your life." – Pierre Jalbert to me*. Have you ever heard a piece of music that truly moved you? Has a piece of music actually changed the course of your life? Ravel and George Crumb wrote pieces of music that played huge roles in the life of a young Pierre Jalbert. He talks about these two pieces of music, how he encountered them, how they work, and how they are woven into the fabric of his life and work. Audio production in this episode by Todd "Toots...
Nov 03, 2014•28 min•Ep. 66
It's getting close to midnight. Something evil's lurking in the dark… AAACK! It's a special Halloween edition of Classical Classroom ! Last year for the holiday, we exhumed some composers from the dead . This year, we kidnapped a living composer, violinist, and maker of scary movies and forced him to introduce us to spooky tunes. Then, we ordered him to tell us why it is that creepy music creeps us out. Jerry Ochoa of Houston's Two Star Symphony does a wicked good job of explaining it, too. Whic...
Oct 27, 2014•33 min•Ep. 65
Composer Peter Boyer goes deep into the core of Symphony No. 1. Why do composers write symphonies? What goes into writing a symphony? If it has three movements, is it still a symphony? I mean, really: What IS a symphony anyway?! Grammy-nominated composer and conductor Peter Boyer answers all of these questions and more by taking us deep into his Symphony No. 1. From making dots on a page, to recording the piece with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios, this is a tell-all of o...
Oct 20, 2014•41 min•Ep. 64
This episode does double duty: teaches you all about the trumpet and trumpet playing, while carrying out the secondary mission of Classical Classroom, i.e., the humiliation of the show's host. Trumpet players George Chase and Jason Adams of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra teach host and former trumpet player, host Dacia, a trumpet lesson. Along the way, they say all kinds of important things about the history of the instrument. Plus, there are duck calls! Varieties of trumpet and mutes. Photo b...
Oct 13, 2014•24 min•Ep. 63
Like an Around the World and Back snap, Bach's Suite in B Minor for Flute and Strings takes the listener pretty much everywhere. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll dance fast and slow, you'll wonder if you're Polish or French, yet feel German. But don't worry: Rice University's Shepherd School of Music professor and flutist Leone Buyse will be your guide on this musical (spiritual?) journey. Flutist Leone Buyse. Photo by David Long. Courtesy of leonebuyse.com. Audio production by Todd "Tobias" Hul...
Oct 06, 2014•42 min•Ep. 62
