Knowing how a piece of classical music came to be is often a bit of a guessing game. What inspired Bach to write the Goldberg Variations, or Beethoven to write his 9th Symphony? Context clues, letters, composers' notes help us put the story together; we fill in the rest with our imaginations and mythology. But no more! In this episode of Classical Classroom , you'll hear the entire story of a piece of modern classical music, Music for Wood and Strings , from commission to performance. Even the i...
Nov 24, 2015•48 min•Ep. 110
How do you tell a story without words? Why, with music of course! Richard Scerbo, founder and artistic director of DC-based Inscape Chamber Orchestra, explains how – and why – composers use music to tell tales. Walk through two very different kinds of musical "stories" in this episode. Watch out for dancing puppets and swamp ghosts. Richard Scerbo. Image courtesy of his website. All music in this episode performed by Inscape Chamber Orchestra: – Excerpts from their new album, Petrushka , by Igor...
Nov 16, 2015•33 min•Ep. 109
This episode contains pretty much everything: Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday, Plato's Symposium, music by living composers, the Great American Songbook , and most importantly, love, baby. Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. Photo by VANESSA BRICEÑO-SCHERZER / CHRISTIE STOCKSTILL. All music in this episode from Anne Akiko Meyers' new album, Serenade: The Love Album. Audio production by Todd "Tickle Me Elmo" Hulslander with high-pitched cackles by Dacia Clay and editing b...
Nov 09, 2015•18 min•Ep. 108
It's a Menotti two-fer! Lynda McKnight from Houston's Opera in the Heights teaches all about the composer Gian Carlo Menotti and two of his short operas, The Medium (not the Patricia Arquette kind), and The Telephone (not the Lady Gaga kind). Learn about this versatile 20th century composer and these two drastically different operas. Also, zombies. By the way, Opera in the Heights is staging a Medium and Telephone double-header through November 7th! Music in this episode: – Gian Carlo Menotti, T...
Nov 02, 2015•35 min•Ep. 107
What?? Two episodes in one week? That's right. We made you a treat: Go with us on a field trip to the Moores School of Music Organ Recital Hall at the University of Houston where we meet up with Keith "Creepy" Weber and the colossal, two-story Beckerath Organ that lurks in the hall. Learn all about Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and why it's the soundtrack for all things macabre in this episode, the final installment of our Bachtoberfest series. Music in this episode played by Keith Weber, ...
Oct 29, 2015•23 min•Ep. 106
Cover of cellist (and – we suspect – part-time lumberjack), Matt Haimovitz's new CD. Courtesy of Oxingale/Pentatone. Cellist Matt Haimovitz has grappled with Bach's Cello Suites for decades. He first recorded them in 2000. He's dedicated his new second recording of the Suites to Anna Magdalena, Bach's second wife, who copied Bach's manuscripts. Haimovitz talks about how Anna Magdalena's transcriptions became his spirit guide on a quest to gain a greater understanding of the Gospel of Bach. Music...
Oct 26, 2015•23 min•Ep. 105
Bachtoberfest continues! Catalyst Quartet members Karla Donehew-Perez and Karlos Rodriguez talk about famously eccentric (eccentrically famous?) performer and composer, Glenn Gould , his recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations, and Catalyst's Gould-inspired arrangement of the Variations. Discussed: breakfast, order out of chaos, and who this "Goldberg" person was. Music in this episode: "Aria da capo" from Gould's 1955 and 1981 recordings, and from the Catalyst Quartet's debut album, Bach/Gould...
Oct 19, 2015•25 min•Ep. 104
Continuing with our Bachtober celebration, we revisit this oldie but goody with Kurt Stallmann. Bach's Invention No. 1 contains an entire universe of music as we learn in this episode with Kurt Stallmann, Associate Professor of Music at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music . It gets metaphysical up in here, you guys. Audio production by Todd "Birthday Boy" Hulslander, with happy claps of approval by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode includes: Johann Sebastian Bach, Invention No. 1 in C Maj...
Oct 12, 2015•31 min•Ep. 23
This Classroom teacher needs only one name: Madonna! JK! But he's also a world-famous musician: Pianist Yundi teaches about Chopin's preludes, all of which he recently recorded on his new album, aptly entitled Frédéric Chopin: Complete Preludes . Where did these preludes come from? Why are they each so different? Yundi teaches all of this and more in this episode. All music in this episode from Yundi's new album. Audio production by Todd "A Confederacy of Todds" Hulslander with cries of "Opa!" f...
Oct 05, 2015•18 min•Ep. 103
The first woman who ran for the U.S. presidency did so in 1872. Never heard this story? Thankfully, composer and conductor Victoria Bond has written an opera about this woman's life. Hear the incredible, true, titillating tale and learn about opera AT THE SAME TIME! Sex, scandal, alliteration! All in this episode. All music in this episode is from Victoria Bond's opera, Mrs. President . Audio production by Todd "Trusty Sidekick" Hulslander with quick draws by Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiCla...
Sep 29, 2015•47 min•Ep. 102
Eva-Maria Zimmerman and Keisuke Nakagoshi make beautiful music together as the musical duo ZOFO. On the same piano. At the same time. Why do they do this? What is this strange art form? And what does it all have to do with Terry Riley ?! Learn all about piano four hands in this episode. Eva-Maria Zimmerman and Keisuke Nakagoshi of ZOFO. Music in this episode is all from the CD ZOFO Plays Terry Riley : Etude from the Old Country Half-Wolf Dances Mad in Moonlight G Song Praying Mantis Rag Cinco de...
Sep 21, 2015•27 min•Ep. 101
Time to celebrate our 100th show. It's been quite a "Journey." We toot some horns (mostly our own)and reminisce with some previous show flashbacks. We also meet some of the most famous classical music composers as they join in the festivities. 'Cause there ain't no party like a Beethoven doing Jagerbombs party. Party on Ludwig! Flash back to the original podcast logo Party music from the best DJs in the biz: Italo House Pavarotti/Bocelli/Jovanotti REMIX #6 2015 by dj SRONYX el toro loco Bach Rem...
Sep 14, 2015•50 min•Ep. 100
Revisit Classical Classroom's very first show! Classical music announcer Chris Johnson compares two very different recordings of the same piece. Gut strings, basso continuo, and the Baroque period are discussed. Audio production by Todd "Teacup" Hulslander and Chris Johnson. Music used in this episode includes: Vivaldi's Four Seasons Concerto , "Autumn" by: Itzak Perlman violin solo, London Philharmonic Fabio Biondi solo violin, Europa Galante...
Sep 07, 2015•13 min•Ep. 1
It's summertime, and the classical musicians have all disappeared. No, it's not a classical music-specific alien body snatching situation. It's just that they're all at music festivals! Because we miss them, we've decided to follow the musicians to a different fest each summer. This year, we head to the Aspen Music Festival ! In our four-show series, we'll be interviewing festival leaders, musicians, and whoever else will talk to us. In this, the fourth and final episode of our miniseries, we sp...
Aug 17, 2015•25 min•Ep. 98
It's summertime, and the classical musicians have all disappeared. No, it's not a classical music-specific alien body snatching situation. It's just that they're all at music festivals! Because we miss them, we've decided to follow the musicians to a different fest each summer. This year, we head to the Aspen Music Festival! In our four-show series, we'll be interviewing festival leaders, musicians, and whoever else will talk to us. In this, the third episode of our miniseries, we speak with vio...
Aug 10, 2015•28 min•Ep. 97
It's summertime, and the classical musicians have all disappeared. No, it's not a classical music-specific alien body snatching situation. It's just that they're all at music festivals! Because we miss them, we've decided to follow the musicians to a different fest each summer. This year, we head to the Aspen Music Festival! In our four-show miniseries, we'll be interviewing festival leaders and musicians. In this, the second episode of our miniseries, we spoke with pianist and awesome person, O...
Aug 03, 2015•41 min•Ep. 96
It's summertime, and the classical musicians have all disappeared. No, it's not a classical music-specific alien body snatching situation. It's just that they're all at music festivals! Because we miss them, we've decided to follow the musicians to a different fest each summer. This year, we head to the Aspen Music Festival ! For our next few shows, we'll be interviewing festival leaders, musicians, and whoever else will talk to us. In this, the first episode of our miniseries, we spoke with Ala...
Jul 27, 2015•20 min•Ep. 95
What's in a piano? Jim Kozak has tuned a few, and he can tell you. He tunes pianos for the Houston Symphony , Da Camera of Houston , and for our own Houston Public Media. What does he do, and how does he do it? How does one become a piano tuner? Kozak tells all, including how a piano works, and why tuning for Alfred Brendel took two days. Music in this episode: " Montage " from the South Park episode, " Asspen "*. Written by Trey Parker. Ludwig van Beethoven, Bagatelle in A minor WoO 59 "Für Eli...
Jul 20, 2015•28 min•Ep. 94
What came before twerking, Harlem Shake-ing, and popping and locking? The Krakowiak, the Polonaise, and the Tarantelle (which have really cool names, now that we're looking at it). Pianist Joel Fan teaches us all about classical dance music, the composers who made it, and the circumstances from which the dances emerged. Pianist Joel Fan. Courtesy of the artist's website. Audio production by Todd "Pod God" Hulslander with moonwalking from Dacia Clay, and help from editor Mark DiClaudio and intern...
Jul 13, 2015•28 min•Ep. 93
Since the U.S. has been celebrating its beginnings this week, we thought we'd go back to ours. We hope you enjoy this throwback. And! Because we were in the holiday spirit, we added a little present for you at the end of the show. We hope you enjoy it. And that Tchaikovsky doesn't turn over too hard in his grave when you play it. P.S., When we recorded this episode, Angela was indeed a "Schmidt." Now, she is a "Mitchell." As in, married to Brett Mitchell . As in, Assistant Conductor of the Cleve...
Jul 06, 2015•27 min•Ep. 2
Every good Beethoven deserves a fanboy, and Robert Schumann was that guy. Who was Schumann, and how was his work shaped by the influence of Beethoven? Pianist, Curtis Institute professor, and writer Jonathan Biss explains all – including his own (extremely cool) fanboy-esque immersion in the works of Schumann and Beethoven. Jonathan Biss. Photo by Benjamin Ealovega. Courtesy of the artist's website. Audio production by Todd "Teletubby" Hulslander with frolicking by Dacia Clay and editing by Mark...
Jun 29, 2015•28 min•Ep. 92
Wu Man, world-renowned pipa player, stopped by the Classroom while she was in Houston to teach all about the French horn. JK! She taught all about the pipa, of course! In this episode, she talks about the pipa's origins, its repertoire, about how she began playing it, and she plays some sweet tunes to illustrate the instrument's range. Dacia Clay, Wu Man's pipa, and Wu Man in the Geary Performance Studio. Photo by Todd Hulslander. Music in this episode played live in the Geary Performance Studio...
Jun 22, 2015•24 min•Ep. 91
What is a concertmaster? We wanted to know, too, so we schlepped over to the Texas Music Festival (now happening at the UH Moores School of Music ), found ourselves some concertmasters, and asked them all about what they do. Glenn Dicterow is the outgoing concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic where he's ruled for over 34 years (his role will be assumed by the Houston Symphony's Frank Huang ), and Moores School doctoral student Ingrid Hunter was the week one concertmaster for the Texas Music...
Jun 15, 2015•23 min•Ep. 90
The pianist gives a lesson on one of the Big Daddies of classical music. Awadagin Pratt, a man so awesome that his website URL is just his first name, talks Johannes Brahms. Pratt is a recording artist, Professor of Piano, Artist in Residence, Chairman of the Piano Department, and Artistic Director of the Art of the Piano Festival at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati . He talks about who Brahms was, why he is one of the Big Daddies of classical music, what it has ...
Jun 08, 2015•37 min•Ep. 89
The violinist walks through a piece by a lesser-known composer who was once more famous than Mozart. Grammy-winning violinist Hilary Hahn, who has played a few concerts in her day – somewhere around 1,437 of them – talks about Henri Vieuxtemps' Violin Concerto No. 4, which she plays on her latest CD. Is music composed by a violinist for violinists easier or more challenging to play? How was it that Vieuxtemps was more popular than Mozart at one point and now…not so much? And most importantly, Ha...
Jun 01, 2015•24 min•Ep. 88
Violinists Philippe Bernhard and Loïc Rio talk about Dohnányi's String Quartet No. 3. As you probably know and have been celebrating 'round the Festivus pole, May is National Chamber Music Month ! In this episode we talk to real live chamber musicians, violinists Philippe Bernhard and Loïc Rio of the Modigliani Quartet . They talk all about ErnÔ Dohnányi's String Quartet No. 3. This is, hands down, our most French (Frenchest?) show to date. Modigliani Quartet: (L-R) Philippe Bernhard, Laurent Ma...
May 25, 2015•34 min•Ep. 87
Brahms' Opus 118 – plus the first two Intermezzos played live! In this episode, Associate Professor Timothy Hester from the University of Houston Moores School of Music , teaches Dacia a bonafide lesson. Don't miss Prof. Hester waxing nostalgic about his childhood love of Steppenwolf. Audio production by Todd "the Todd" Hulslander with post-hypnotic suggestions from Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiClaudio. Music used in this episode includes: – Brahms Six Pieces for Piano, Opus 118, Intermezzos...
May 18, 2015•26 min•Ep. 13
When pianist and From the Top host Christopher O'Riley and cellist Matt Haimovitz recorded a new album of Beethoven's music, they decided to kick it old school: Chris played an original Broadwood fortepiano and Matt played a Goffriller cello with ox-gut strings. Why would these two artists – often recognized for their arrangements of Radiohead, for performing with young musicians, and for playing classical music in nightclubs – decide to play period instruments? Is there a true benefit to playin...
May 11, 2015•35 min•Ep. 86
According to Deutsche Grammophon recording artist Avi Avital, while the bass is not bad, it's more about that mandolin. Which is also what this whole episode is about! Avi tells all: Where did the mandolin come from? Who composes for it? Why does he advocate for such a strange instrument? And how much did he play that one REM song in high school? Learn all of this and more right here! Audio production by Todd "Terrific" Hulslander with electric slides by Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiClaudio....
May 04, 2015•20 min•Ep. 85
What's it like to be a classical music novice at a classical music performance? Host Dacia Clay goes to a rock show and a classical concert and compares the experiences. The parallels are telling. The disparities are despairing. What's the deal?? We hope you'll become part of this discussion! Email your concert experiences to dclay@houstonpublicmedia.org . PS, To read more about the history of applause at classical concerts, check out this essay by Alex Ross: " Applause: A Rest Is Noise Special ...
Apr 27, 2015•12 min
