The Mellotron
It was a middle-class party trick. Then it changed rock and roll.
Jun 05, 2019•16 min
How Music Does That
Music -- just vibrations in the air -- can make you feel heartbroken or elated, peaceful or stabby, inspired to save the whales or to invade Poland. This is HOW MUSIC DOES THAT.
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Click the website link to subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Episodes
Simplicity, in Three Pärts
When music is stripped down to its essentials, every note matters.
May 23, 2019•19 min
The Gnome
'The Gnome' is a creepy masterclass in orchestration.
May 13, 2019•18 min
Mister Rogers and the Musical Easter Egg
Fred Rogers hid a geeky musical inside joke in his theme song.
Apr 29, 2019•15 min
Isn't It Iconic?
A computer has chosen the most iconic song ever. Time for the human rebuttal.
Apr 11, 2019•14 min
Wolfie's Alarm Clock (The Leading Tone)
One note has been teasing you, making promises to you, and leading you home your whole life.
Apr 03, 2019•11 min
The Bagpipe Incident on Which I Thought We Had Agreed Not to Dwell
30,000 people. 16 measures. One bad decision.
Mar 26, 2019•20 min
When Pianos Land in Oz
Oh, little piano piece. You're not in Kansas anymore.
Mar 05, 2019•20 min
Hating Your Golden Goose
There's a reason so many songwriters hate the one that made them famous.
Feb 26, 2019•14 min
I Coulda Been Peter Best
So I wasn't going to be John Williams. But I had one Hail Mary left.
Feb 19, 2019•19 min
I Coulda Been John Williams
Just in time for the Oscars, I found my abandoned dream in a box.
Feb 12, 2019•21 min
Yes, 'Stairway' Was Stolen... Just Like Everything Else
The 'Stairway' lawsuit was based on a modern myth about how music is created.
Feb 05, 2019•21 min
Two Kinds of Hurt
Johnny's gonna be fine -- but I'm worried about Trent.
Jan 29, 2019•10 min
Dissonance is Delicious
Music without dissonance is like a rollercoaster without hills. It's light rail.
Jan 22, 2019•15 min
The Pokémon Suicide Song
From the Satanic Panic to Pokémon, a creepy folklore often bubbles under our music.
Jan 15, 2019•17 min
Surprise Part 2 - The Rite of Spring
Beethoven lit a fuse that burned for 89 years. This was the boom.
Jan 08, 2019•19 min
A Brief History of Surprise (I)
Whether music surprises you depends on where your ears have been.
Jan 01, 2019•20 min
The Music That Broke My Heart
Without lyrics or even a descriptive title -- nothing but vibrations in the air -- this piece brings people to tears. Here's how.
Nov 05, 2018•25 min
Every Note is a Chord
It's a hidden key to music's emotional power. And it's not all that hidden.
Oct 28, 2018•14 min
The Moment I Surrendered to John Williams
I had never felt so tangibly dropped into another world.
Oct 21, 2018•13 min
Shortcut: The Most Hopeful Music in the World
Even starting this piece was an act of pure optimism. Now to finish it.
Oct 13, 2018•9 min
Cage Unlocked
Silence is just the beginning.
Oct 07, 2018•19 min
The Masterpiece I Never Heard Of
In which two little kids knew a big thing I didn't know. And I'm okay with that. No really.
Sep 29, 2018•17 min
Let's Get Sad with Galileo's Dad
A gorgeous technique to unify emotion in music has been passed down from the Renaissance to Radiohead.
Sep 22, 2018•17 min
When Truman Touches the Wall
From a Bach fugue to Diana's funeral to Truman's wall, this technique is the music of finality.
Sep 15, 2018•13 min
The Strange DNA of a Surf Song
The edgy, powerful electric guitar tune that kicks off Pulp Fiction has a long and surprising history.
Sep 08, 2018•16 min
The Evolution of Cool
The quality of "cool" in music has deep roots in the evolution of the brain.
Sep 01, 2018•14 min
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