Poster James P. Johnson (front left) at the piano
James P. Johnson (front left) at the piano
Photo: William P. Gottlieb
Performance Today®

James Price Johnson

James Price Johnson was a pianist and composer who helped invent the style of "stride piano." He and George Gershwin knew and respected each other's work, but Johnson thought Gershwin didn't get jazz quite right in Rhapsody in Blue. On Today's show, hear Johnson's musical response, a piece called Yamekraw. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler!

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Johann Sebastian Bach: Flute Sonata in A Major BWV 1032 Movement 1 Vivace
Marina Piccinini, flute; Brasil Guitar Duo
Bach: Flute Sonatas
Avie 2196

Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV 1046
Musicians from Music@Menlo
Music@Menlo, The Center for Performing Arts at Menlo-Atherton, CA

Piano Puzzler: Contestant is Bob Lagerquist from Eugene, OR

James Price Johnson: Yamekraw
Gary Hammond, piano; Hot Springs Music Festival Symphony Orchestra; Richard Rosenberg, conductor
JOHNSON, J.P.: Yamekraw / RESER, H.: Suite / GERSHWIN, G.: Rhapsody in Blue
Naxos 559647

Hour 2

Felix Draeseke: Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 38: III. Scherzo - Allegro molto vivace
Matthew Nelson, clarinet; Jason Hardink, piano
Northern Fantasies: Selected Works for Clarinet and Piano 1850 - 1890
Soundset SR 11111

Joel Thompson: Seven Last Words of the Unarmed
Marvin Allen II, baritone; Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra; Morehouse College Glee Club; Florida A&M University Concert Choir
Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, Florida State University, Tallahasse, FL

Carlos Simon: Amen!
Gateways Music Festival Orchestra; Michael Morgan, conductor
Gateways Music Festival, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky: Valse -Scherzo Op, 34
Augustin Hadelich, violin; Jason Hardink, piano
Grand Teton Music Festival, Walk Festival Hall, Jackson Hole, WY

Emmanuel Ponce, arr. Jascha Heiftz: Estrellita (My Little Star) Encore
Augustin Hadelich, violin; Jason Hardink, piano
Grand Teton Music Festival, Walk Festival Hall, Jackson Hole, WY

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

Kodály: Dances of Galanta

Kodály: Dances of Galanta

Composer Zoltan Kodály grew up listening to Roma bands in Hungary and later incorporated some of their melodies into his music. On today's show, we’ll take you to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a performance of Kodály's Dances of Galánta.

1:59:00
Cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras

Cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras

Cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras describes J.S. Bach's solo cello suites as a "burst of life." To Queyras, these suites transcend any particular time or place; they feel like a metaphysical connection between earth and heaven. Tune in today to hear Jean-Guihen Queyras play J.S. Bach's Cello Suite No. 2 at a recent concert in Girona, Spain.

1:59:00
Simone Dinnerstein on committing work to memory

Simone Dinnerstein on committing work to memory

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein used to have memory slips while playing concerts. This became so upsetting that she tried something radical—she began learning music backwards, from the end to the beginning. Learn more about Simone Dinnerstein and hear her play from Robert Schumann's Kreisleriana on today's show.

1:59:00
2025 Classical Woman of the Year: Jessie Montgomery

2025 Classical Woman of the Year: Jessie Montgomery

‘Performance Today’ has selected performer and composer Jessie Montgomery as the 2025 Classical Woman of the Year. This annual award recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the classical music art form and have inspired our listeners. Find out more!

It's our honor...

It's our honor...

We are both proud and honored to announce that Jessie Montgomery is our 2025 PT Classical Woman of the Year. Montgomery is a celebrated composer, violinist, and educator known for compositions that blend classical, folk, jazz, and contemporary influences. Among her numerous accomplishments, she founded the Young Composers Initiative, where she mentors high school composers, assisting them in preparing their music for performance by members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Tune in today to learn more about Jessie Montgomery and why her work is so influential.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Webern's recovered work

PT Weekend: Webern's recovered work

In 1945, Austrian composer Anton Webern and his family fled Vienna. Most of Webern’s valuables, mementos, and manuscripts were placed in a lock box, which they buried in the backyard. Sixteen years later, the box was recovered with the manuscripts inside. On today's show, we'll hear one of those 'found' pieces: Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Breeze) by Anton Webern.

1:59:00
Clarice Assad: Total Eclipse

Clarice Assad: Total Eclipse

Last year, a total solar eclipse was visible in parts of our country. The shared experience of an eclipse—an extraordinary moment of wonder and awe—inspired composer and pianist Clarice Assad to create a new piece for piano and orchestra. Join us today for a musical exploration of light and darkness: "Total Eclipse" by Clarice Assad.

1:59:00
Festival Mozaic

Festival Mozaic

The Serra Chapel in Shandon, California, is one of the venues for the annual Festival Mozaic, based in nearby San Luis Obispo. On summer evenings, concerts take place at the chapel, which offers seating inside and out—it's just one of the idyllic settings that make up Festival Mozaic. On today's show, we'll take you to Serra Chapel to hear a flute concerto by Vivaldi, with Alice K. Dade playing the flute alongside the Festival Mozaic Baroque Ensemble.

1:59:00
Anton Webern's recovered work

Anton Webern's recovered work

In 1945, Austrian composer Anton Webern and his family fled Vienna. Most of Webern’s valuables, mementos, and manuscripts were placed in a lock box, which they buried in the backyard. Sixteen years later, the box was recovered with the manuscripts inside. On today's show, we'll hear one of those 'found' pieces: Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Breeze) by Anton Webern.

1:59:00
Blindfold Music

Blindfold Music

Composer Miguel del Aguila imagined a meeting between two characters: one is Justice, the blindfolded woman holding scales and a sword, and the other is Law, the man holding a book and gavel. We'll hear Imani Winds play the world premiere of Miguel del Aguila's 'Blindfold Music' on today's show.

1:59:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

About Performance Today®

To find a station near you on our Stations Listings page, click here.

American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

How do I leave a comment?

Send us a comment here.

About Performance Today®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00