Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

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PT Weekend: George Walker

PT Weekend: George Walker

At the age of 26, American composer George Walker wrote Lyric for Strings in memory of his dear grandmother. George Walker lived a long and productive life as a composer, but that composition is his most frequently played piece. On today’s show, hear Lyric for Strings by George Walker, from a performance by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor JoAnn Falletta.

Justin Holland

Justin Holland

Justin Holland was born in 1819 as a free black American. He devoted his life to civil rights, did dangerous work on the Underground Railroad, and was a talented guitarist and composer. Hear and learn more about the music of Justin Holland on this episode of Performance Today.

Randall Goosby

Randall Goosby

Violinist Randall Goosby had a breakthrough year in 2021. He played a concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, he was one of our featured PT Young Artists in Residence last spring, and Goosby's major-label debut album came out last summer. On today's show, Randall Goosby and pianist Zhu Wang play music by William Grant Still at a concert in Delhi, New York.

George Walker: Lyric for Strings

George Walker: Lyric for Strings

At the age of 26, American composer George Walker wrote Lyric for Strings in memory of his dear grandmother. George Walker lived a long and productive life as a composer, but that composition is his most frequently played piece. On today’s show, hear Lyric for Strings by George Walker, from a performance by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor JoAnn Falletta.

Composer Ruth Gipps

Composer Ruth Gipps

On today's show, hear a piece that conductor Jessica Horsley describes as "...the sort of music that just makes everything alright in the world. It heals all wounds", the Symphony No. 2 by Ruth Gipps.

The faces of love

The faces of love

There's romantic love, of course, but love means so much more than that...familial love, the loyalty of friends, the care for our communities, and even the love we can cultivate for ourselves. Join us today as we celebrate the many faces of love on this Valentine's Day.

PT Weekend: Maria Newman

PT Weekend: Maria Newman

Maria Newman was born into a family of famous, formidable composers. She was so intimidated when she was growing up she gave up composition altogether. In the end, though, she had music inside her that just had to come out. On today's show, learn about how Maria Newman stepped into her own as a composer, and hear her Sonata for Solo Guitar 'Storgé' performed by guitarist Nicholas Goluses.

Alexis Alrich: Marimba Concerto

Alexis Alrich: Marimba Concerto

Join us today to hear from a new marimba concerto by composer Alexis Alrich, with Dame Evelyn Glennie on the marimba and conductor Jean Thorel leading the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong.

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