When you look at a painting more than once, you often find new elements you didn't see before. The same thing goes with music, especially when a familiar favorite gets a new arrangement. On today's show, hear an intimate setting of Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler!
What do we mean when we say "American classical music?" Composer Derrick Spiva sought to answer that question in the form of a string quartet. On today's show, hear music that draws on the musical traditions that reflect our multicultural American society: American Mirror by Derrick Spiva Jr.
In 1874, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov traveled to the northern coast of the Black Sea. He was intoxicated by the Arabic and Turkish music he heard on the streets and in coffee houses. On today's show, hear these exotic impressions in a concert performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.
When you look at a painting more than once, you often find new elements you didn't see before. The same thing goes with music, especially when a familiar favorite gets a new arrangement. On today's show, hear an intimate setting of Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
Last year, in our Young Artist Series, we introduced you to Jordan Bak, an incredibly talented young violist with a bright personality... and he continues to bloom. On this episode of Performance Today, hear violist Jordan Bak's performance in the final round at the Sphinx Competition.
In 2005, the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma founded the first American Indian summer arts academy, with classes in dance, literature, theater, art, and music composition. On today's show, the Spokane String Quartet plays music by two Chickasaw composers, Dylan Bennett and Miko Begaye.
On today's show, Rhiannon Giddens and the Kronos Quartet play a traditional lullaby, an interesting combination of classical and American folk music. Also, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler.
If you could personally thank a musical artist who's been an inspiration for you, who would it be and how would you thank them? On today's show, hear how composer and percussionist Ivan Trevino expressed his gratitude in "Songbook Volume 3" - performed by Trevino and Windsync at a concert in Jacksonville, Florida.
Omar Thomas says that, in all his years playing in concert bands, he never got to play music celebrating African American traditions. So as a composer, he wrote the piece he wished he could have played. On today's show, hear a vibrant work called Come Sunday, by Omar Thomas, from a concert presented by the Dallas Winds.
Share your question or comment about Performance Today. Individual questions and themes may be answered or incorporated into future episodes or digital updates.
