Performance Today®

Composer William Bolcom has won a hatful of awards, including a Pulitzer and a Grammy. On today's show, hear a playful, adventurous piece written by Bolcom in 1988, the Concerto for Clarinet and Band, with Anthony McGill on clarinet along with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble.

On this Thanksgiving holiday, we're thankful for being able to share music with you. Whether you're gathering with a few loved ones, or are settling in for a quiet weekend of solitude, we've got a cozy Thanksgiving soundtrack to share. Join us for nourishing music and reflections on gratitude.

In the late 1980s, American composer Aaron Jay Kernis heard music written by Hildegard von Bingen more than 800 years ago. Kernis was struck by the powerful simplicity and sheer beauty of that music. On today's show, hear Aaron Jay Kernis's Musica Celestis. It's simply beautiful.

Composer Wayne Shorter is fascinated by the metaphorical idea of terra incognita, the undiscovered territory in ourselves... and the courage that it takes to explore that territory. On today's show, hear Imani Winds play Shorter's Terra Incognita at a concert presented by the University of Chicago.

Italian pianist Fabio Bidini is a terrific pianist, and he's also very much in demand as a piano teacher as well. Bidini teaches at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, and at the Hans Eisler Music Academy in Berlin. On today's show, Fabio Bidini plays Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 3, with conductor JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Nicola Benedetti is a classical violinist but she grew up in Scotland, hearing traditional fiddle tunes. Trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis grew up with jazz and blues in New Orleans. Marsalis recently composed a piece for Benedetti that weaves all of those threads together. On today's show, hear Nicola Benedetti play The Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin, by Wynton Marsalis.

Mexican composer Arturo Marquez says he has always been enthralled by the music bubbling out of cafes and dance salons in Mexico. On Today's show, hear the Dorian Wind Quintet perform Danza del Mediodia, by Arturo Marquez, inspired by the cafe music of Mexico City.

We've all heard the phrase "all of a sudden." Composer Michael Kurth wonders if we could add some more gradations and subtlety to that. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Kurth's string quartet titled "Some of a Sudden."

Nicola Benedetti is a classical violinist but she grew up in Scotland, hearing traditional fiddle tunes. Trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis grew up with jazz and blues in New Orleans. Marsalis recently composed a piece for Benedetti that weaves all of those threads together. On today's show, hear Nicola Benedetti play The Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin, by Wynton Marsalis.