As part of an ongoing series, NPR's Rachel Martin talks to pianist Lara Downes about classical recordings of "Lift Every Voice" and "A Change Is Gonna Come," to mark Black Music Month and Juneteenth.


Celebrating Juneteenth and Black Music Month with classical classics

For the final entry in Morning Edition's Song Project series, Vijay Iyer wrote a rhizomatic, inviting — and not entirely placating — instrumental piece to encapsulate his past year.


Floating along in uncertainty with Vijay Iyer

NPR's Rachel Martin spoke to the pianist about Phenomenal Women, the most recent mini-album in the series, in which Downes re-recorded the work of some deeply impactful female composers.


With her recording series 'Rising Sun,' Lara Downes re-centers Black composers

The duo, famed for enmeshing classical and hip-hop, looks back at America's past year and toward its near future on "Time to Shine."


On 'Time To Shine,' Black Violin focuses on the light

Pianist Lang Lang discusses his solo record, 'Piano Book,' where he explores something simpler: Beethoven's 'Fur Elise,' Debussy's 'Clair de Lune' and other pieces that accompanied him in the first few years of a lifelong love affair with the instrument.


Vince Pearson

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