Classical Classroom show

Classical Classroom

Summary: Classical 91.7 audio librarian, Dacia Clay has a secret: she knows next to nothing about classical music. But she wants to learn! In each episode of the Classical Classroom, classical music pros give her "homework assignments." You'll learn about everything from bel canto aria to the use of leitmotif in the score to Star Wars. Come learn with us in the Classical Classroom.

Join Now to Subscribe to this Podcast

Podcasts:

 Classical Classroom, Episode 68: The Secret Formula with Kenneth Goldsmith | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:35:47

What makes creativity? Is it money? Is it a gift from the Powers That Be? Is it won through trials and tribulations? Shepherd School of Music Professor of Violin Kenneth Goldsmith unveils the ancient formula. He looks at how Haydn, Grieg, and Ravel - composers from different life circumstances and different times - all used their mysterious powers of creativity to explore the same theme. Audio production by Todd "Tether Ball King" Hulslander with a really good try at defense by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode: - Josef Haydn: Symphony #6 “Le Matin” - Edvard Grieg: Morning Mood from Peer Gynt Suite #1 - Maurice Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe, Suite #2 For more about Kenneth Goldsmith: www.music.rice.edu/facultybios/goldsmith.shtml For more Classroom: www.houstonpublicmedia.org/classroom

 Classical Classroom, Episode 68 (PREVIEW!): Kenneth Goldsmith on Creativity | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:00:30

The recipe for creativity...revealed at last! Professor and violinist Kenneth Goldsmith looks at similarly-themed pieces by Haydn, Grieg, and Ravel to illustrate how this formula has manifested throughout classical music history.

 Classical Classroom, Episode 51: Prompting Schubert's Impromptus with Clive Swansbourne | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:34:07

Franz Schubert was a man on a mission, distracted from composing music by neither the praise of Beethoven, nor the prospect of his own death. But the dude still had to pay the rent. Internationally acclaimed classical pianist, music teacher, and performer Clive Swansbourne explains what "impromptus" were, and how Schubert took them to the next level with the power of the pinky finger. Audio production by Todd "Drop It Like It's Todd" Hulslander with backup dancing by Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode: - Impromptu No. 3 in G Flat Major, D. 899 (Op. 90) by Franz Schubert played by... ---- Clive Swansbourne and ---- Vladimir Horowitz - Impromptu by Jan Václav Voříšek For more about Clive Swansbourne: www.cliveswansbourne.com For more about Classical Classroom: www.houstonpublicmedia.org/classroom

 Classical Classroom, Episode 51: Preview! | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:00:30

Hear a 30-second preview of this week's show, featuring pianist Clive Swansbourne.

 Classical Classroom, Episode 50: Shredding on the classical guitar with Valerie Hartzell | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:34:40

How did classical guitar - and therefore, all guitar as we know it - almost become extinct? Who was the hero who saved it from the brink of doom? Why aren't guitars an orchestral instrument? And why are guitarists nails so shiny? Classical guitarist Valerie Hartzell - member of the Presti Trio and director of the Classical Minds Guitar Institute - answers all of these burning questions and more in the big 5-0 episode of Classical Classroom. Audio production by Todd "Terrific" Hulslander with "helpful" input from Dacia Clay. Music in this episode: - Oud music by Said Chraibi - Spanish guitar in the Renaissance and Baroque by José Miguel Moreno - "Be M'An Perdut, chanson de troubadour" by Bernart De Ventadorn (c.1140-c.1200) - Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tarrega, from Ex Tenebris...Lux, performed by Valerie Hartzell - Danzas Gitanas, Op. 55: I. Zambra by Joaquin Turina from the self-titled CD by Presti Trio For more about Valerie Hartzell: www.valeriehartzell.com For information about the Classical Minds Guitar Institute: www.uh.edu For more Classical Classroom: www.houstonpublicmedia.org/classroom

 Classical Classroom, Episode 50: Preview | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:00:29

Hear a 30-second preview of Episode 50, featuring classical guitarist, Valerie Hartzell!

 Classical Classroom, Episode 49: Beethoven Gets Small With Norman Fischer | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:31:10

How are the Black Keys and Beethoven alike? They both had the low-down dirty blues. JK! They both compose(d) music for two instruments! You've heard his symphonies. Now hear cellist Norman Fischer - of the Fischer Duo, the Concord String Quartet, and Rice University's Shepherd School of Music - talk about Beethoven's chamber works for cello and piano. Why did Beethoven create music for a new, tiny arrangement of instruments? Did he do it for the dolla dolla billz? Did he do it to impress a king? Find out in this episode of Classical Classroom! Audio production for this episode by Todd "Tiddlywinks" Hulslander with no production help whatsoever from that lazy nogoodnik Dacia Clay. All music in this episode performed by the Fischer Duo, and most of this comes from the Fischer Duo's new CD, "Beethoven: Cello and Piano Complete".

 Classical Classroom, Episode 49: Extended preview | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:07:27

Since it's the end of National Chamber Music Month, we thought it would be fitting to give you a taste of our upcoming episode, featuring Norman Fischer. Norman is on the Board of Directors at Chamber Music America, the group who invented National Chamber Music Month. The full episode will be coming your way Monday, June 2nd! Audio production by Todd "Totaled Todd" Hulslander with catering by Dacia Clay. Music in this preview: - Sonata in A Major, Op. 69 by Ludwig van Beethoven, from The Fischer Duo's CD "Beethoven: Cello and Piano Complete" For more about the Fischer Duo: www.music.rice.edu/facultybios/fischerduo.shtml For more Classical Classroom: www.houstonpublicmedia.org/classroom PS, We're on Stitcher Radio now!

 Our new radio promo | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:00:30

We thought we'd share our new promo - currently running on Houston Public Media's Classical 91.7 - for you non-H-Towners. It is hey-larious! Hope you enjoy.

 Classical Classroom, Episode 48: The Texas Tenors Teach Tenor Types | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:32:49

How, exactly, does one know that he is a "light lyric tenor" or a "Spinto tenor" or a "dramatic tenor"? Is there like, a Tenor Task Team? Two members of the Texas Tenors - JC Fisher and John Hagen - teach the types of tenor to us. We also learn about "classical crossover" music and why it is a gateway drug, turning innocent classical music newbies into addicts by the thousands. Audio production by Todd "Tenortastic" Hulslander with scads of squillo from Dacia Clay. Music in this episode: - "La donna è mobile", by The Three Tenors, from the Three Tenors in Concert, Los Angeles, 1994 - "Celeste Aida", by Giuseppe Verdi, performed by Giuseppe Giacomini - Tosca, by Giacomo Puccini, performed by Luciano Pavarotti (James Levine on piano) - Otello, by Giuseppe Verdi, performed by Placido Domingo - “Principe più non se” from La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini, performed by Juan Diego Florez with Los Angeles Philharmonic - "Vesti la Giubba" from Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo, performed by Luciano Pavarotti - La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini, performed Andrea Bocelli - "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, performed by Franco Corelli - "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, performed by the Texas Tenors For more about the Texas Tenors: ww.thetexastenors.com For more about Classical Classroom: www.houstonpublicmedia.org/classroom

 Classical Classroom, Episode 24: You do what for a living?! Chamber music with WindSync (Rerun) | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:21:02

Dacia Clay is either presenting a case to the Supreme Court or having a pint in Adams Morgan, I can't remember which. Anyway, she has not shown up to work, so we are going to re-run a previous show about chamber music. What's that? It is National Chamber Music Month? Well now that just works out doesn't it. Enjoy...Chamber music, performing live as a group, and how movement informs music! In this episode, WindSync wind quintet talk about all of those things and about life as a touring group. Hotel rooms are trashed (okay, not really)! Miley Cyrus is discussed (very probably)! WindSync gets schooled by tango (definitely)! Audio production by Todd "Ermahgerd" Hulslander with "help" from Dacia Clay. For more about WindSync, go to www.windsync.org. For more about Classical Classroom, go to www.classical917.org/classroom.

 Classical Classroom, Episode 47: 500 Megatons of Tuba with Øystein Baadsvik | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:37:01

Learn 100% more about the tuba in this episode than you've ever known! Norwegian tuba soloist and chamber musician Øystein Baadsvik is the only tuba virtuoso in the world to make a career exclusively as a soloist. He is also the only tuba player in the world to have a great story about touring with a punk band. He joins us all the way from Norway to tell us about this shadowy instrument: its size, its repertoire, and its fnugg. For more about Øystein Baadsvik: www.baadsvik.com. For more about Classical Classroom: www.houstonpublicmedia.org/classroom. Audio production by Todd "Tall Texan" Hulslander with slings and arrows by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode: - Bass Tuba Concerto in F Minor, 1st mvmt, by Ralph Vaughn Williams. Performed by Øystein Baadsvik. - Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra 1st mvmt, by John Williams. Performed by Øystein Baadsvik. - Fnugg from The Front Row - Reserved (a Houston Public Media compilation CD). Performed by Øystein Baadsvik. - Fnugg from YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q19Kcgvgjs - Blood Sweat and Tears tuba solo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciPI7U1VEhE - The Cod Lovers - Encounters II for solo tuba, performed by Roger Bobo - Csárdás by Vittorio Monti, performed by Øystein Baadsvik. - Ordner seg (It'll Be All Right) from Ferry Tales by Øystein Baadsvik. - Winter from the Four Seasons Concerto by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Øystein Baadsvik. PS, The title for this show was inspired by a great band called 500 Megatons of Boogie. You can find out more about them here: www.reverbnation.com/500megatonsofboogie

 Classical Classroom Research Presentation: Seriously, What IS Chamber Music? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:05:36

May is National Chamber Music Month! Oh, what? You're not excited? Maybe that's because you don't know exactly what chamber music is yet. Which means you should probably listen to this research presentation to find out more about it. Then you, too, can get excited about a form of music that's had an effect on everything from symphonies to garage bands. Whoo chamber music!! Audio production by Todd "T Bone" Hulslander with apoplectic paroxysms of approval from Dacia Clay. Music in this research presentation includes: - "(Nothing But) Flowers" performed by David Byrne, Ethel, and Thomas Dolby - "I Wanna Be Sedated" from Road to Ruin by the Ramones - "New England Journey" by Brad Sayles - February: Scherzo from Das Jahr by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, played by Sarah Rothenberg - "Cuckolds All A-row" from the Art of the Bawdy Song by the Baltimore Consort - "Joyne Hands" by Thomas Morley played by the Baltimore Consort - Quartet No. 62 in C major ("Emperor" or "Kaiser"), Op. 76, No. 3, FHE No. 42, Hoboken No. III:77 by Joseph Haydn - Symphonie Fantastique, 5th mvmt., Songe d'une nuit de sabbat by Hector Berlioz - Ornithology (1946) by Charlie Parker Septet - "Artists Only" from More Songs About Buildings and Food by the Talking Heads - String Quintet in E flat major, Op. 97 by Antonín Dvořák performed by the Emerson String Quartet For information about the resources used in this article or to find out more about Classical Classroom, go to www.houstonpublicmedia.org/classroom For lots of great Chamber Music Month content, go to www.houstonpublicmedia.org/arts/chamber-music-month

 Classical Classroom, Episode 46 preview! | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:00:29

Hear a 30-second preview of this week's show!

 Classical Classroom, Episode 46: Todd Reynolds defines "classical music" - sort of | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:30:06

What do we mean when we say "classical music"? Sure, sure: it refers to a period of music, like "Baroque" or "Romantic". But we largely use the word as a sort of generic brand-name for a specific variety of sound. In this episode of Classical Classroom, genre-ignoring violinist Todd Reynolds attempts to define classical music. Does he succeed? Does he give up and just start talking about Prince instead? Maybe and maybe! Listen to this episode to find out. Audio production by Todd "Timbalander" Hulslander with at least 3 really good suggestions from Dacia Clay. Music in this episode: - Third Construction by John Cage - Composition for Four Instruments by Milton Babbitt - "Pulses" from Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich - Symphony No. 41 (the "Jupiter Symphony"), Molto Allegro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - "Happy" from G I R L by Pharrell Williams - "Let's Go Crazy" from Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution - "Crossroads" and "Taskforce: Farmlab" from Outerborough by Todd Reynolds - Fantasia in G Major, BWV 571 by Johann Sebastian Bach Todd Reynolds was a special guest of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts. ABOUT THE MITCHELL CENTER The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts is dedicated to interdisciplinary collaboration across the performing, visual, and literary arts. Based at the University of Houston, the Mitchell Center commissions and produces new works, presents public performances and exhibitions, offers curriculum and scholarships, and hosts residencies with renowned visiting artists from throughout the world. The Center is home to the Mitchell Artist Lecture, an annual event featuring a pioneer in contemporary art-making, as well as CounterCurrent, an annual spring festival of new performance. The Mitchell Center forms an alliance among five departments at UH: the School of Art, Moores School of Music, School of Theatre & Dance, Creative Writing Program, and Blaffer Art Museum. For more information visit www.mitchellcenterforarts.org. For more about Todd Reynolds check out his blog: www.toddreynolds.wordpress.com For more about Classical Classroom: www.houstonpublicmedia.org/classroom

Comments

Login or signup comment.