Monthly Archives: November, 2019


S4-13: At the Helm, Part 2

Published - November 30, 2019

“The best conductors are the best listeners.”  – Tom Service   Let’s take another listen to ensembles being led by some of today’s leading women at the conductor’s podium.  You may be familiar with one or two of the women highlighted today, but most will probably be new to you.  But they are all tremendously talented.   “At the Helm, Part 2”   Greg Edmonson:  Main Theme, Uncharted II Eímear Noone, conductor Danish National Symphony Orchestra “Gaming in Symphony” EuroArts 880242677013 Jessie Montgomery:  Coincident Dances Mei-Ann Chen, conductor Chicago Sinfonietta “Project W” Cedille 90000 185 Mieczslaw Weinberg:  Symphony No. 21, Op. 152 “Kaddish” Mirga

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S4-12: Music of Place

Published - November 23, 2019

“Music is the expression of the movement of the waters, the play of curves described by changing breezes.”  – Claude Debussy   From the Andes, to the American desert, to the city of Buffalo at the turn of the century.  These are the places and journeys that inspired the works on this program.   “Music of Place”   Lydia Kakabadse:  I Remember (excerpts) Clare McCaldin, mezzo-soprano; Paul Turner, piano “Ithaka” Divine Art 25188 Monica Houghton:  Andean Suite Dmitri Atapine, cello; Hyeyeon Park, piano “Of Time & Place” Navona 6162 Maggi Payne:  Desertscapes Slovak Radio Chorus “Desertscapes: A Portrait of American Women Composers” MMC Recordings

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1-24: Society for Jewish Folk Music

Published - November 20, 2019

1-24 Society for Jewish Folk Music  Founded in 1908, the Society for Jewish Folk Music collected thousands of recordings of Jewish folk melodies and supported new compositions from Jewish musicians based upon or inspired by their Jewish musical heritage. Music includes: Lazare Saminsky: Tov L’Hodot (Psalm 92) Solomon Rosowsky: Chassidic Melody, Melody Without End, Moshe the Shoemaker Joel Engel: Adagio Misterioso Alexander Krein: Jewish Sketches Suite No. 1 Joseph Achron: Hebrew Melody

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S4-11: All Together Now

Published - November 16, 2019

  “A bird does not sing because it has an answer.  It sings because it has a song.”  – Chinese proverb   It’s been said, “People are always good company when they are doing what they really enjoy.”  For a dedicated ensemble, that enjoyment is evident in every note, and this episode features music from several all female ensembles, including an all-female orchestra whose members literally put their lives at risk in order to perform.   “All Together Now”   Jan Jirásek:  Credo/Agnus Dei, fro Missa Propria Jitro Czech Girls Choir; Jiří Skopal, conductor “Parallel Worlds” Navona 6101 Catherine McMichael:  Asteria Seraph Brass

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1-23: Richard Tucker

Published - November 15, 2019

1-23 Richard Tucker  Born as Rubin Ticker, Richard Tucker became an international opera star and renowned cantor.  Leontyne Price said about Tucker, “What touched me most was his deep religious belief and his love of his family.” Music includes: Leonard Bernstein: “Tonight” from West Side Story Richard Rodgers: You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel Giacomo Puccini: “Vogliatemi bene” from Madama Butterfly Sholom Secunda: Kol Nidre arr. Thomas Z. Shepard: Hava Nagila Naomi Shemer: Yerushalayim Shel Zahav Ernest Gold: The Exodus Song Parish, Alstone, & Goodhart: Mom-e-le Alexander Olshanetsky: Shiroh Georges Bizet: The Pearl Fishers duet Abraham Goldfaden: Roshinkes mit Mandlen

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S4-10: Bold and Brassy, Part 2

Published - November 9, 2019

  “Be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart, and strong enough to live the life you have always imagined.”  – Anonymous   Despite our best efforts, there is still a gender bias for aspiring brass players.  One way to overcome this bias is simply by visibility – seeing women in roles that are unexpected, and make aspiring musicians realize they can follow that same path.   “Bold and Brassy, Part 2”   Nicolo Paganini:  Caprice No. 24 Alison, Balsom, trumpet “Caprice” Angel/EMI 53255 Herman Bellstedt:  Piece de Concert Raquel Rodriquez, cornet Jan Corrothers, piano “Cincinnati Virtuosity

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1-22: Non-Jewish Composers

Published - November 6, 2019

1-22 Non-Jewish Composers  Dmitri Shostakovich was fascinated by the ability of Jewish music to “build a jolly melody on sad intonations.”  Maurice Ravel wrote Two Hebrew Melodies.  A look at composers who were not Jewish, but were still inspired by Jewish musical traditions. Music includes: Douglas Moore: Vay’khullu Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 4 in D Maurice Ravel: “Chanson Hébraïque” from Chants Populaires Maurice Ravel: Deux Mélodies Hébraïques Sergei Prokofiev: Overture on Hebrew Themes

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1-21: Piano Music

Published - November 6, 2019

1-21 Piano Music  An exploration of Jewish influences in music composed for the piano including works by Juliusz Wolfsohn and Frederic Rzewski. Music Includes: Leonard Bernstein: Selections from Four Sabras Jacob Weinberg: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Frederic Rzewski: Mayn Yingele Juliusz Wolfsohn: Jewish Rhapsody

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1-20: Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco

Published - November 6, 2019

1-20 Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco  Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco was a successful Italian composer until the rise of fascism and anti-Semitism in the 1930s saw his music banned from the radio. Music Includes: Vocalise-Étude; Chant Hébraïque for cello and piano Violin Concerto No. 2 “I profeti” Naomi and Ruth Selections from Prayers My Grandfather Wrote

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S4-09: Women of Color: Performers, Part 4

Published - November 2, 2019

“Pigeonholing is only interesting to pigeons.”  – Jessye Norman   A youngster sees a musician and says, “She looks like me.  And she’s making incredible music.  I can do that, too!”  Being a woman of color is still an anomaly in the Classical music world, and this week we’ll take another listen to some of these talented musicians.  On today’s program we’ll hear performances from women of color who were groundbreakers, as well as those making their way today.   “Women of Color: Performers, Part 4”   Franz Schubert:  Ganymed, Op. 19, No. 3 Jessye Norman, soprano Phillip Moll, piano

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