Music & Culture
Classical Music Posts
Esperanza Spalding Is The 21st Century’s Jazz Genius
The ways in which Spalding’s music is the most radical are perhaps the most easily overlooked: how, through her singing and playing, she challenges gender norms across styles. Continue Reading Esperanza Spalding Is The 21st Century’s Jazz Genius
The Complex Life Of Leonard Bernstein, A Once-In-A-Century Talent
Born 100 years ago on Aug. 25, 1918, Bernstein was a larger-than-life character — on stage as a conductor, at the piano as a composer, on TV as an educator and in a sometimes tangled personal life. Continue Reading The Complex Life Of Leonard Bernstein, A Once-In-A-Century Talent
Ready For A Linguistic Controversy? Say ‘Mmhmm’
Mmhmm is a small word that’s often used unconsciously. But it can actually tell us a lot about language, bias and the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Continue Reading Ready For A Linguistic Controversy? Say ‘Mmhmm’
NPR Tiny Desk Concert: Yo-Yo Ma’s Life Led With Bach
If the celebrated cellist could soundtrack his life, the music would be J.S. Bach’s six Cello Suites. Yo-Yo Ma explains why they mean the world to him while he played the music at the NPR offices. Continue Reading NPR Tiny Desk Concert: Yo-Yo Ma’s Life Led With Bach
Look Up: Musical Inspiration From The Night Sky
Warm nights and clear skies are a perfect combination to see some of the night sky’s wonders, even if you don’t have a telescope. And what could be better than stargazing with a themed classical music soundtrack? Continue Reading Look Up: Musical Inspiration From The Night Sky
Leonard Bernstein: How ‘Noise That Keeps People Awake At Night’ Helped Ignite A Brilliant Career
The first known photograph of Leonard Bernstein (left) as a conductor, taken at a summer camp on 1937. CREDIT: Library of Congress, Music Division “Moynik!”… Continue Reading Leonard Bernstein: How ‘Noise That Keeps People Awake At Night’ Helped Ignite A Brilliant Career
