Music & Culture
Classical Music Posts
How Sports Met ‘The Star Spangled Banner’
“The Star Spangled Banner” has been played at major sporting events as far back as the Civil War, even before it was officially named the national anthem. How and why did the tradition stick? Continue Reading How Sports Met ‘The Star Spangled Banner’
Paul Simon Says ‘I’m Finished’ Writing Music
In this candid conversation, the singer reveals he hasn’t felt compelled to write a new song in years, talks about the desire to better know himself and reflects on the very meaning of life itself. Continue Reading Paul Simon Says ‘I’m Finished’ Writing Music
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
