Classical Classroom

Learning...and stuff

[classicalclassroom]

Classical Classroom, Episode 48: The Texas Tenors Teach Tenor Types (rerun) | Houston Public Media

What types of tenor would a tenor type teach if a tenor type could teach tenor?

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. By the way, if you like this episode, check out the Texas Tenors on Houston Public Media TV 8 Monday August 7, 2017 (local PBS show times here). 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

Audio production by Todd “Tenortastic” Hulslander with scads of squillo from Dacia Clay.

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Classical Classroom, Episode 63: The Trumpet Lesson (with video) | Houston Public Media

It’s a bird dying! No! It’s our host, playing the trumpet!

This episode does double duty: teaches you all about the trumpet and trumpet playing, while carrying out the secondary mission of Classical Classroom, i.e., the humiliation of the show’s host. Trumpet players George Chase and Jason Adams of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra teach former trumpet player Dacia a trumpet lesson. Along the way, they say all kinds of important things about the history of the instrument. Plus, there are duck calls!

Music in this episode:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major Mvt. 3 -Bach played by the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra

Duo No. 1 by Chris Gecker played by George Chase and Jason Adams

Audio production by Todd “Ah!” Hulslander with running and hiding by Dacia Clay.

Oh, but we’re not done yet: You can see video – yes, video! – of George and Jason giving Dacia a trumpet lesson right here! Special thanks, by the way, to videographer Troy Schulze for his help with this outtake.

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Classical Classroom, Ep. 173: Mozart’s Death Demystified (No Really!), With Robert Greenberg | Houston Public Media

Spoiler alert: the cause of death will totally underwhelm you.

The story of Mozart’s death has, over the years, taken on an awful lot of…story. Extant theories regarding how he died number in the hundreds and are still emerging. Even yours truly did an episode of Classical Classroom to try to get to the bottom of the whole thing. In this episode, Dr. Robert Greenberg, a music historian and bestselling creator of courses for the Great Courses and the Teaching Company (and now, for Robert Greenberg Music), explains the facts that we know that we know about how Mozart died. Plus, we explore why it’s so hard for us to accept that incredible human beings like Mozart can, and do die, of totally boring, normal causes.

Audio production by Todd “Wolfie” Hulslander with suspicious eyeballing by Dacia Clay.

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Classical Classroom, Episode 69: The Kids Are Alright, With Missy Mazzoli (RR) | Houston Public Media

Worried about the future of classical music? Listen to this and turn that frown upside down.

Classical music: the future frontier. These are the voyages of the podcast Classical Classroom. It’s mission: to explore strange new music – Sorry. I’ll stop. Where was I? Right! Composer, performer, and Mannes College of Music composition faculty member, Missy Mazzoli talks to us about the future of classical music, from the future, aka, New York. Also talked about in this episode: Beth Morrison, Schoenberg, David Little, pillow fights, Lars von Trier, eighth blackbird, Richard Reed Parry, Bryce Dessner, Victoire, Abigail Fischer, “bands” vs. “ensembles”, operatic voice, and streaming music.

PS, If you’re in the Houston area, Missy’s opera, Song from the Uproar, will be making its premiere here at Da Camera in March of 2015. For more info, click here!

Audio production of this episode by Todd “Tisk Tisk” Hulslander with buckets of help from Dacia Clay.

All music in this episode was composed by Missy Mazzoli.

For more about Missy Mazzoli: www.missymazzoli.com

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Classical Classroom, Ep. 172: Pine On Paganini | Houston Public Media

Learn about about virtuoso from a virtuosa.

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine loves playing challenging music (and apparently, being on Classical Classroom, as this is her third time on the show). So it makes sense that she would want to play the musical equivalent of running a marathon for her latest album: Bel Canto Paganini: 24 Caprices. In this episode, Rachel talks about who Paganini was. As it turns out, he was much more than just a classical music proto-goth with what some thought was a supernatural ability to play the violin.

Music in this episode:

Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini –  Nikolai Lugansky, Sakari Oramo City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Breaking The Rules: Pagan Annie Richard Greene, Jon Kurnick, Denny Seiwell

All other music from Bel Canto Paganini by Rachel Barton Pine

Audio production by Todd “Sheriff Harry S. Truman” Hulslander with from Dacia Clay.

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Classical Classroom, Episode 70: Piano Vs. Orchestra, With Jon Kimura Parker | Houston Public Media

A behind-the-scenes look at what it means to be a guest soloist with an orchestra.

Pianist, Shepherd School of Music professor, and recording artist Jon Kimura Parker – or as we like to call him, Captain Jon Solo – talks about the hidden world of the guest soloist. From the singular experience of performing with an orchestra in one ear and a concert hall in the other, to rehearsal times that will give you stage fright just hearing about them, it’s a behind-the-scenes tell-all exposé of concertic proportions. (That’s a word. We swear.)

Music in this episode was recorded live with Jon Kimura Parker in the Geary Performance Studio at Houston Public Media except for:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 C-Dur, op. 15 played by Martha Argerich and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

P.D.Q. Bach: Concerto for Two Pianos vs. Orchestra, S. 2 are better than one (P.D.Q. Bach).

Audio production by Todd “The Tobogganator” Hulslander with a running start by Dacia Clay.

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Classical Classroom, Episode 72: You Don’t Know Fifth! With Emily Reese | Houston Public Media

An early about a timeless piece that may shock and surprise you.

This show is from the Wayback Machine, and Emily has done a lot since this. She currently does a podcast called Level with Emily Reese for one, and she runs a company called Joon Media. (I’ll post what she was doing at the time of our interview below.) What I remember most about this interview is 1) having my mind blown about Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, and 2) Emily’s laugh, which I think you’ll agree is pretty great.

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Beethoven’s Fifth. We’ve never done a show on it because everybody knows it! Right? Emily Reese, on air host for Classical Minnesota Public Radio, host of Top Score (part of the Infinite Guest podcast series), and creator of MPR’s Learning to Listen, says that we are wrong, so wrong! Emily takes us through the entire symphony, which, as it turns out, is completely surprising and amazing. Plus, we play drinking games! Or at least give you some to play.

Music in this episode:

Symphony No. 5, Ludwig van Beethoven. Played by Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, and conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. Archiv.

Audio production by Todd “The Tower” Hulslander with fear of heights by Dacia Clay.

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Classical Classroom, Ep. 171: Strange Loop, With Jessica Meyer | Houston Public Media

Hear the story of a musician with something to say.

Violist, composer, and educator Jessica Meyer has a unique story in the classical music world; it starts with a viola, and ends with a viola, but goes a lot of unpredictable places in between. Hear the story of her creative journey from focused specialist to Renaissance woman, and hear some of her incredible music along the way.

Music in this episode (all written and performed by Jessica Meyer):

“Source of Joy”

“The dappled light just beyond her skin…”

“But Not Until” (viola and cello duo feat. Andrew Yee)

“Released”

Audio production by Todd “Electrotodd” Hulslander with unplugging by Dacia Clay and assistance from Mark DiClaudio.

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Classical Classroom, MusicWorks Ep. 169: How Music Chased Down Gaelynn Lea | Houston Public Media

The Tiny Desk Contest winner talks about the musical journey she seems to have had no choice in taking - in a good way.

Violinist/fiddle player Gaelynn Lea came to Houston fresh off of performing at South by Southwest and spent some time with the Classical Classroom (and Skyline Sessions – check out her video performances!). She talks about how music has gradually become her life. From first finding an instrument that was right for her body as a kid (she has a rare condition called Brittle Bones Disease that means she’s got different physical challenges than others), to meeting and collaborating with Alan Sparhawk (of the band Low), to winning the Tiny Desk Contest and selling her home to go on tour.

Music in this episode:

Violin Partita, No 1 in B Minor

“Gentle,” by Low from Ones and Sixes

Plus, music performed by Gaelynn Lea

Audio production by Todd “Turnt Up” Hulslander with dinosaur acts by Dacia Clay and help from Mark DiClaudio.

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Classical Classroom, Episode 40: Simone Dinnerstein Goes Bachpacking | Houston Public Media

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein talks about her educational initiative, Bachpacking.

Simone Dinnerstein just came out with a new album called Mozart in Havana. While we weren’t able to sync up our interview schedules this time around, we had to at least give her a shout out with this rerun because she is awesome. She may be coming to a city near you!

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Pianist Simone Dinnerstein talks all about her educational initiative, Bachpacking, and her community initiative, Neighborhood Classics, Bach Inventions, and how Led Zeppelin is more like Bach than Jay Z.

Music in this episode:

Bach Inventions, played live by Simone Dinnerstein, and from her new album, J.S. Bach: Inventions & Sinfonias

“Suit and Tie“, from the 20/20 Experience by Justin Timberlake, feat. Jay Z

“Misty Mountain Hop“, from untitled album by Led Zeppelin

Audio production by Todd “Toddsy Turvy” Hulslander with yips of joy from Dacia Clay.

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Classical Classroom, Episode 26: Ragging On Chopin With Richard Dowling | Houston Public Media

How ragtime killed the classical star.

Concert pianist and entrepreneur Richard Dowling illuminates some of Chopin’s pieces by “ragging” them on the piano. It’s a lesson in classical music and ragtime all rolled up in one, topped with live performances, and served with a side of fries.

Music in this episode includes live performances by Richard Dowling of:

Frederic Chopin, Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2

Ethan Uslan, Chopin’s Knocked Urn

Frederic Chopin, “Revolutionary” Etude in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 12

Joseph Lamb, Ragtime Nightingale

Claude Debussy, Golliwogg’s Cakewalk (not performed by Mr. Dowling)

Audio production by Todd “Toddry” Hulslander with sarcastic slow claps of approval from Dacia Clay.

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Classical Classroom, Ep. 168: Third Coast Percussion Plays At 1.21 Gigawatts | Houston Public Media

Sean Connors of Grammy-winning Third Coast Percussion talks about what being in a percussion-only ensemble is all about.

“Percussion is almost anything that we say ‘yes’ to playing.” – Sean Connors

Wait. A percussion-only ensemble? Is that, like, a fancy drum circle? Sean Connors of the Grammy-winning percussion quartet Third Coast Percussion explains that this is not too far off. But the operative word is “fancy.” As Connors describes it, percussion ensembles are the mad scientists of the music world. Any object in the world is a potential instrument. And when they’ve run out of objects, they invent more. (Fun fact: Third Coast sometimes works with actual scientists at the University of Notre Dame where they are ensemble in residence.) Learn all about the crazy world of percussion ensembles and hear some amazing music in this show.

Music in this episode:

Mallet Quartet: III (Fast), by Steve Reich, from Third Coast Grammy performance with Ravi Coltrane

Wild Sound, mvt 4, by Glenn Kotche (Arduino and marimba versions)

Check out a video of Third Coast Percussion performing at their masterclass at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music! So cool. Find it in the web article at www.houstonpublicmedia.org/classroom 

Audio production by Todd “Neil Peart” Hulslander with air drumming by Dacia Clay and video production and general other assistance by Mark DiClaudio.

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Classical Classroom MusicWorks, Ep. 167: Craig Hella Johnson, Activism In Classical Music (Part 2) | Houston Public Media

Is classical music strong enough to go dark places?

Craig Johnson wrote a beautiful piece of music that commemorates a tragic event: the brutal beating of a young gay man. The piece asks listeners to consider Matt Shepard, the person who lived through the event, and to consider the life Shepard lived prior to the beating. In this episode, part 2 of our 2-part series on activism in classical music, Johnson talks about his Grammy-nominated choral work, “Considering Matthew Shepard.” He also talks about the strong and effective tool that classical music can be in bringing people together and in shedding light upon dark places.

Music in this episode:

Music from “Considering Matthew Shepard,” by Craig Hella Johnson

By Johann Sebastian Bach

B Minor Mass

Prelude in C major from Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier

St. Matthew Passion

Audio production by Todd “Hella” Hulslander with assistance from Dacia Clay and Mark DiClaudio.

To learn more about Conspirare, go here. To learn more about the Laramie Project, go here.

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Classical Classroom MusicWorks, Ep. 165: Amanda Gookin – Activism In Classical Music (Part 1) | Houston Public Media

Is there a place for activism in the classical music world?

“When somebody shows you who they are, believe them.”

That’s one of cellist Amanda Gookin’s favorite quotes. And through the Forward Music Project, she’s decided to show people who she is, and who women and girls are. Learn Amanda’s story (which includes many digressions from, and returns to, the classical music world), and learn why she decided to aim all of her disparate passions at one target. Hear the innovate pieces that she’s commissioned in what she calls a “giving project,” which seeks not only to bring awareness to causes that benefit women and girls, but to donate money to those causes.

Music in this episode (all from the Forward Music Project):

“For Edna,” by Leila Adu

“Stray Sods,” by Amanda Feery

“Swerve,” by Jessica Meyer

“Memories lie dormant: they are reviled before they are revealed,” by Morgan Krauss

Audio production by Todd “Take 5” Hulslander with pick up sticks by Dacia Clay and assistance from Mark DiClaudio. Thanks much to George Heathco for the use of his music in our intro!

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Classical Classroom, Ep 118: Alisa Weilerstein On The Romance Of Rachmaninov | Houston Public Media

A little romantic music with cellist Alisa Weilerstein.

Happy birthday, Rachmaninov!

Because Rachmaninov’s birthday and our Spring Break lined up so nicely, it’s obviously the perfect opportunity to repeat this episode. Back next week with more of the usual (i.e., heavy metal car racing stories with lots of explosions).

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein’s gives an introduction to the music of Sergey Rachmaninov. Who was this romantic man, and what makes him different from all the other guys – I mean, composers? Weilerstein walks us through Rachmaninov’s Sonata in G Minor for Cello and Piano. Plus, she talks about her musical relationship with performing partner, pianist Inon Barnatan, and what it’s like to be part of a long-term creative duo.

Music in this episode is all from Weilerstein and Barnatan’s CD, Chopin and Rachmaninov Cello Sonatas:

Sonata in G Minor for Cello and Piano, Opus 19. Sergey Rachmaninov.

Audio production by Todd “Toight like a toiger” Hulslander with grrrr aargh’s from Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiClaudio.

If you enjoyed this episode with Alisa Weilerstein, check out her other Classical Classroom episode – all about the Aspen Music Festival and playing solo cello.

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Classical Classroom, Ep. 164: Going Out On A High Note, With Cypress String Quartet | Houston Public Media

Recording a composer they've never recorded, playing as a sextet instead of a quartet, and doing it all live in studio with an audience. Just like Costanza.

For starters, this episode was recorded on Groundhog’s Day. Which is pretty perfect considering that this is the second time we’ve had the Cypress String Quartet on the show to talk about a “final” recording. Cypress cellist Jennifer Kloetzel swears that this really is the quartet’s final final recording and assures us that this is not just a clever publicity gimmick. (Although for the record, if it was, we would gladly play along.) Kloetzel tells us why, for their final final recording, the group went with a composer they’d never recorded before (Brahms), why they recorded the album live in front of a studio audience, and why they played as a sextet rather than a quartet. Also discussed: whether or not one has to have Jedi training to record at Skywalker Sound, and whether Jennifer and Zuill Bailey had a cello battle in the studio.

All music in this episode from the Cypress String Quartet’s Brahms: String Sextets Op.18 and Op.36.

Audio production by Todd “Marmot” Hulslander with shadow-siting by Dacia Clay and assistance from Mark DiClaudio.

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Classical Classroom, Ep. 163: MusicWorks – The Starkland Story | Houston Public Media

Tom Steenland is the one-man-DIY-band behind the most punk rock of classical music labels, Starkland Records. Hear the story of Starkland, plus some incredible music.

It all started because Tom Steenland really dug the music of composer Tod Dockstader. He wanted the rest of the world to hear it, too. And so began the (thus far) 25-year DIY project born out of Steenland’s passion for innovative sound that is Starkland Records, a label that specializes in experimental music, alternative classical, and the avant-garde. Since the label started in 1991 (AKA, the Year Punk Broke), Steenland has almost single-handedly propelled Starkland’s motor, doing the bulk of the work for the label himself, including the minutiae like graphic design. And, to top all of that, Starkland is a non-profit label and has worked directly with nearly 100 composers. Learn about this unicorn among labels in our Classical Classroom MusicWorks story.

Music in this episode from Starkland, including music by Tod Dockstader, Phillip Bimstein, and more.

Audio production by Todd “Dockstader” Hulslander with robot sounds from Dacia Clay and assistance from Mark DiClaudio. Thanks muchly to composer George Heathco for the use of his music in our MusicWorks intro!