We keep rediscovering the inexhaustibly deep musical traditions of Africa as artists from all over the world are refreshed and inspired by them. Her'es our late-summer introduction to a few of Africa's beautiful musical traditions.
Our friends over at NPR are running a summer contest to decide on "the great American symphony." Since they brought it up, here’s a list of American symphonies we think you ought to give a try.
Ever since the music industry emerged as a mass commercial enterprise, musicians have waded between that "popular" music and classical (mostly uncommercial) music. In today’s mix, we sample music by musicians who have been at the top of the music industry but have refused to be defined by it.
Have a favorite musical depiction of weather? Composers today are increasingly attuned to climate change and extreme weather events. Global warming has been a political issue for years; now it is arriving center stage in music.
The guitar is an instrument that goes everywhere and plays every kind of music. In this playlist, though, we concentrate on Spanish classical guitar as well as Brazil’s extraordinarily diverse, famous guitarists and their music.
If you’re looking for a musical maverick, look no further than the instrument builder, composer, and theorist Cris Forster. Here’s a tour, with video, of his inventions and his ideas.