On Demand
Evening Music Archive
December 2007
New Year's Eve Specials
Monday, December 31, 2007
Join us as we ring in 2008 with special programming, including our music staff picks for best recordings of the year, A Paul Winter Solstice Concert with host John Schaefer, and Garrison Keillor's New Year's Eve Special.
Ear to Ear: Eyal Maoz
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Since relocating to the United States some 8 years ago, Israeli-born guitarist/composer Eyal Maoz has ridden the crest of avant-guard jazz through several ensembles. His latest group is the quartet Edom, which combines jazz and middle-eastern sounds with a distinctive rock attitude.
The Life and Times of Johnny Appleseed
Friday, December 28, 2007
Composer/fiddler Mark O'Connor has "classicized" everything from Blues to Jazz, with a distinctly American bent. We hear his light-hearted take on that agricultural hero of yore, in the "Johnny Appleseed" Suite.
The Small Scale Minimalist
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Before bursting onto the scene with large-scale orchestral works like "Harmonium," John Adams experimented with minimalism on a smaller (yet no less intricate) scale. We hear an example with one of his early piano works, "China Gates."
The Tomb of Liberace
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Composer Michael Daugherty draws on everything from UFOs to dead celebrities for inspiration. We hear an example of the latter, in his highly imaginative tribute to an American icon, "Le Tombeau de Liberace" (The Tomb of Liberace).
Christmas Holiday Specials
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Join us for Johann Sebastian Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" from Carnegie Hall. Also, Phil Kline spins more of his favorite holiday music, and we hear a jazz version of a Tchaikovsky classic, in "The Harlem Nutcracker."
Holiday Treats
Monday, December 24, 2007
We offer a few musical treats for Christmas Eve, including "Phil Kline's Holiday Mix," "A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols," and the "WNYC Hip But Mellow Holiday Snack Mix."
Ear to Ear: Amir Elsaffar
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Some five years ago, jazz trumpeter/vocalist Amir Elsaffar embarked on a personal quest to master the centuries-old musical style of his Iraqi ancestry. Fusing modern jazz with the traditional Iraqi Maqam repertoire, Elsaffar continues to serve as a cultural ambassador, breathing new life into a rich — and nearly extinct — musical heritage.
Winter Wonderland
Friday, December 21, 2007
Snow may still be around the corner, but the solstice is upon us. We offer music in tune with the season, as we mark the first day of Winter.
Bird Concerto
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Composers have been inspired by birdsong throughout the centuries; some have even literally used it in their music. We hear an example from Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara in his concerto for birds and orchestra, "Cantus Arcticus."
Music for Movies
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Aaron Copland may be known for creating the sound of the western American frontier with works like "Rodeo" and "Billy the Kid," but he also wrote prolifically in a wide range of idioms. We sample some of the many scores he wrote for the silver screen, in "Music for Movies."
The Fantastic Tales of Mother Goose
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The iconic figure of Mother Goose began with 17th century French author Charles Perrault, who wrote seminal versions of literary gems such as "Little Red Riding Hood," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Cinderella." The most famous music inspired by Perrault's nursery rhyme raconteur belongs, of course, to another Frenchman, Maurice Ravel.
Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman
Monday, December 17, 2007
Joan Tower writes music that is both completely accessible yet arresting at the same time, often drawing comparisons to the later works of Aaron Copland. We hear one of her Copland-inspired pieces, "Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman."
Must Have 2007: Lisa Phillips
Sunday, December 16, 2007
New Museum Director Lisa Phillips joins host Katherine Lanpher to share the music that she just can't live without. Part of WNYC's 2007 Must Have Festival.
Ear to Ear: Paola Prestini
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Through her interdisciplinary performance collective VisionIntoArt, Paola Prestini creates what TimeOut New York calls "ingeniously staged concert pieces that gracefully walk the line between opera and performance art." The Italian-born, New York-based composer joins David Garland for a conversation about her music and current projects.
Must Have 2007: Stew
Friday, December 14, 2007
Performance artist Stew joins host Katherine Lanpher to share the music that he just can't live without. Part of WNYC's 2007 Must Have Festival.
Must Have 2007: Gerard Mortier
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Impresario Gerard Mortier joins host Katherine Lanpher to discuss his vision of opera and share the music that he just can't live without. Part of WNYC's 2007 Must Have Festival.
Must Have 2007: John Jasperse
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Choreographer John Jasperse joins host Katherine Lanpher to share the music that he just can't live without. Part of WNYC's 2007 Must Have Festival.
Must Have 2007: Alex Ross
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Author and critic Alex Ross joins host Katherine Lanpher to share the music that he just can't live without. Part of WNYC's 2007 Must Have Festival.
Must Have 2007: Majora Carter
Monday, December 10, 2007
Environmental activist Majora Carter joins host Katherine Lanpher to share the music that she just can't live without. Part of WNYC's 2007 Must Have Festival.
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra: Live from Carnegie Hall
Saturday, December 08, 2007
WNYC presents this live broadcast of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra from Carnegie Hall, joined by pianist Christian Zacharias for Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto. Also on the program, the world premiere performance of Christopher Theofanidis' Muse, part of the orchestra's ongoing New Brandenberg Project, for which six composers are creating modern companion pieces to Johann Sebastian Bach's "Brandenburg" concertos. Muse is a companion piece to Bach's third concerto, which is also included on the program.
Visit the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra website
This program is supported, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Nixon in China
Friday, December 07, 2007
For his first large-scale stage work, John Adams chose Richard Nixon's historic 1972 trip to China as a subject, creating one of the great American operas in the process. We hear Adams' precursor to "Nixon in China," the catchy orchestral foxtrot "The Chairman Dances."
Out of the Mouth of Babes
Thursday, December 06, 2007
When David Lang was given five different commissions for similar groups of instruments at the same time, he ended up collecting them all together into one large piece, "Child." We hear the second of Lang's colorful reminiscences on the challenges of youth, "My Very Empty Mouth."
The Tale of the Hindenburg
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Composer Steve Reich addresses the transformative and unsettling impact of technology on the twentieth century in his work, "Three Tales." We hear "Hindenburg" — the first segment in this digital video opera collaboration Reich made with his wife, Beryl Korot.
Hanukkah with the Top Down
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
WNYC celebrates the spirit of the Maccabeem, the small band of rebels whose victory over the powerful, oppressive Greek army is celebrated each year during the eight days of Hanukkah.
Jukebox Movies
Monday, December 03, 2007
Culture critic John Rockwell sounds off on movies about Bob Dylan and the Beatles. Also, music from Brazilian pianist/vocalist Clarice Assad, as performed by her father and uncle duo, guitarists Sergio and Adair Assad.
Ear to Ear: Olivier Conan
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Although a native of France, Olivier Conan spends his professional life fronting the popular music of Latin America as a member of the bands Chica Libre and Las Rubias del Norte. He also spreads the word through the many eclectic concerts held at his club in Brooklyn, Barbès.
Music Playlists
View WNYC's music playlists dating back to 2001 (full playlists are generally posted the day after broadcast). For playlist inquiries, please contact Listener Services via email or at 646-829-4000.
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Festivals and Specials
Listen on demand to our online archive of music festivals and specials, where you'll find a treasure-trove of stimulating conversations, opinions, reflections, and of course, great music!
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Ear to Ear
Ear to Ear takes innovative musicians off the New York stages and into the studio for relaxed, insightful conversation, as they share their personal recordings with host David Garland.
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