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Soundcheck

Friday, December 13, 2002
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  • Unsilent Night

    At Christmas, musical customs abound, even if some traditions seem rather unconventional. Rule-breaking composer Phil Kline visits for a conversation about his 11th-annual boombox Christmas carol, Unsilent Night. As composer/director for the Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, Raphael Mostel has created a multimedia theater work based on the most beloved elephant in children’s literature. He discusses his new musical, The Travels of Babar. Plus, John McGlynn, cofounder of the Irish choir Anuna, gives stateside fans a preview of what the ensemble’s got cooking for its first-ever American tour.

A writer of rock-influenced art music, Phil Kline found his inspiration for Unsilent Night in a Christmas party.
More about Phil Kline and Unsilent Night

Not only has The Travels of Babar featured such celebrity narrators as actors Phylicia Rashad and Jerry Stiller, it was also New York City Opera Education’s first time presenting work by a living composer in its Opera is Elementary program.
More about Raphael Mostel

Among Anuna’s Celtic-inspired recordings are a new collection of rearranged Christmas songs and an album celebrating the ensemble’s 15th anniversary this year.
More about Anuna

Irma Thomas

Irma Thomas

Soundcheck

August 22, 2008
New Orleans singer Irma Thomas has survived 50 years in the music business - and at least two hurricanes. She joins us to talk about her record, Simply Grand.

Bon Iver

Soundcheck

July 30, 2008
Singer-songwriter Justin Vernon spent a winter holed up in his father's hunting cabin in remote Wisconsin, recording songs about solitude that would be released under the name Bon Iver. He joins us to play some of them live.

Billboard Chart

Who's On Top and Who Should Be?

Soundcheck

August 14, 2008
Soundcheck looks at the artists who are reigning atop the Billboard albums chart -- and what their rankings tell us about the state of pop music.

Janelle Monae

The Next Big Things

Soundcheck

Paste magazine editor-in-chief Josh Jackson joins us to talk about Johnny Flynn, Janelle Monae, Bon Iver, Amy MacDonald and other must-hear artists who made Paste’s list of "The Best of What’s Next: 26 Emerging Artists You Should Know."

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