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Friday, December 13, 2002
  • 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

Best Live Performances of 2008

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We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.

The Year in Music and Branding

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Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.

Critics Week

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Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.

Noteworthy New York

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We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.