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Soundcheck / December 10, 2004

Soundcheck

Friday, December 10, 2004
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  • The Artist as Citizen by Joseph Polisi - Amadeus Press
    The Artist as Citizen by Joseph Polisi (Amadeus Press)

    Debating Christmas Music and Public Places

    Controversy and religious political correctness have been mixed up in the winter holidays for a long time now. How much Christmas music is it appropriate to perform for a diverse audience? How far should we go to ensure that nobody takes offense at religious overtones or repertoire? These issues have recently been brought to a head in the school district of Maplewood/South Orange, N.J., where a high school brass band no longer plays even instrumental Christmas music. Host John Schaefer examines the wider implications of this new trend in today’s show. Also, we’ll be joined by Joseph Polisi, President of the Juilliard School and recently named Musical America’s Educator of the Year. He’ll discuss his new book The Artist as Citizen (to be published in January 2005) in which he focuses on the roles of artists in their responsibilities and capacities as citizens and nurturers of social awareness.

» ABC News on Maplewood/South Orange
» More on The Artist as Citizen

Toumani Diabaté

Best Live Performances of 2008

Soundcheck

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

Marvin Gaye

The Year in Music and Branding

Soundcheck

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.

Taylor Swift

Critics Week

Soundcheck

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.

cab

Noteworthy New York

Soundcheck

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.