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Soundcheck

Wednesday, January 04, 2006
  • Tod Machover
    Tod Machover

    Better Living Through String Quartets

    Today on the program, an musical update from Bagdhad, where one music and dance school continues to carry on, despite ongoing violence. Tod Machover, a composer and professor of music and media at MIT, pays tribute to both Albert Einstein and composer Elliott Carter in his latest work for string quartet, "But Not Simpler." Today, Machover joins us along with the Ying Quartet, which will give the New York premiere at Symphony Space Thursday night. According to Machover, the piece "dramatizes the search for calm and coherence in the midst of present-day complexity and diversity." Also joining us is Agnes Chan, a singer, actress, child-rights activist, academic, a mother of three. These multiple roles come together in her U.S. debut album, "Forget Yourself," a collection of songs inspired by children in Ethiopia, Iraq, and other war-torn countries - as well as her own native Japan.

The Music Plays On

Times of London reporter Stephen Farrell joins us from Iraq, with a report on the Bagdhad Music and Dance School.
» Stephen Farrell's article

Agnes Chan

Agnes Chan joins us to talk about her multifaceted career.
» Tokyo-based activist and singer Agnes Chan to release U.S. debut album

Pulling Strings with the Yings

The Ying Quartet and composer Tod Machover present his latest piece, "...but not simpler ...," which alternates movements played traditionally with electronically generated interludes.
» Tod Machover's Web site
» Symphony Space's Website
» Symphony Space's Website

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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.