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Is Communism Good for the Arts?
Communist regimes are responsible for some of the world’s worst civil rights abuses. They also produced Shostakovich symphonies, Milos Forman films, and Chinese ballet. Today on Soundcheck: we look at whether Communism is good -- or bad -- for arts. Also: Jazz pianist Kenny Werner performs in our studio. This is a repeat broadcast.
Revolution and the Arts
Ninety years after the Russian Revolution, our panel of guests reflects on communism's impact on the arts. Solomon Volkov, a musicologist and author of several books about Shostakovich, talks about how Soviet Russia fueled the struggle faced by Shostakovich and his contemporaries. Bright Sheng, a Chinese-born, American-based composer, recalls the conditions he dealt with while growing up during the Cultural Revolution. And, Robin Moore author of Music and Revolution: Cultural Change and Socialist Cuba, talks about the fascinating links between cultural and political activity in post-Revolutionary Cuba.
Kenny Werner
Jazz pianist and composer Kenny Werner joins us to talk about putting together a heavy-weight quintet for his new record, Lawn Chair Society. He performs solo in our studio.
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Sound Off
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Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.
