WPR Music Hosts Feature Black American Divas
Friday, September 17, 2021, 9:05am
During WPR's Fall Member Drive, join our music hosts during daytime classical music shows for a wide range of recordings by some of the greatest singers in American music, including Jessye Norman, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald.
WPR Music Hosts Celebrate Music By Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Thursday, August 12, 2021, 1:20pm
Starting Sunday, Aug. 15, we’ll spend a week highlighting music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor during our daytime classical music programing. Coleridge-Taylor was born in England in 1875 to an English mother and African father. He showed remarkable musical gifts at an early age, and in spite of racial...
WPR Music Hosts Explore Traditional Spirituals
Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 11:50am
Traditional spirituals have always been a part of our music programs at WPR, but this week our daytime classical music includes a special focus on them. Created by generations of enslaved Africans, spirituals tell the stories of their sorrows, celebrations, and hopes for freedom.
5 Pieces Of Classical Music To Run/Walk/Roll With
Tuesday, June 1, 2021, 4:20pm
Music lifts our spirits and helps focus our energies. Exercise gives us energy and keeps us healthy. Celebrate the power of both with WPR’s virtual Classical 5K Run/Walk/Roll this June.
WPR Presents The Final Forte
Tuesday, June 1, 2021, 9:10am
Experience the beauty of musical expression as four gifted young artists compete in the final round of the Bolz Young Artist Competition. Broadcast on WPR’s NPR News and Music Network Wednesday, June 2 at 8 p.m., and Sunday June 13 at 1 p.m.
5 Classical Pieces Influenced By Jazz
Monday, May 17, 2021, 2:40pm
The influence of jazz runs through many kinds of music, including music written by composers working in the classical world. For many American composers, especially, jazz was a welcome jolt of life that gave them an exciting new musical language rooted in their own country.
10 Questions For Conductor Marin Alsop
Thursday, April 15, 2021, 10:00am
"Earth Day Heritage: A Celebration in Music and Words" is a new recording featuring Marin Alsop conducting the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. WPR's Norman Gilliland recently spoke with Alsop about her experiences as one of America’s leading conductors.
WPR Celebrates Female Conductors
Thursday, March 11, 2021, 10:45am
Many women are prominent classical performers and soloists, but even today, far fewer are conductors, especially of major orchestras.
Elephant Revival Tune 'Pasture' Made To 'Rock The Earth'
Thursday, February 18, 2021, 1:55pm
From its opening notes, "Pasture," by the band Elephant Revival, dances through the speakers with a percussive melody from a mandolin, followed up by its duet partner, the fiddle. The band shared this wonderful instrumental during a 2013 in-studio performance and interview with "Simply Folk's" Stephanie Elkins.
WPR Celebrates The Music Of Florence Price
Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 10:15am
Florence Price was an American composer, pianist and teacher, active in the first half of the 20th century, and was the first Black woman to have a work performed by a major American orchestra. We’ll be featuring a wide range of her music during our music programs the week of Feb. 22.
Raye Zaragoza Sings Her Story On 'Woman In Color'
Thursday, January 28, 2021, 4:15pm
Raye Zaragoza named her 2020 album, "Woman in Color," because she saw it as "a coloring book, and every song was a like a little bit of me coloring in my story, of my past and my present and my future." "Being a woman of color in America and someone of mixed race, I’ve always felt like identity is...
Nathans And Ronstadt Premier A New Music Video For 'Ghost Writer'
Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 12:00pm
Writing can be a struggle, whether it’s songwriting or penning a novel. The duo of Aaron Nathans and Michael G. Ronstadt recently explored this territory in their song, "Ghost Writer," the opening track to their 2020 album, "Shadow of the Cyclone." When they perform, Nathans mainly plays guitar and...
'Simply Folk' Hosts Its First Virtual House Band
Saturday, January 2, 2021, 5:05am
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the miles between them, "Simply Folk" listeners shared their voices and their spirit with each other for the show’s annual singalong to be broadcast on Jan. 3. Invited to record their voices singing along to traditional folk songs, 60 listeners and staff members of...
World War I Christmas Truce Of 1914 Serves As A Witness Of Peace
Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 4:30pm
For many, Christmas is a season of peace, and in the middle of World War I, that literally was true. During our own time, when political divisions can feel so extreme, the story of the Christmas Truce of 1914 is a welcome gift and witness of peace between supposed enemies. The truce took place just...
In Spite Of It All, 2020 Was A Great Year For Music
Saturday, December 5, 2020, 7:30am
December is here, and with it the end of 2020. I know we’re all a little glad for that, but in the midst of all that’s happened this year, folk musicians continued to create some great music. That’s amazing, when you think about all the challenges, lost gigs and income, and interrupted recording...