WPR Music

WPR Music is a blog compiling news and information about classical music, folk music, world music and beyond assembled by WPR's music hosts and staff.

For Amy Ray, The Music Started In Church

Tuesday, May 28, 2019, 3:55pm

For Amy Ray, the music started in church, or more particularly in church choir.

'Price: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4'

Tuesday, May 28, 2019, 12:35pm

Two symphonies by Florence Smith played by the Fort Smith Symphony under conductor John Jeter, one of them a world premiere recording

Recording Reflects On Shared History Of Muslim, Jewish, Christian Music

Friday, May 10, 2019, 11:50am

Conductor Jordi Savall brings together musicians of different faiths in a recording of early music from around the Mediterranean Sea.

Join WPR For 2 Madison Opera Broadcasts

Thursday, May 9, 2019, 10:25am

Join us for two productions by Madison Opera. Lori Skelton hosts these broadcast performances, which were recorded live at Overture Hall during the 2018-19 season.

Dom Flemons Looks To Create Music That 'Boom, Makes You Happy'

Thursday, May 9, 2019, 9:30am

When Dom Flemons performed his song, "San Francisco Baby," at the 2014 Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival, the music sounded decades old, but the song was brand new.

Renewed Interest In Two Female African-American Composers

Friday, May 3, 2019, 4:15pm

In the 1930s, African-American composers Margaret Bonds and Florence Price made some of the country's most interesting classical music. WPR host Stephanie Elkins tells us about their long friendship and why some of their work has only recently been published for the first time.

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The Midday

UW Russian Folk Orchestra

Friday, May 3, 2019, 12:00pm

Peter Bryant talks to Victor Gorodinsky, Music Director and Founder of the 40-piece UW Russian Folk Orchestra. They are celebrating their 22nd anniversary with a concert on Saturday, May 4 at 7pm at the First Unitarian Society in Madison.

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Chicago Sinfonietta Setting Records With Repertory By Females

Friday, May 3, 2019, 10:45am

The Chicago Sinfonietta under Artistic Director Mei-Ann Chen is setting records for programming music by women and hiring women musicians. Their newest release features all women composers.

For Singer-Songwriter Kari Arnett, Making Music Is 'Magical'

Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 5:40am

"Music is magical." That’s the way singer-songwriter Kari Arnett described the process of creating her latest album, "When the Dust Settles."

On Centenary Of His Birth, Folk Legend Pete Seeger Remembered For Musical, Social Contributions

Wednesday, January 22, 2020, 12:00pm

In a time of division in our world along political, religious, economic and philosophical lines, the 100^th anniversary of Pete Seeger's birth is a chance to honor someone who, as he once said, "sang for everybody."

With Earth Day Nearing, Trio Of Folk Songs Reflect Environmental Concerns

Friday, April 19, 2019, 8:00am

With Earth Day upon us and in memory of one of the inspirations for the holiday, here are a few songs by folk musicians that are about birds, but really are about the bigger picture, too.

Paying Quiet Homage To Notre Dame

Wednesday, April 17, 2019, 3:00pm

WPR "Morning Classics" host Stephanie Elkins reminisces about spending time in Notre Dame de Paris as a homesick student, and then returning 40 years later.

For Folk Duo Patchouli, Inspiration Comes From Both Outside, Inside The Music

Tuesday, April 2, 2019, 8:00pm

Julie Patchouli and Bruce Hecksell, who perform as the folk duo "Patchouli, said their song, "The Woods," has become something of the pair's musical mantra.

WPR Music Hosts Share Tracks For April Fools' Day

Monday, April 1, 2019, 7:05am

In honor of April Fools' Day, the WPR's music staff had fun putting together a collection of personal favorites.

Folk Band Lula Wiles Receives, Passes On The Music

Wednesday, March 20, 2019, 11:45am

Folk Band Lula Wiles in Wisconsin Public Radio Studio

For the band Lula Wiles, folk music isn't just about passing on the music, but also passing on the possibility to other women.

For Ex-Peter, Paul And Mary Singer, Music Plays A Central Role In Society

Sunday, March 10, 2019, 9:20am

For Noel Paul Stookey, one-third of the iconic 1960s folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary, music still plays an essential role in today's society.

WPR Presents 2019's 'The Final Forte'

Thursday, March 7, 2019, 12:25pm

Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television present "The Final Forte," broadcast live at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13.

Singer-Songwriter Tret Fure Has Worked Both On Stage, Behind The Music

Friday, March 1, 2019, 5:00pm

A well-known musician herself, Tret Fure also has made it possible for other people to share their voices and their music. As an engineer, record producer, songwriting teacher and president of her local musicians’ union, she has been both on stage and behind the music for over 40 years.

Margaret Bonds And Florence Price Offered Friendship, Mutual Support As Artists

Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 3:55pm

African-American classical composers Florence Price and Margaret Bonds support each other to achieve success in 1930s Chicago.

Nashville's Barefoot Movement Offers Differing Journeys To Bluegrass Music

Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 9:00am

The Barefoot Movement in WPR's Buck Studio

Bluegrass, like so many genres of music, is a mix of styles: old-timey string band music, with a little bit of blues and jazz from down South, some English and Scottish influences from the Appalachian Mountains, and a pinch of gospel music as well. The members of Nashville quartet the Barefoot Movement share how they came upon their version of bluegrass music.

Remembering 'Freedom Songs' To Mark Anniversary Of Mandela's Release

Friday, February 15, 2019, 4:10pm

This past Monday, Feb. 11, marked 29 years since Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in South Africa. Apartheid had been the law of the land in South Africa for over 40 years, but change was in the air and music played an important role in that change.

WPR Music Hosts Share Songs For Valentine's Day

Wednesday, February 13, 2019, 6:00pm

Love, gained and lost, is one of the most common themes in all music. In honor of Valentine’s Day, WPR's Music Staff shares some wide-ranging personal favorites, from the familiar to the unexpected.

The Midday

Pianist Andrew Armstrong & Cellist Alex Wu

Monday, February 11, 2019, 12:00pm

Norman talks to pianist Andrew Armstrong and cellist Alex Wu about this summer's Green Lake Chamber Music Camp from June 30 to July 13, 2019.

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The Midday

Madison Opera

Thursday, February 7, 2019, 12:00pm

Norman talks to Kathryn Smith, General Director of the Madison Opera, about their upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" on February 8 and 10 in the Capitol Theater in Madison. They play and discuss several excerpts from the opera.

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Roots Musician Martha Redbone Shares Song 'Hear The Voice Of The Bard'

Saturday, February 2, 2019, 11:35am

Martha Redbone shares her varied experiences and family background through her music, including a song from an onstage interview for "Simply Folk."

Johnsmith In Studio With Simply Folk

Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 11:25am

“Where would we be without music?!” That was a question that musician Johnsmith recently pondered during an interview for WPR’s Simply Folk. “Sometimes you’re driving down the road and Simply Folk comes on or some song comes on and you didn’t even think that some issue was up in your heart or like you were stuck about something ... and all of a sudden you got a tear in your eye or you’re really laughing. You’re really thinking about some little thing and it just kind of opens you up.”

Johnsmith is from Trempeleau County in Wisconsin’s Driftless region, and...

Enjoy The New Milwaukee Symphony Broadcast Series On WPR

Thursday, January 3, 2019, 11:45am

WPR’s Lori Skelton hosts this national series of broadcast concerts by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The 13-part series will air Sundays starting Jan. 6, 2019, at 2 p.m. on the NPR News and Classical Music Network, and on the Classical HD Network.

Milwaukee Performers Larry Penn, Lil Rev Share 'I'm A Little Cookie'

Thursday, January 3, 2019, 10:25am

Lil Rev and Larry Penn at Wild Hog in the Woods in Madison, WI

Lil Rev and Larry Penn talked with "Simply Folk" host Stephanie Elkins back in September 2013 when they shared a performance of their classic, "I'm a Little Cookie."

WPR Music Hosts Share Their Holiday Favorites

Wednesday, December 19, 2018, 1:30pm

The WPR music hosts love sharing holiday music with listeners each season. They also have their own favorites — including recordings with meaningful associations.

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Cris Plata Plays His Music At The Crossroads

Wednesday, October 2, 2019, 3:20pm

Cris Plata performing at the 2019 Simply Folk Shindig

Cris Plata is an embodiment of a musical crossroads, having grown up traveling with his family around the United States as migrant farmers. And those travels exposed him to music that melded with the traditional Mexican music that he grew up with.

'Souvenirs Of Spain And Italy'

Friday, September 27, 2019, 10:00am

Guitarist Sharon Isbin and the Pacifica String Quartet play works by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Vivaldi, Turina and Boccherini.

Classic Folk Song Explores Anxiety Of Humans Vs. Technology

Friday, September 27, 2019, 5:20am

Statue of John Henry along State Highway 12 near Talcott, WV

What do humans do when their work — their livelihood and part of their identity — can be replaced by a machine and even done better? One answer is, they stand up for their dignity, or at least, that's what John Henry did.

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 17 And 24

Friday, September 20, 2019, 10:00am

Pianist Orli Shaham's new release features two of Mozart's piano concertos in a recording made with her husband, conductor David Robertson, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. It's quite a family affair – the release is on her brother Gil Shaham's recording label, Canary Classics.

Central Time

Wisconsin Ensemble Mixes Classical And Bluegrass Music

Tuesday, September 10, 2019, 3:30pm

We talk with one of the members of Graminy, an award-winning Wisconsin musical group that blends classical and bluegrass. They touch on themes like the environment, cultural events, and the feel of the Midwest.

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Central Time

Wisconsin Ensemble Mixes Classical And Bluegrass Music

Tuesday, September 10, 2019, 3:30pm

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Nicola Benedetti And Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto And Fiddle Dance Suite

Thursday, August 29, 2019, 10:00am

Violinist Nicola Benedetti has released a new recording featuring two world premieres, both composed for her by legendary jazz musician Wynton Marsalis.

Simon Balto Sings A Beautiful, Yet Stark Elegy For A Struggling Community

Wednesday, August 28, 2019, 2:45pm

Alt-folk musician Simon Balto talks about his songwriting while in the WPR studio for a 2014 "Simply Folk" interview with Stephanie Elkins.

Michael Torke: Sky

Friday, August 23, 2019, 10:00am

Composer Michael Torke has a new recording featuring four concertos: one each for violin, bassoon, clarinet and oboe.

WPR Music Hosts Share Songs Inspired By Our Flying, Crawling Friends

Friday, August 23, 2019, 9:35am

Late summer brings us overflowing vegetable gardens, crops nearing harvest time and also plenty of crawling and buzzing things. There’s lots of great music inspired by our summertime companions. The WPR Music Staff has put together a fun list of things to listen to, including some interesting pieces that might be new discoveries for many of us.

Eilen Jewell Likes To Go To The Source

Tuesday, August 20, 2019, 12:55pm

Eilen Jewell and her band at the 2019 Sugar Maple Festival

When so often the latest thing is considered the greatest thing, Eilen Jewell prefers her music with the word "early" in front of it.

Bion Tsang Plays Dvorak And Enescu

Friday, August 16, 2019, 10:00am

American cellist Bion Tsang performs the cello concertos by Antonín Dvořák and George Enescu, two emotional and dramatic works.

Dance: Jason Vieaux, Guitar and The Escher Quartet

Friday, August 9, 2019, 10:00am

American classical guitarist Jason Vieaux and the Escher Quartet have released "Dance," a new recording that includes music by Boccherini, Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Kernis.

Hinterland Music Festival's 5th Year Is Biggest Yet

Wednesday, August 7, 2019, 12:00pm

Music lovers of all ages flocked to Saint Charles, Iowa, over the weekend for the fifth Hinterland Music Festival. Over the course of three days, headliners Hozier, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, and Brandi Carlile brought Hinterland its most impressive lineup yet.

'Romance' and 'Inspiration' From Siblings Sheku And Isata Kanneh-Mason

Friday, August 2, 2019, 10:25am

Siblings Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason have each released a new recording: Isata's features the piano music of Clara Schumann and her brother Sheku's includes various cello pieces, from Shostakovich to Bob Marley.

Schumann, Brahms & Mahler: Lieder

Friday, July 26, 2019, 10:30am

Soprano Renée Fleming's new release includes lieder by Brahms and Schumann for voice and piano, and Mahler’s "Rückert-Lieder," performed with the Munich Philharmonic.

Mary Gauthier Works Her Musical Alchemy For Herself And Others

Monday, July 15, 2019, 1:30pm

"I have this magic six-string machine that takes pain and turns it into something beautiful," said musician Mary Gauthier, describing her process of turning trauma into redemptive music.

The New York Concert

Thursday, July 11, 2019, 5:30pm

New double CD recorded live at Carnegie Hall featuring the music of Mozart, Fauré and Dvořák.

American Rapture

Friday, July 5, 2019, 9:15am

Harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra under Ward Stare team up for a world premiere by Jennifer Higdon; the recording also includes a world premiere by Patrick Harlin and the Barber Symphony No. 1.

Folk Music Travels The Galaxy

Wednesday, July 3, 2019, 1:20pm

July 20 marks the 50-year anniversary of the first humans on the moon, when Apollo 11 landed on the lunar surface. If you could pick a soundtrack to go with space travel, what would it include?

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