Learning and stuff.

All about Act 1 of John Adams' minimalist opera, Nixon in China! In this episode, the first part of our conversation with composer, author, educator, and Executive Director of the American Festival for the Arts, Dr. Michael Remson. World history, music history, and singing politicians?? This episode has pretty much everything you didn't know you'd been waiting for.

How Music Works
by
David Byrne

All things clarinet! In this episode, clarinetist, radio host, and Classical 91.7 MusicLab intern, Alexandra Doyle talks with Dacia. Among many things, we learn that auditioning may or may not make one pee one's pants. If you like reeds and/or David Bowie, you'll like this one.

Listener Matt W., a trombonist from Lousiana writes:

Hi Dacia!
 
I love your podcast, Classical Classroom.  It is excellent, excellent stuff.  
 
I think you would really like Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique.  The fourth and fifth movements are like the Alice Cooper and Gwar of the nineteenth century.  Plus it has a great background story that I think would work well on the program.
 
I would like to make a small request, too.  I wish you would give credit to the orchestra, conductor, or other performers directly on the show.  The Saint Saens and the Debussy podcasts were great because your guests brought up the musicians themselves.
 
Keep up the great work!
 
Matt W.

Time for a research presentation! In this short, Dacia explores the history of banned and censored classical music. And you thought classical music was just for elevators and nap time!

The history of the remix! In this episode, composer, jazz musician, lecturer, MusicLab intern (et cetera, et cetera…) Daniel Webbon chats with Dacia. As it turns out, Mozart was into remixing waaay before Run-DMC came along. This one's got everything from Gregorian chant to Shostakovich. You'll probably want to take notes.

In Episode 11: Mendelssohn, "love potion", and Shakespeare with Catherine Lu, we asked for you to send in examples of classical music that's deeply engrained in our cultural fabric. Listener Josh W. wrote in with a ton of examples. If you have more, let us know!

Artists as entrepreneurs, Lady Gaga, horror movies, and Schubert! In this episode, concert pianist, author, lecturer, Huffington Post contributor, and probable superhero, Jade Simmons chats with Dacia about how Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony changed her life.

Peer-reviewed podcast blog, iPodder, had some kind words for our Classical Classroom podcast! Read more about it here.

Samuel Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915", as sung by – no, not Bryan Adams – Eleanor Steber. In this episode, Keith Weber, Grammy-nominated Producer, Director of Music and Organist at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Houston, and Artistic Director of Grace Song, Inc., teaches Dacia about this all-American commissioned piece.

Ideas from listener Jim:

OK, here's a couple of ideas:
– Perfect pitch
– What's the latest on our understanding of the secrets of Stradivarius violins?  Materials, construction, techniques…
– Current trends in classical music
– Mozart's complex simplicity
– History of the Houston Symphony

Thought: I have never been able to figure out what your first name is.  A lot of the NPR announcers are playing 'branding' games with the way they say their names and/or the names of their shows – the most notable example being the stylistic way Gross says 'Fresh Air.'  Maybe consider how quickly you do (or do not) say your name and the name of your show.

– Jim

Nico Muhly, indie classical, and the future of classical music! In this episode, Classical 91.7 announcer Chris Johnson – our first returning instructor! – comes back to the Classical Classroom.  This one isn't for the faint of heart: there are banjos!