Learning and stuff.

Classical music is seriously funny. Iconoclast Emeritus, professor, and former classical announcer Ira J. Black talks all about just how funny serious classical music can be. There are surprises, Dudley Moore, and um…more in our most hilarious episode yet.

Here's a letter from Joanie in Lakewood, Ohio:

Hi Dacia,

A possible future program might be an interview with a Mozart-Lover. I've heard that Mozart's works were often understood by him complete in his head all-at-once and that he hurried to write them down, no corrections. Wow. Also Baroque music, some say, seems to put your head together in an orderly way. Why? Is this mathematical? Physiological? Might be a great show.
 
Thanks for your podcasts, Dacia. (Are you listening to any classical music now that you have interviewed all the experts? Or is it still Rock music all the way?!!!!)
 
Joanie

Hear the second part of our conversation with composer, author, educator, and Executive Director of the American Festival for the Arts, Dr. Michael Remson, about John Adams' minimalist opera, Nixon in China! In this episode: Act 2, wherein we meet the ladies. You don't want to miss Mme. Mao yelling, opera-style.

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!