"Centennial Sounds," hosted by Brad Turner, spotlights contemporary classical music performed in Colorado and features exclusive sessions from the CPR Performance Studio as well as live recordings taken from concert venues and summer festivals around the Centennial State.
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The Beethoven 9 offers an in-depth exploration of Ludwig van Beethoven's nine symphonies, featuring host Monika Vischer and Beethoven biographer Jan Swafford.
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The Great Composers dives deep into the lives behind some of the greatest music ever written. Host Karla Walker and conductor Scott O'Neil look at the world through the eyes of these gifted artists. Learn about obstacles they overcame, and their loves, losses, successes and failures. You'll feel you know Mozart, Rachmaninov and others as friends.
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Capital Public Radio music hosts and special guests discuss and feature new and noteworthy recordings and music events on Insight with Beth Ruyak. Look for a new post every Thursday.
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Xmas Hip Hop, Easy-Bake Comedy & Kid Astronaut: The Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza
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It’s a CPR tradition: a stage show full of talented Colorado performers. Kid Astronaut opens with a soulful O Holy Night. For Hanukkah, Holocaust survivor Osi Sladek. Comedian Nancy Norton Easy-Bakes. Plus, an ode to Judy Garland, Mexican-American traditions, and why we can’t quit Denver’s King Cardinal. The Andy Hackbarth Band provides our soundtr…
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Hey, Listen! Host, Nick Brunner, offers a starter set for your Halloween playlist. It include humble, hallowed suggestions for your weekend party to help go beyond "The Monster Mash."By webmaster@capradio.org
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CapRadio’s Gary Vercelli shares four new releases for jazz fans: tracks from Jimmy Cobb, Mark Winkler, Sara Gazarek and Steve Kahn.By webmaster@capradio.org
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Davis Live Music Collective executive director Kyle Monhollen joins with a preview of the artists performing this weekend at Davis Music Fest 9 in this week’s Sound Advice.By webmaster@capradio.org
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CapRadio’s Jazz Music Director Gary Vercelli highlights notable new releases by today’s top female jazz vocalists, including Calabria Foti, Tierney Sutton, Mary Stallings, and Nicki Parrott.By webmaster@capradio.org
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We meet CapRadio’s new midday classical host, Jennifer Reason. She talks with Morning Classical host Kevin Doherty about her roots, martial arts, her love of the outdoors and her favorite music.By webmaster@capradio.org
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Nick Brunner the host of CapRadio’s modern music discovery show Hey, Listen! is with us this week to talk sad songs, surprising turns and local artists.By webmaster@capradio.org
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Morning Classical host Kevin Doherty shares what’s new and noteworthy in the world of classical music.By webmaster@capradio.org
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From frantic to fancy Nick Brunner shares new songs from Drug Apts., Las Pulgas, and Michael and the Machines. We look back on the first ever in-studio performance from Sea of Bees who headlines our Second Saturday art showcase this weekend.By webmaster@capradio.org
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Hey, Listen! Host Nick Brunner closes out the month with feBRUary, the newest release from Sacramento rapper Bru Lei. Also get introduced to the latest cuts by Y La Bamba and Royal Canoe.By webmaster@capradio.org
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CapRadio arts reporter Jeff Hudson previews upcoming classical concerts in this week’s Sound Advice.By webmaster@capradio.org
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Looking For A Challenge On The Piano? David Rakowski Wrote 100 Of Them
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Composer David Rakowski loves to write piano etudes. He’s created 100 of them. Etudes developed in the 19th century as short practice pieces . They help musicians focus on a technique or build strength or dexterity. Many -- like the etudes of Frederic Chopin -- were also beautiful. David has carried the tradition into the 21st century, writing etud…
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Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 8: A Stunning Finale
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When the urge to compose finally struck again, Rachmaninoff took a little theme by Nicolo Paganini and turned it into a tour de force for the piano and orchestra, called Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. In this final episode of the Great Composers series on Rachmaninoff, we also explore Rachmaninoff’s final masterpiece -- the Symphonic Dances. Rach…
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Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 7: The Making Of A Sacred Masterwork
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After four long years living outside of Russia due to political instability, Rachmaninoff was finally able to bring his family home. He returned with a determination to write a Russian sacred piece that would be a lasting contribution to the orthodox repertoire. The composer ultimately found success with his "All-Night Vigil," considered the crowni…
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Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 6: Triumph And Revolution
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Clickety clack. That’s all Sergei Rachmaninoff heard as he practiced his new Piano Concerto No. 3 in advance of his big American tour, during which he would debut the piece. That’s because he finished the piece just before departing for the U.S. and didn't leave himself time to practice. He had to make do with practicing on a silent keyboard on the…
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Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 5: The Reluctant Hit Maker
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Sergei Rachmaninoff just wasn't hungry -- literally and figuratively. So, after the success of his Piano Concerto No. 2, he took the less obvious route for a composer and dedicated himself to conducting and teaching. He just wasn't craving that next big hit. It was rising political unrest that forced him into composing again.…
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Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 4: It Takes A Village
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Sergei Rachmaninoff finds himself in a funk. It’s been three years since the disastrous premiere of his Symphony No. 1 and the composer has barely written a note since then. His confidence is crushed. Self-doubt has crippled him. And it looks like his muse has left him. Enter the family intervention. In what becomes a persistent theme in Rachmanino…
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Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 3: A Bullseye On His Back
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Crouched low. Hiding in a fire escape backstage with his fingers plugging his ears. This is how Sergei Rachmaninoff experienced the premiere of his Symphony No. 1. What should have been a triumphant night for Rachmaninoff turned into a nightmare which only worsened once the review appeared in the newspaper. "Diseased and perverted harmonizations." …
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Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 2: Tchaikovsky And Rachmaninoff
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We all need a little help from friends, and one of Sergei Rachmaninoff's most supportive friends was none other than the great Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky cheered for Rachmaninoff from his box seat at concerts and paired their works together in concert. But just as Rachmaninoff started to find his footing as a composer, Tchaikov…
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Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 1: A Prelude To A Life Filled With Sorrow And Beauty
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Why do we love Rachmaninoff's music so much? Is it the romantic themes? The dark, brooding undercurrents? Whatever it is, it's hooked listeners for more than a century. Our new miniseries on The Great Composers opens with a look at Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C-sharp minor.
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Colorado (And Ugly Politics) Inspired Benjamin Park’s ‘For Purple Mountains’
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Composer Benjamin Park felt exhausted during the 2016 election. He remembers the nonstop political coverage and the growing tension within the United States. He decided to write music that embodied the disconnect -- and addressed the division. Ben used portions of the melody from "America the Beautiful" to write a piece about the harsh political di…
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Leonard Bernstein: 100 Years Of A Great American Composer
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An intimate look at the life and legacy of a singular musical figure, featuring insights from conductor Marin Alsop. Bernstein was born Aug. 25, 1918, and classical music lovers across the world are marking the 100th anniversary of his birth this year. It's a chance to rediscover his most indelible compositions, connect with his lesser-known pieces…
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Paul Lansky’s Road From Computer Compositions To A Musical ‘Travel Diary’
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Composer Paul Lansky was a pioneer in computer music -- sounds generated and manipulated by a computer. And then, after decades as an innovative composer of computer music, Paul stopped. He switched his focus to writing for live musicians. He's particularly fond of working with percussionists. This is the story of Paul's journey from the frontier o…
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Jessica Meyer’s ‘Luminous Prison’ Is A Moving Meditation Composed For A Unique Venue
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?Composer Jessica Meyer recently had the kind of experience that gives musicians nightmares. She traveled to the desert in northwestern Colorado to perform a new piece in concert on her viola. It was built on layers of electronic loops. But the unique acoustics at the venue -- known simply as The Tank -- caused those loops to dissolve into a squall…
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Why Daniel Kellogg’s String Quartet No. 1 Isn’t Actually His First String Quartet
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Daniel Kellogg, who teaches composition at the University of Colorado, loves the string quartet. Some of history's greatest composers wrote their most extraordinary music for two violins, a viola and a cello. So Daniel took the job seriously when he set out to write a big statement that he ultimately called String Quartet No. 1. He had worked up to…
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David Ludwig’s Lively ‘Pangaea’ Is A Prehistoric ‘Carnival Of The Animals’
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Composer David Ludwig wrote his piece "Pangaea" as a "prehistoric 'Carnival of the Animals.'" It's about a time in Earth's history when there was one supercontinent, a vast ocean and a frightening die-off that wiped out most species on the planet. Hear the haunting "Pangaea," performed at the Bravo! Vail music festival by Anne-Marie McDermott, Cald…
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Season 2 Preview: A Musical Road Trip Through The Rocky Mountains
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Centennial Sounds -- a podcast about modern classical music, and what inspires some of today's most talented composers -- returns soon for its second season. The series, hosted by Brad Turner, features exclusive recordings of music by 21st century composers and stories about what inspires the music. The new season features a twist: It's a musical r…
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In ‘Notes From Clyfford Still’ Composer Nathan Hall Sets A Painter’s Vision To Music
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Composer Nathan Hall is fascinated with the huge, vibrant paintings of abstract painter Clyfford Still. Nathan recently set out to compose music about about Still, and combed through the painter's writings to set some of the colorful passages to music. Hear "Notes From Clyfford Still," performed by the Playground Ensemble in the CPR Performance Stu…
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chapter 5: The People’s Composer
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Mozart's "The Magic Flute" marries high art with catchy tunes, and makes us wonder what the composer would have written if he had lived longer. It's the final of five episodes on Mozart, kicking off our new podcast The Great Composers. The series, hosted by Karla Walker and Scott O'Neil, offers an intimate look at some of history's greatest musical…
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chapter 4: The Musical Innovator
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Mozart's popularity as a piano soloist begins to wane, so he adapts. In this fourth installment of The Great Composers, Mozart happily turns his focus to his first, true love: opera. Mozart writes “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Don Giovanni.” He also writes his three great, final symphonies in one summer. Listen and subscribe for more episodes hoste…
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chapter 3: Breaking Free
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After years of frustration, Mozart enjoys great success on the operatic stage and a meteoric rise in the Viennese artistic scene. He essentially reinvents the keyboard concerto in the process. He also breaks free from his Salzburg employer and his family -- and he marries Constanze Weber. It's the third of five episodes on Mozart, kicking off our n…
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Altius Quartet Unveils Michael Ippolito’s New String Quartet No. 4
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Composer Michael Ippolito tried an unusual approach when he wrote a piece for the Altius Quartet. He sat down with a cello, instrument he'd barely played since middle school. His experiments with an instrument he’d largely forgotten how to play took his music to surprising places. Hear Michael Ippolito’s String Quartet No. 4 performed by the Altius…
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chapter 2: Destined For Greatness
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Mozart blossoms as an artist but struggles to fulfill the full measure of his potential. He’s already composed numerous symphonies and concertos. And his mother tirelessly supports his career, even as their travels around Europe cause her health to deteriorate. It's the second of five episodes on Mozart, kicking off our new podcast The Great Compos…
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chapter 1: The Young Genius
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A child is born in Salzburg with indescribable, incomprehensible talent for music and composition. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart travels the world and rubs shoulders with the greatest composers in Europe, all by the age of 12. It's the first of five episodes on Mozart, kicking off our new podcast The Great Composers. The series, hosted by Karla Walker an…
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Julia Wolfe Witnessed 9/11 Up Close, And Wrote ‘Compassion’ In Response
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Composer Julia Wolfe lives in Lower Manhattan, just blocks from where the Twin Towers once stood. She and her family watched 9/11 unfold around them, and dealt with the aftermath. She wrote one of her most stark, concise works as a response. She called it “Compassion.” Hear the piece performed in concert by pianist Conrad Tao at the Aspen Music Fes…
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Preview: ‘The Great Composers’ Podcast Offers An Intimate Look At Musical Masters
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It’s an intimate look at the people who wrote some of the greatest music ever. Subscribe and hear a preview.
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Loretta Notareschi’s ‘String Quartet OCD’ Explores Motherhood And Mental Health
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Composer Loretta Notareschi remembers early motherhood as one of the hardest moments of her life. She felt completely in love with her infant daughter but she also grappled with a frightening postpartum mood disorder. She decided to use music to tell her story, and start a conversation with others going through the same thing. Hear Loretta’s piece,…
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Kevin Michael Olson’s Jagged ‘Dichotomiae’, Played By Pianist Hsing-ay Hsu
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Composer Kevin Michael Olson used to work in a lab that developed military technology. And he wrote about that experience in his music. It sounded pretty dark. So one day, he wanted to write something that sounded less heavy. The piano music that came out sounded more complicated than he intended. It’s filled with stark contrasts. He called it “Dic…
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Egemen Kesikli’s Heartbreaking String Quartet ‘Pulse’, Performed By Playground Ensemble
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Composer Egemen Kesikli spent last summer in his home country of Turkey. He was waiting to return to the United States, where he studied composition at the University of Colorado. Then Egemen heard about the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. Forty-nine people died at the popular gay club. Egemen, who is gay, felt horrified. He dealt with the sho…
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On ‘First,’ Son Lux and yMusic Make Chamber Music That Flows Like A Rock LP
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The contemporary chamber ensemble yMusic set out to make a different kind of classical record with its latest release. The group enlisted one of its favorite collaborators, Son Lux, to compose an album of compositions with the feel of a rock LP. The result is called "First." Hear a CPR Performance Studio recording of two pieces from the album, and …
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Carter Pann’s ‘The Mechanics’ Featuring The Black Diamond Saxophone Quartet
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A few years ago, composer Carter Pann heard the saxophonists in the Capitol Quartet in concert. The music blew him away. He convinced the group to collaborate with him, and the resulting piece -- called "The Mechanics" -- made Carter a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Hear a CPR Performance Studio recording of the piece by the up-and-coming Black Diamond S…
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Caroline Shaw’s ‘This Might Also Be A Form Of Dreaming’ With Roomful Of Teeth And Playground Ensemble
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Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw writes music for the voice that catches you off guard. The singers in Roomful of Teeth talk over each other, break into huge chords and use stunning vocal techniques from all over the world. Caroline has a new piece for Roomful of Teeth, called "This Might Also Be a Form of Dreaming." Here's a live reco…
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Reena Esmail’s ‘Nishani’: Matthew Dane Plays A Musical Keepsake For 14 Strings
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She’s a composer in Los Angeles who blends her favorite sounds from Indian and Western classical music. He’s a musician in Boulder who plays the 14-string viola d’amore -- a unique instrument that captivated composers more than 300 years ago. Their collaboration created an extraordinary piece of music called “Nishani.” Hear an exclusive recording o…
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Introducing ‘Centennial Sounds’: A Podcast Exploring Contemporary Classical In Colorado
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Welcome to "Centennial Sounds" -- a new podcast from CPR Classical and Colorado Public Radio that spotlights contemporary classical music performed in Colorado. The podcast, hosted by Brad Turner, features exclusive sessions from the CPR Performance Studio as well as live recordings taken from concert venues and summer festivals around the Centenni…
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Its power and sheer ambition influenced and intimidated scores of composers who followed Beethoven.
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A fun, almost comical, moment before Beethoven stepped away from the symphony for a decade and wrote his ultimate triumph.
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Ludwig van Beethoven's Seventh Symphony pulses with rhythmic invention. The reliance on the beat gives the piece an immediacy that rivals the music in any of Beethoven's symphonies.
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Ludwig van Beethoven followed his percussive, brooding Fifth Symphony with an ode to nature. Yet Symphony No. 6 is more than just a summer stroll.
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It's one of the most famous musical passages ever written. Ludwig van Beethoven starts his Fifth Symphony with four percussive notes, then spends the next four movements inventing new ways to make them sing.
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Symphony No. 4 is more direct than the groundbreaking "Eroica" but still has many moments of brilliance. It's a crowd-pleaser.
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