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Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm.During mid-April, 2025, I'm doing a southern book tour, with stops in San Antonio, Houston, Gainesville, Montgomery, New Orleans, and Oxford. Find out more at www.thememorypalace.us/events.The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that's a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you'd like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. I have recently launched a newsletter. You can subscribe to it at thememorypalacepodcast.substack.com. Music Hallway Rug and a bit of Watering Plants by Omni Gardens Dripping Icicles from Lalo Schiffrin's great score to The Fox. Girl Talk by the Howard Roberts Quartet Jules et Therese from the score to Jules et Jim Franz Waxman's main title theme to Woman of the Year Your Love from the legend, Frankie Knuckles Then we go back and forth between Joe Morello's Timeless and Lara Downes playing Leonard Bernstein's Big Stuff. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we're exploring the world of music, history, and innovation with the one and only Lara Downes, a pianist, storyteller, and cultural force redefining classical music in bold and unexpected ways.Lara doesn't just play music. She tells stories through it. She revives the voices of overlooked composers, blending classical traditions with jazz, folk, and contemporary influences to create something fresh, vibrant, and deeply personal. Her work is a bridge between the past and the future, proving that music is more than just sound. Lara's music is, in fact, a living, breathing force that connects us all.But her impact doesn't stop at the piano. Lara is a champion for inclusivity, using her platform to elevate underrepresented voices and spark conversations that go far beyond the concert hall. Through her work as a performer, activist, curator, and NPR host, she's opening doors, challenging conventions, and inspiring audiences around the world.Today, we'll dive into her journey and how she's reshaping the classical music landscape, the stories she's passionate about telling, and why she believes music has the power to heal, unite, and transform. So get ready for an inspiring conversation that will change the way you think about music, history, and the power of art. Tune in, turn up the volume, and let's explore the magic of music together!Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.
On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks' with host Julie Amacher, pianist Lara Downes creates a tapestry using the sounds of America throughout history on her latest album, ‘This Land.' Listen now!
In 2016, while earning his doctorate in music at the University of Southern California, Alexander Lloyd Blake founded the choral group Tonality. His initial aim was to create a choral ensemble that would represent and celebrate the full diversity of Los Angeles' population. That done, Tonality started to focus each concert on social-justice issues, from global warming to gun violence, always providing audiences with an array of resources to encourage activism and change.Tonality's repertoire is as varied as its membership, ranging from Gregorian chant to contemporary pieces in a variety of styles and genres, but Alex's commitment to harnessing the power of choral music to foment social change has remained central. In just eight years, Tonality has garnered nationwide attention. In 2020 Tonality received the Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, and in 2022 Alex and Tonality's work were featured on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” They've released two albums, and just this past spring, Tonality won its first Grammy for performing on composer Carla Patullo's album “So She Howls.” The ensemble has collaborated with a number of world-renowned composers, including Reena Esmail and Michael Giacchino, and has performed with such artists as Pete Townsend, Lara Downes and Björk. They have also sung for TV and film soundtracks, including “Space Jam: a New Legacy.”Here Alex explains what led him to found Tonality and details the intricacies of leading a choral ensemble that has to remain increasingly nimble and focused.https://www.ourtonality.org/https://alexanderlblake.com/
WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews renowned classical pianist Lara Downes, who releases her new album “This Land” today after her last album earned her the title of 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today. Downes called WTOP in 2019 when she visited Sixth & I in Washington D.C. to perform songs from her album “Holes in the Sky,” alongside Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews renowned classical pianist Lara Downes, who releases her new album “This Land” today after her last album earned her the title of 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today. Downes called WTOP in 2019 when she visited Sixth & I in Washington D.C. to perform songs from her album “Holes in the Sky,” alongside Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Over the weekend, WNYC presented a live event at St. Anne's Warehouse underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin's iconic piece 'Rhapsody In Blue,' with a new arrangement from Edmar Colón that spotlights the piece's sense of place and the idea of a political crossroads. The event was curated by pianist Lara Downes, hosted by WQXR's Terrance McKnight, and featured musicians Christian McBride, Rosanne Cash, Arturo O'Farrill, Time for Three, and the Orchestra Elena. WNYC producer Simon Close recapped the event, and shared some musical excerpts of the evening.
Pianist and composer Lara Downes previews "Rhapsody for This Land: The American Odyssey in Music," a free concert at Brooklyn Bridge Park celebrating the centennials of WNYC and George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." Produced by St Ann's Warehouse, the show will broadcast live on WNYC starting at 6 PM, July 27, and feature a reimagining of "Rhapsody" from Lara and composer Edmar Colón, plus performances from Rosanne Cash, Arturo O'Farrill, Christian McBride and Time for Three.
Raymond Jones speaks with pianist Lara Downes about her upcoming performances with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, which will feature a new piano concerto by local composer Adolphus Hailstork.
What do Duke Ellington, United Airlines, and the K Pop group Red Velvet share in common? They've all covered George Gershwin's piano concerto, Rhapsody in Blue. First premiered in 1924, the piece became an immediate hit for the way it blended American jazz with the European symphonic tradition. Gershwin had a number of successes as a composer in his day—his aria "Summertime" from the opera Porgy and Bess is by some measures the most covered song ever—but the staying power of the Rhapsody make it a rare instrumental piece that's instantly familiar. Maybe too familiar. In 2024, there will be many centennial performances of this iconic piece, but pianist Lara Downes wanted to do something more than just the sound the notes of Gershwin's score for the umpteenth time. Downes commissioned Puerto Rican musician Edmar Colon to create a new version of Gershwin's composition, one that brought in the full spectrum of American life in 1924: fiery improvisation, Latin percussion, and dance rhythms. The resultant piece both pays tribute to an American icon while adding a new set of modern counterpoint. Nate sat down with Lara to ask her if she was nervous to rewrite such a canonic piece, why a concerto is like a musical kaleidoscope, and the surprising family connection to Gershwin's musical world she discovered while researching Rhapsody in Blue. Songs Discussed George Gershwin, Lara Downes, Edmar Colon - Rhapsody in Blue Reimagined Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue Gershwin - 3 Preludes: II. Andante con moto e poco rubato Sarah Vaughan - Nice Work if You can Get It Sam Cooke - Summertime Chet Baker - But not For ME Louis Armstrong - Aint Misbehavin Ella Fitzgerald - Blue Skies Red Velvet - Birthday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We continue our celebration of Women's History month with American classical pianist and trailblazing cultural activist Lara Downes who captivates audiences with brilliant performances highlighting the rich contributions of underrepresented females and Black composers. Lara talks with David about this musical mission and how it stems from personal experiences, which she reckoned with in her early twenties. Reflecting on her "freakishly good" sight reading skills from an early age, Lara describes the "creepy" piano in her childhood basement, how her dad infused her ear with Jazz, and her trick for passing the time while she practiced. She also discusses the joyful discovery of Florence Price's music, the mutual communication that happens when she is performing, and how she discovered she was a New York Times crossword clue.Check out Lara Downes on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.Follow David on Instagram.You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.Photograph of Lara Downes by Max Barrett.The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today marks 100 years to the day since George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" premiered at the Aeolian Hall in New York City. We discuss about the composition's legacy with Colin and Eric Jacobsen, artistic directors of the orchestral collective The Knights, who have organized the multiyear project Rhapsody, as well as pianist Lara Downes, who recently released "Rhapsody in Blue, Reimagined."
Can the world of classical music become more inclusive given its history? On this episode of Our Body Politic, guest host Celeste Headlee, a journalist and best-selling author, speaks with Professor Philip Ewell, professor of music theory at Hunter College about the history of classical music and Blackness. Then Celeste speaks with professor and Harpist Ashley Jackson about the significance of performing the works of Black female composers. Celeste is also joined by 8-time Grammy-winning musician Christian McBride on the links between jazz and classical music. We round out the show with Lara Downes, concert pianist, musical creator and host of the NPR video series Amplify, about performing for others and her hope for making an impact on the next generation.
Pianist Lara Downes joins Gramophone Editor Martin Cullingford this week to talk about her fascinating new recording of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, as reimagined for today's world by composer Edmar Colón to mark the iconic work's centenary, and available from the Pentatone label.
On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,' Lara Downes presents a reimagined ‘Rhapsody in Blue' arranged by composer Edmar Colón in a performance alongside Edwin Outwater and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Orchestra. Find out more!
In addition to being a gifted instrumentalist, Detroit saxophonist, composer and educator Dominic Waddles is a member of the music theory staff at Michigan State University's Community Music School-Detroit. He also leads the Civic Jazz Band with the DSO's civic ensemble program. In this featurette he presents a Detroit-made classical music story about Lara Downes.
Lara Downes — Can a musical masterpiece born 100 years ago still speak to today's America? Lara Downes answers with a vibrant reinvention of Gershwin's “Rhapsody in Blue.” She recolors it for a 21st-century America, weaving a century of immigrant voices into its iconic notes.
American pianist Lara Downes has been redefining what it means to be a classical musician, often by expanding our definition of classical music. She's championed the works of women and Black composers; she's been a cultural activist and a broadcaster. Now, she's commissioned a radical new arrangement of Gerswin's "Rhapsody In Blue" by Puerto Rican composer Edmar Colón, to mark the 100th anniversary of Gershwin's iconic piece. Lara Downes and Edmar Colón play some of "Rhapsody in Blue, Reimagined", in-studio. Set List: 1. Love Will Find A Way (Eubie Blake) 2. My Lord What A Mornin' (trad/arr. H.T. Burleigh) / On Bended Knees (Burleigh arr of Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen) 3. Study in Blue (Gerswhin/Edmar Colón)
This week on Cultural Manifesto, host Kyle Long speaks with Alan Bacon, co-founder and president of the Indianapolis-based arts and culture organization GangGang. We'll discuss GangGang's I Made Rock 'N' Roll Festival. It's happening May 18th at the American Legion Mall in Indianapolis, honoring the Black roots of rock music and will feature performances by Janelle Monáe, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Randolph Band, Joy Oladokun and more. We'll also continue listening to memorable interviews of 2023, including words and music from Lara Downes, Angela Brown, Hanna Benn, Meshell Ndegeocello, Morgan Rae Webster and Parris Ladame.
This week on Cultural Manifesto, host Kyle Long speaks with Alan Bacon, co-founder and president of the Indianapolis-based arts and culture organization GangGang. We'll discuss GangGang's I Made Rock 'N' Roll Festival. It's happening May 18th at the American Legion Mall in Indianapolis, honoring the Black roots of rock music and will feature performances by Janelle Monáe, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Randolph Band, Joy Oladokun and more. We'll also continue listening to memorable interviews of 2023, including words and music from Lara Downes, Angela Brown, Hanna Benn, Meshell Ndegeocello, Morgan Rae Webster and Parris Ladame.
Loki Karuna affirms his evolving feelings on George Gershwin, chats with Lara Downes about her latest project, "Rhapsody in Blue: Reimagined", and shares his 2024 resolution to strive toward absolute freedom.Rhapsody in Blue Reimagined ★ Support this podcast ★
Traumschöne Musik zum Einschlafen. Dieser Klangreigen legt sich wie eine warme Decke über dich. Diese Musikstücke hast Du in der Folge gehört: Lara Downes & PubliQuartet - "Southern Lullaby" // Isata Kanneh-Masen - "The Seal Lullaby" // Robert McSonald & Helen Callus - "Lullaby (1909)" // Derek Gripper - "Yamore Lullaby" // Tasmanian Smphony Orchestra & Sean O'Boyle - "Reverie" // Den Podcast "Der mit dem Wald spricht" von den Kollegen von SWR 1 findest du hier: https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/peter-wohlleben/10004749/ Wenn Du eine Idee oder einen Wunsch zu einem musikalischen Thema hast, dann schreib ihm eine Mail: playlist@ndr.de
Can the world of classical music become more inclusive given its history? On this episode of Our Body Politic, guest host Celeste Headlee, a journalist and best-selling author, speaks with Professor Philip Ewell, professor of music theory at Hunter College about the history of classical music and Blackness. Then Celeste speaks with professor and Harpist Ashley Jackson about the significance of performing the works of Black female composers. Celeste is also joined by 8-time Grammy-winning musician Christian McBride on the links between jazz and classical music. We round out the show with Lara Downes, concert pianist, musical creator and host of the NPR video series Amplify, about performing for others and her hope for making an impact on the next generation.
Preaching: Carrie KondorIt's an annual tradition at Pearl Church to hear from the members of our Oversight Team. Each week a different Oversight Team member takes a turn to share, which gives us a chance to learn about their life and to hear what they dream of for Pearl. The Oversight Team's role is to ensure that we are cultivating our rhythms according to our values. This team also oversees our practices, bylaws, budget, and lead pastor.Note: the song referenced in this sermon is "Laugh at all my Dreams" by Lara Downes.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.
Lara Downes – Love at Last (PENTATONE) Jump to giveaway form New Classical Tracks - Lara Downes by Love at Last is a new recording by pianist Lara Downes featuring music of healing and hope. The album contains music that came out of the darkest period of the global pandemic. Downes recalls hearing those years referred to as unprecedented times, but that's not entirely accurate, she says. “When we are immersed as classical musicians in a tradition that goes back so many centuries, and we know the stories behind the music, then we're very familiar with the cycles of war and plague, and all of the tragedies that humans endure. So I started thinking about the ways that music could support a feeling of connection across time and place and understanding of history. This continuum, this past, present and future continuum. And then I started amassing music, and it was a really beautiful process.” More From Lara Downes 2023 Lara Downes performs a spring-themed Tiny Desk Concert full of renewal 2022 Classical Woman of the Year: Lara Downes 2022 Lara Downes reflects on the music of Scott Joplin 2021 Pianist Lara Downes re-centers the music of the Great Migration 2019 Pianist Lara Downes celebrates the power and artistic legacy of women in new album What made you decide on the title of Love at Last for this collection of music? “It comes from a poem by 19th-century writer Shaul Tchernichovsky. He was a Ukrainian poet who later emigrated to Jerusalem. The poem had been set by a singer songwriter named Debbie Friedman in the ‘70s, and it was a song that we used to sing in temple when I was a kid. “He wrote the poem when he was a young man at the very turn of the century in Odessa. But he was about to witness so many terrible things, the antisemitism that was going to ravage his community in Ukraine, two World Wars. And this poem of his begins with, ‘Laugh at all my dreams, my dearest laugh. And I repeat anew that I still believe in man as I still believe in you. Let the times be dark with hatred. I believe in years beyond, love at last shall bind all people in an everlasting bond.'” The piece that opens this recording is Dawn, by Czech composer Jaroslav Ježek. It's a work that you performed at the Czech Embassy in Washington, D.C., a few years ago, and most of your audience was in tears. Can you talk about this song and why it has such an impact on those who hear it? “This song was played on the radio in Prague every day during the Nazi occupation, and it was kind of a secret message of resistance — a reminder to the Czech people that there would be another dawn, a brighter day. And I didn't know that history when I played it in this room full of people who had this visceral connection with that music that was handed down from their parents and grandparents. And the emotion around it just was staggering.” You created an arrangement of a piece by Margaret Bonds. It's the Credo No. 2, and it's from a larger work. Can you talk a little bit about this piece and how it is still relevant today? “She wrote her credo inspired by the text from W.E.B. Dubois, a prose poem that he wrote in 1904. In the 1960s, Bonds took that text and wrote a large piece for baritone soloist, chorus and orchestra, also called The Credo, bringing his words to life in the middle of the civil rights movement. And just thinking about all of the generations who have fought for this American promise and how we continue to do that. We're certainly living in times that are complicated and challenging when it comes to race All of the pieces on this record. They're all reminding us that tomorrow is a new day, and that means a new chance.” Tree of Life To hear the rest of my conversation, click on the extended interview above, or download the extended podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Giveaway Time For Three New Classical Tracks Giveaway You must be 13 or older to submit any information to American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about things like our programs, products and services. See Terms of Use and Privacy. This giveaway is subject to the Official Giveaway Rules. Resources Lara Downes — Love at Last (Amazon) Lara Downes — Love at Last (Pentatone) Lara Downes (Official site)
Pianist Lara Downes details her new album “Love at Last.” Plus, Xavier Lewis is highlighted in our series, “Speaking of Dance,” and artist and curator Courtney Brooks discusses “Now is the Day: A Life Well Lived,” the new exhibition at ArtsXchange honoring the life of Dr. Doris Derby.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week on Cultural Manifesto, an hour of words and music with the classical music pianist, and arts activist Lara Downes. She'll be performing the Florence Price piano concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra later this month. Downes has become a significant advocate for African American voices in classical music. She's the host and creator of Amplify, an NPR series that features Downes in conversation with a wide range of Black musicians. She's also creator and curator of Rising Sun Music, a recording label that focuses on the work of historic and contemporary Black composers.
This week on Cultural Manifesto, an hour of words and music with the classical music pianist, and arts activist Lara Downes. She'll be performing the Florence Price piano concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra later this month. Downes has become a significant advocate for African American voices in classical music. She's the host and creator of Amplify, an NPR series that features Downes in conversation with a wide range of Black musicians. She's also creator and curator of Rising Sun Music, a recording label that focuses on the work of historic and contemporary Black composers.
Loop38 explores human creativity, perseverance, and all that binds us all together. Works by George Lewis and Chen Yi look inward, considering humanity's inherent creativity and life force, while Carolyn Chen's work looks outward, contemplating our relationship with the environment. Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton joins the musicians of Loop38 to present the world premiere of a work by Martha Horst based on D.E.E.P.'s poetry about hope, aspiration, and the power of creation. About Loop38 Loop38 is a boundary-pushing, artist-driven new music ensemble based in Houston, Texas, that aims to build community around innovative, stimulating, and culturally relevant musical experiences. Loop38 specializes in the performance of contemporary classical music for solo instrument, chamber ensemble, and large ensemble—instrumentations that collectively allow the full timbral spectrum of an orchestra while showcasing the virtuosic solo capabilities of its performers. Named after the 38-mile freeway (“the loop”) that encircles our hometown, Loop38 focuses on presenting distinctive and memorable aural experiences that push stylistic boundaries, feature underrepresented voices, and incorporate meaningful collaborations with composers and artists of other disciplines. About Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, poet Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton is an internationally known writer, librettist, educator, activist, performer, and the first Black Poet Laureate of Houston, Texas. Formerly ranked the #2 Best Female Performance Poet in the World (PSI), Her work has appeared in Houston Noir by Akashic Press (2019), Black Girl Magic by Haymarket Books (2019), the Texas Observer, and Fjords Journal, and on such platforms as NPR, BBC, ABC, Apple News, Blavity, Upworthy, and across the TedX circuit. Honored by Houston Business Journal as a part of their 2021 40 Under 40 class, She has served as a contributing writer to Texas Monthly, Glamour Magazine, and ESPN's The Undefeated. This season, Plumshuga: The Rise of Lauren Anderson has its world premiere at STAGES Houston, which D.E.E.P. directs and wrote the book for. She also is slated to perform in Unison for Da Camera Society of Texas, which she also wrote poems for. Her recently published memoir, Black Chameleon (Henry Holt & Co, 2023), explores the use of modern mythology as a path to social commentary. About Martha Horst, composer Martha Horst is a composer who has devoted herself to the performance, creation, and instruction of classical music. Ms. Horst has won the Copland Award, the 2005 Alea III International Composition Competition for her work Threads, and the Rebecca Clarke International Composition Competition for her work Cloister Songs, based on 18th century utopian poetry. She has held fellowships at the MacDowell Colony, Atlantic Center for the Arts, Wellesley Conference, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and Dartington International School in the UK. Her work Piano Sonata No. 1, recorded by acclaimed pianist Lara Downes, was released nationally by Crossover Media. Dr. Horst is a professor of composition and theory at Illinois State University and has also taught at the University of California, Davis, East Carolina University, and San Francisco State University. She recently served as the composer-in-residence for the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra in Chicago, IL. This program is supported in part by funding from Texas Commission for the Arts, Houston Arts Alliance, and Poets & Writers.
INTRODUCTION Alicia Keys – “City of Gods (Part II)” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b84Oxv6PR8) Blondie – “Rapture” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHCdS7O248g) Helen Reddy – “Delta Dawn” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzb7a1T4c1k) Valerie June – “Astral Plane” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN35g4eLQgg) MOVEMENT 1 Carnegie Hall's New Season: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/arts/music/carnegie-hall-2023-2024-season.html Tania León – “Tumbao” (perf. Eunbi Kim) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgLH6lDD5jM) WCMU Replaces Clasical Music with News: https://current.org/2023/03/michigans-wcmu-replaces-classical-music-with-news-on-weekdays/?wallit_nosession=1 Apple Music Classical Launch: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/02/28/apple-music-classical-code-ios-16-4-beta-2/ Dobrinka Tabakova – “Simple Prayer for Complex Times” (perf. Lara Downes) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaB_wij-xvo) MOVEMENT 2 Jenni Brandon – “Double Helix” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnskitBp0Bw) Julia Perry – “Short Piece for Orchestra” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwv6otly7Nc) MOVEMENT 3 Florence Price – “Tropical Noon” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHolUsGzS90&list=OLAK5uy_lVZ_-WHPyAsQyPCi6cRhpb8cszw4ueCtk&index=3) Garrett Interviews Gabriella Di Laccio (https://www.gabrielladilaccio.com) Donne: https://donne-uk.org Chiquinha Gonzaga – “Gaúcho” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrOaKVw7w5Q) MOVEMENT 4 Nina Simone – “My Baby Just Cares for Me” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bccOfePKVc) Garrett and Scott Discuss Respectability Politics SPONSORS: Schubert Club: https://schubert.org Salastina: https://www.salastina.org ★ Support this podcast ★
We sit down with Lara Downes, who's star currently shines in the world of classical music as one of its most innovative figures and most energetic activists. Lara shares the inspiration behind her latest work, Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered, a modern reflection on Joplin's musical legacy. Along the way we explore her own musical journey, the importance of cultural memory and how the music of Scott Joplin continues to speak to us all. Lara Downes is featured in Issue no. 10 of AphroChic magazine in the story, History in Sound: A Conversation with Lara Downes.
When you picture your perfect day in the fall season, what does it look like Does it include crisp fall leaves, sweater weather and cooler temperatures? Join host Liz Lyon as we discover pieces that sound like the different stages of fall. Episode 102 playlist Scott Joplin: Maple Leaf Rag - (Used at the beginning and end of the episode) This piece by Scott Joplin was groundbreaking for the genre of rag music and became a template for the composers of rag music in the years to come. The Maple leaves change their color in the fall to the vivid browns and fiery reds. Performed by The Band and Lara Downes on Piano. Scott Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag by Fanny Mendelssohn: Das Jar No. 9 (September) - Fanny Mendelssohn composed a set of 12 piano pieces representing every month of the year. ‘September' of Das Jahr (‘The Year') is based it off a poem “To the Moon,” which compares the passage of time with a flowing river. Performed by Liana Serbescu on piano. Fanny Mendelssohn - Das Jahr No. 9 - September by Imogen Holst: Fall of Leaf — As you get further into the fall you can see the magic of leaves turning different colors and they begin to fall…. In this piece you can almost hear the individual leaves falling and drifting in the wind. Performed by Steven Isserlis on Cello. Imogen Holst - Fall of the Leaf by Tōru Takemitsu: A String Around Autumn — Tōru Takemitsu wrote this piece of music to celebrate a fall festival but it sounds like the end of autumn. It is sadder, more sparse and you can almost hear the promise that snow is on the way. Performed by Saito Kinen Orchestra and featuring Nobuko Imai on viola. Tōru Takemitsu - A String Around Autumn by Astor Piazzolla: Autumn in Buenos Aires (Otono Porteno) - Astor Piazzolla wrote a piece of music to celebrate the different seasons in Buenos Aires Argentina. Autumn contains musical raindrops and a wintery sun. Performed by the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra featuring Tessa Lark on violin. Astor Piazzolla - Autumn in Buenos Aires by You can now search and listen to YourClassical Adventures where podcasts are found. Explore more from YourClassical Adventures! What are you curious about? You must be 13 or older to submit any information to American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about things like our programs, products and services. See Terms of Use and Privacy.
This episode contains discussions of syphilis. If you are concerned you have syphilis or another sexually transmitted infection, you can find information about sexual health clinics in New York City here. This Composer is Sick wraps up with an exploration of how syphilis affected the life, works, and death of American composer Scott Joplin. Host Emi Ferguson and her guests, Joplin biographer and ragtime scholar Edward Berlin, and syphilis researcher Sheila Lukehart, look at Joplin's life as he battled syphilis, particularly his last years in New York, as he worked to stage a production of his opera, Treemonisha. Recordings: “Frolic of the Bears” by Scott Joplin, performed by The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and Singers. From the sound recording Scott Joplin: Treemonisha. New World Records #80720-2 (p) & © 2011 Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc. Used by permission. Available here. "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin, performed by Benjamin Loeb, courtesy of Naxos of America "Maple Leaf Rag" performed by the United States Marine Band "Maple Leaf Rag" performed by Jade Simmons; "A Real Slow Drag" from Treemonisha performed by Laquita Mitchell and Joshua Rifkin, from WQXR Presents: Joplin at 150 in the Greene Space, November 2019 "Magnetic Rag" performed by Lara Downes from Scott Joplin's New York in the Greene Space, March 2022 Additional recording of "A Real Slow Drag" from Treemonisha by Emi Ferguson Additional thanks to the NYC Municipal Archives, the National Archives, and the New York Public Radio Archives for archival audio.
Pianist Lara Downes joins as the musical guest at our July Get Lit radio special! Named 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by American Public Media's Performance Today, Downes discusses her career and shares two exclusive performances.
Alison Stewart, host of WNYC's All Of It with Alison Stewart, joins to discuss what makes a great "summer read" and shares some of her picks. For the "it" books of summer that everyone is talking about, check out Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh and Tracy Flick Can't Win by Tom Perotta. Looking for non-fiction? Alison recommends The Family Roe: An American Story by Joshua Prager and Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality by Tomiko Brown Nagin to learn more about the history behind some of the most important political issues today. And if you need a real escape from reality, pick up The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez or Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead. → EVENT: Tune in for All Of It's Get Lit radio event with Jennifer Weiner and musical guest Lara Downes on Thursday, July 28th at 1 pm ET! For more information on the event, and how to sign up for next month's book club, click here.
From concertos to operas, Black composers captured the changes and challenges facing African Americans during Jim Crow. Renowned classical pianist Laura Downes is bringing new appreciation to the works of artists like Florence Price and Scott Joplin. In our final installment of Music Reconstructed, Downes discusses how we can hear the complicated history of this era with historian Charles L. Hughes. And for helpful classroom resources, check out the enhanced full transcript of this episode.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Skidmore College are presenting trailblazing pianist, speaker and NPR's Amplify co-host, Lara Downes for a special appearance on April 14, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arthur Zankel Music Center. Downes' performance explores the landscape of American music from George Gershwin and Morton Gould to Billie Holiday, Scott Joplin, and Florence Price, giving voice to underrepresented and forgotten artists alongside their contemporaries. Downes will return to Saratoga on August 4th, 2022 for her SPAC debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra where she'll perform two premieres: The Strayhorn Concerto and Price's Piano Concerto in One Movement.
Pianist Lara Downes discusses her new album "Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered," and why Joplin should be known as more than just the 'King of Ragtime.' And, each dish and food scene in HBO Max's "Julia" was styled by a woman who considers Julia Child her culinary hero. WBUR's Andrea Shea tells us how the food stylist honors the chef's legacy in this series.
Lara Downes — Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered (Rising Sun Music) Jump to giveaway form New Classical Tracks - Lara Downes by Pianist Lara Downes is reconsidering Scott Joplin, who he was and what he did. Joplin was an incredible innovator who really brought American music into the 20th century. Downes digs deeper into his legacy in her latest recording, Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered. Why did you want to learn Joplin's music, which many of us learned about from the movie The Sting? “Even by the age of 7, I was pretty deep into classical music. My sound world was classical music. I heard his music and thought it was really exciting. It's really fun. There was also Paul Newman in the movie. That didn't hurt. So I learned ‘The Entertainer,' and I think it was kind of a treat. In my world, my early training was pretty rigorous. “It's really clear to me now that this whole journey into American music has transformed the way I hear and understand it. It's fun. It's reconnecting with my little girl self, but through a different lens.” Can you talk about the arrangement of ‘The Entertainer' you created? “It was easy and obvious to me what I wanted to do with many of these pieces, but I will admit that ‘The Entertainer' kind of posed a problem. We've heard it so many times and I realized the answer had been literally staring me in the face. On the title page of the piece Joplin dedicates ‘The Entertainer' to James Brown and his mandolin club.” Where did you find ‘A Picture of Her Face,' which you world-premiered with baritone Will Liverman? “This is such an example of the music sitting right there for everyone to find, and we're somehow not finding it. There's this huge digital database of public domain sheet music, IMSLP. We all use it. I was just going through all the Joplin stuff to make sure there was nothing I overlooked, and there's this art song called ‘A Picture of Her Face.' “That same day I was texting with my friend Will Liverman, and we were checking in about some things. ‘What are you up to?' And I said, ‘I'm going to the studio. I'm working on this Joplin project,' and he's like, ‘Oh, I love Joplin!'” Are you really the only performer on ‘Eugenia'? “Oh, you're hearing a lot of stuff inside the piano that we put in there, because I kept saying to [producer] Adam [Abeshouse], ‘I want to play around with different sounds and colors.' He said, ‘OK, hold on a second.' He goes and gets all these rolls of tape and some chains, and he's putting it in the piano. He said, ‘OK, sit down, and try it again.' I think it ends up sounding like one of those saloons where Joplin would have played.” How does this music reflect who you are? “I'm lucky enough to be what Joplin wanted to be. No one's getting in my way. It's amazing for those of us, especially artists of color, who are living now. We are having for the first time the incredible experience of bringing the music of Black artists who came before us to the general public and having that be welcomed.” To hear the rest of my conversation, click on the extended interview above, or download the extended podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch now More on Lara Downes Lara Downes creates Black-focused label Rising Sun Music Pianist Lara Downes re-centers the music of the Great Migration Giveaway Giveaway You must be 13 or older to submit any information to American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about things like our programs, products and services. See Terms of Use and Privacy. This giveaway is subject to the Official Giveaway Rules. Resources Lara Downes — Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered (Lara Downes' Website) Lara Downes — Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered (Amazon Music) Lara Downes (official site)
Renowned pianist Lara Downes shares the story behind her new tribute album, “Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered.” Plus, Melvin Kindall Myles, a soloist at Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Rabbi Micah Lapidus, musician and Director of Jewish and Hebrew Studies at the Davis Academy tell us about their new collaborative release, “Better Angels.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Earlier this week, WRCJ's Peter Whorf spoke with pianist Lara Downes about her role in this weekend's DSO Classical Roots concerts. Now, Peter talks with conductor William Eddins for a further concert preview of what's ahead in this Friday's DSO Live broadcast on 90.9FM…with music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Quinn Mason and Florence Price…
Pianist Lara Downes is the featured soloist in this Friday morning's DSO Live broadcast at 10:40am on WRCJ and the Michigan Classical Network. Downes speaks with Peter Whorf about the music she'll perform at Orchestra Hall. She'll focus on two composers – Scott Joplin and Florence Price – the latter representing an important discovery in Lara's early musical life…
The guys chat with pianist, podcaster, composer and wonder woman, Lara Downes who will be a featured soloist in the DSO Classical Roots program on Friday, March 4 2022.
Do you think of "doing the right thing" as fun and joyful? Lara Downes does. In this episode of HearTOGETHER, pianist and podcast host (NPR's Amplify) Lara Downes joins host Tori Marchiony for an intimate conversation about growing up as an American abroad, exploring her identity through music, and expanding the cannon to create a more inclusive and vibrant future for concert music. You'll hear about her youth mentorship series, My Promise Project, her ambitious venture to create new recordings of works by Black composers, Rising Sun, and more. Music in this episode: HOLIDAY, I Cover The Waterfront, Lara Downes (A Billie Holiday Songbook)GOLSON, On Gossamer Wings, Lara Downes (American Ballads)PRICE, Some of These Days, Lara Downes (Lara Downes And Friends) STILL, Summerland, Lara Downes (The Bedtime Sessions)HOLT, Nora's Dance, Lara DownesBLAKE, Love Will Find a Way, Lara DownesThanks to Noel Dior & Tim German, Editorial Council Teng Chen, Audio Engineer
Art meets us where we are. For classical pianist and activist Lara Downes, Romare Bearden's collage parallels her own life and family story: a puzzle full of questions and unfinished business. On her journey inside Bearden's work, Downes travels backward to explore Black memory. In response to the collage, she brings together different musical sources, overlaying sounds that sit together comfortably at times and create tension at others, giving them the freedom to coexist. Find full transcripts and more information about this episode at www.nga.gov/music-programs/podc…ay-be-far-away.html. Subscribe directly to Sound Thoughts on Art from the National Gallery of Art on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app https://feeds.megaphone.fm/NGAT6207729686. Still haven't subscribed to our YouTube channels? National Gallery of Art ►►https://www.youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtUS National Gallery of Art | Talks ►►https://www.youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtTalks ABOUT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity. More National Gallery of Art Content: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalgalleryofart Twitter: https://twitter.com/ngadc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ngadc/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ngadc/_created/ E-News: https://nga.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e894a1837aca4526f7e8a11b3&id=2085ff9475
For classical pianist and activist Lara Downes, Romare Bearden's collage is a puzzle full of questions and unfinished business. In response, she brings together different musical sources, overlaying sounds to create both harmony and tension. Find full transcripts and more information about this episode at https://www.nga.gov/music-programs/podcasts/lara-downes-and-tomorrow-i-may-be-far-away.html.
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