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American Public Media

YourClassical Adventures

There is a strange instrument that was once believed to have magical powers. Join host Liz Lyon as we learn a little about the history of the glass armonica and listen to music composed for this unique instrument.

Episode 80 Glass Armonica

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Adagio for Glass Armonica — In the last year of Mozart’s life, he composed this piece for the glass armonica, which has been referred to as one of unearthly beauty.

LISTEN — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Adagio for Glass Armonica

Johann Abraham Peter Schulz: Largo — There were many rumors surrounding the glass armonica. In Germany, some towns actually banned the instrument. Here is a piece written for it by German composer Johann Abraham Peter Schulz.

LISTEN — Johann Abraham Peter Schulz: Largo

James Horner: Spock — The glass armonica also is sometimes referred to as the bowl organ. It produces ethereal sounds and when paired with the harp, composer James Horner thought it created the perfect theme for Spock in the Star Trek movie The Wrath of Khan.

LISTEN — James Horner: Spock

Carter Burwell: The Glass Armonica — Carter Burwell is best known for his work as a film composer. He wrote this piece for the glass armonica to accompany the movie Mr. Holmes, which portrays the famous literary detective Sherlock Holmes in his old age.

LISTEN — Carter Burwell: The Glass Armonica

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The Mysterious Glass Armonica

Nobuo Uematsu composed music for the Final Fantasy video-game series. The music has become so popular that orchestras have performed it on tour. Uematsu has never had a formal musical education, but he was passionate and persistent, and now his music is legendary. 

Episode 81 playlist

Nobuo Uematsu: Final Fantasy, Main Theme — As Uematsu was seeking out work as a composer, a friend asked him to help her write music for video games. Final Fantasy was one of the first games he worked on. This is the main theme of the game.

LISTEN — Nobuo Uematsu: Final Fantasy, Main Theme

Nobuo Uematsu: Final Fantasy VII, One-Winged Angel — When Uematsu wrote music for Final Fantasy VII, he got to work with an orchestra and a choir for the first time. The results were amazing. Here is one of his most popular pieces from Final Fantasy VII.

LISTEN — Nobuo Uematsu: Final Fantasy VII, One-Winged Angel

Nobuo Uematsu: Final Fantasy VII, Don’t Be Afraid — “Distant Worlds” is a concert tour performed by an orchestra, choir, and vocal and instrumental soloists. The concerts are unique multimedia experiences, with Final Fantasy video game presentations projected onto giant screens throughout the concert. Here is a piece that has been performed on the tour.

LISTEN — Nobuo Uematsu: Final Fantasy VII, Don’t Be Afraid

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The Legendary Nobuo Uematsu

What sort of relationship do video games and classical music share? Join host Liz Lyon for an exploration of video-game music and how it has developed a deep relationship with classical music. 

Episode 82 playlist

Koji Kondo: Super Mario Brothers Theme — This was originally composed for the 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System video game Super Mario Brothers. Sound designer Koji Kondo says he found this piece to be the most difficult to compose. This version of the theme is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

LISTEN — Koji Kondo: Super Mario Brothers Theme

Yoko Shimomura: Kingdom Hearts, Hikari — Yoko Shimomura is a Japanese composer and pianist. She has written for video games such as the Mario & Luigi series as well as Final Fantasy XV, but she is best known for writing the music for the video game Kingdom Hearts. Here is a popular piece from that game performed by the New Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra.

LISTEN — Yoko Shimomura: Kingdom Hearts, Hikari

Claude Debussy: Claire de Lune — Video-game music is often used to help set the mood and provide insight into the specific game. Those who know the game The Evil Within, a game for older teens and adults, also know that when they hear Claire de Lune, by Claude Debussy, within the game, safety is nearby.

LISTEN — Claude Debussy: Claire de Lune

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Video Games and Classical Music

Part 2 of a two-part episode: Video game music has evolved over time from simple 8-bit tones to classical-music masterpieces. Join host Liz Lyon as we listen to some video-game compositions that have made a name for themselves in the world of classical music.

Episode 83 playlist

Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori: Halo Theme — For the theme from Halo, composer Martin O’Donnell was inspired by the Beatles’ song “Yesterday.” This particular piece was arranged by composer and sound designer Pascal Michael Stiefel.

LISTEN — Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori: Halo Theme

Koji Kondo: The Legend of Zelda Theme — This song appears in every game in The Legend of Zelda series in one way or another. Either as the main theme, mixed in with a different piece of music or through brief cameo appearances in certain parts of the game. 

LISTEN — Koji Kondo: The Legend of Zelda Theme

Austin Wintory: Journey, I Was Born for This — This is the final track of the official Journey soundtrack, which plays over the ending credits of the game. The lyrics are written in five languages, all of which were borrowed from various historical documents and works of poetry. The title, “I Was Born for This,” is a translation of a quote attributed to Joan of Arc.

LISTEN — Austin Wintory: Journey, I Was Born For This

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Video Games and Classical Music, Part 2

This time of year can bring a lot of interesting storms. Join host Liz Lyon as we use our imagination to picture thunderstorms while discovering classical music that was inspired by the rain, wind and rumbles of these storms.

Episode 84 playlist

Eric Whitacre: Cloudburst — Handbells, a thunder sheet, bass drum, suspended cymbal, wind chimes and piano all accompany an eight-part choir. The added claps, snaps and thick smacks by the singers help bring a thunderstorm to life through song.

LISTEN — Eric Whitacre: Cloudburst 

Ludwig Van Beethoven: Pastoral Symphony — This was one of only two symphonies that Beethoven named. Using your imagination, can you recognize what parts of a thunderstorm the instruments mimic?

LISTEN — Ludwig Van Beethoven: Pastoral Symphony

Michael Kamen: The Eye of the Storm — American composer Michael Kamen was well known for his scores to many movies you might know, including The Iron Giant, X-Men, The Avengers and 101 Dalmatians. This piece is from The Iron Giant and helps to set the mood for an unknown object crashing through Earth’s atmosphere in the middle of a storm at sea.

LISTEN — Michael Kamen: The Eye of the Storm

Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite - Cloudburst — The Grand Canyon Suite includes five movements that paint a specific scene that is typical of the Grand Canyon. The movements are “Sunrise,” “Painted Desert,” “On the Trail” and “Sunset,” with the fifth and final movement, “Cloudburst,” portraying a storm in the Grand Canyon.

LISTEN — Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite, 5. Cloudburst

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Stormy Weather

A metronome is a musical device that produces a clicking sound to help you keep a certain tempo. You can snap your fingers or tap your foot to keep tempo, too. Join host Liz Lyon as we listen to classical music pieces with a wide range of tempos. One tempo is so slow that the piece of music lasts more than 600 years!

Episode 85 playlist

John Cage: Organ² (As Slow As Possible) — When this piece was written, composer John Cage did not specify a tempo. This offered a quirky opportunity to musicians: How can someone truly play this piece as slow as possible? Some musicians have spent 12 or more hours playing this piece, but in a church in Germany, a single chord of this piece is held for 2,527 days before it moves on to the next.

LISTEN — John Cage: Organ² (As Slow As Possible)

Arvo Part: Spiegel im Spiegel — If you hold a mirror facing forward and stand in front of a mirror, you will see that your reflected image is repeated over and over for infinity. The name of this piece is German and means, “Mirrors in the Mirror” which refers to an infinity mirror and the infinite number of reflected images.

LISTEN — Arvo Part: Spiegel im Spiegel

Niccolo Paganini: Moto Perpetuo — A “virtuoso” is someone who is highly skilled in music or other creative art. Niccolo Paganini was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time. If you learn any violin techniques, you will likely be learning techniques he developed.

LISTEN — Niccolo Paganini: Moto Perpetuo

Camille Saint-Saëns: Samson and Delilah - Bacchanale — Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist. Before he was even 3, he was curious about the piano and had the ability to identify a musical note without assistance.

LISTEN — Camille Saint-Saëns: Samson and Delilah - Bacchanale 

Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 4 — This is only one of 21 total Hungarian Dances that Brahms composed, all inspired by Hungarian folk music and Hungary’s deep tradition of dance. They were originally written for piano and were later arranged by Brahms and other composers to allow a full orchestra to present these pieces.

LISTEN — Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 4 

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Keep the Beat

What do you do when you are stressed, mad or sad? Do you go for a run to pound your feet on the ground, or maybe you pick up a paintbrush or an instrument? Join host Liz Lyon and producer Melanie Renate as we explore ways musicians have used tough moments in their lives to create pieces of music that helped them to feel better. Maybe this music can help you feel better, too.

Episode 86 playlist

Garreth Brooke and Anna Salzmann: Healing — Anna Salzmann is a visual artist who has partnered with composer and musician Garreth Brooke to present a musical and visual piece of art called Healing, which they hope can help people explore the emotional process of healing.

LISTEN — Garreth Brooke and Anna Salzmann: Healing

Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita in D minor for Solo Violin — Violinist Francisco Fullana had always found comfort in Bach’s music. He practiced music on his violin to help him heal while he was recovering from a shoulder injury. He also found comfort in the music by Bach during his time in isolation during the COVID pandemic.

LISTEN — Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita in D minor for Solo Violin

Joshua McGhee: Let God Bring Tomorrow — Joshua McGhee is a talented multi-instrumentalist, meaning he plays more than one instrument. He has been commissioned to write pieces of music in response to some tragic events. Let God Bring Tomorrow was written in response to a mass shooting.

LISTEN — Joshua McGhee: Let God Bring Tomorrow

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Explore more from YourClassical Adventures!

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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.

Comfort for Your Head and Heart

The saxophone is a unique instrument that has found itself played within classical to jazz music genres. Join host Liz Lyon as we explore the history of the saxophone and listen to examples of where the instrument shines.

Episode 87 playlist

Hector Berlioz: Chant Sacré — Hector Berlioz wrote this piece originally in 1829. In 1844, he arranged it for different groupings of instruments. One arrangement was for wind ensemble, which included two clarinets and four “saxhorns,” which we know today as the saxophone.

LISTEN — Hector Berlioz: Chant Sacré

Jacques Ibert: Concerto da Camera, Movement III — This concerto in its entirety has a large range of notes and at times requires the musician to play the saxophone’s highest notes.

LISTEN — Jacques Ibert: Concerto da Camera, Movement III

John Adams: Saxophone Concerto — John Adams’ father played the alto sax in swing bands in the 1930s. Adams said this early exposure to jazzy saxophone playing was inspiration for this piece.

LISTEN — John Adams: Saxophone Concerto

You can now search and listen to YourClassical Adventures where podcasts are found.

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The Strong and Mellow Saxophone

What do you love about summertime? The sun is out all day long, so the days feel longer. It can really help to put you in a good mood. In this episode, producer Melanie Renate shares classical music inspired by the sun.

Episode 88 playlist

Yu Shi Wang: Sunflower — This piece was composed in 1962. There are lyrics that go along with the original composition, which describes the daily life of farmers in China.

LISTEN — Yu Shi Wang: Sunflower

George Harrison: Here Comes the Sun — This is a famous song originally performed by The Beatles. It was written by guitarist George Harrison. Here, cellist Ofra Harnoy performs the piece with the Armin String Quartet.

LISTEN — George Harrison: Here Comes the Sun

Ferde Grofe: Sunrise from Grand Canyon Suite — Can you imagine the sun coming up over the red rocks of the Grand Canyon? Maybe you can find art supplies to create the sunrise this piece makes you think of.

LISTEN — Ferde Grofe: Sunrise from The Grand Canyon Suite 

Max Richter: On the Nature of Daylight — The colors of the world change throughout the day as the sun rises, crosses the sky and finally sets. This piece is all about how the sun slowly changes throughout the sky over an entire day.

LISTEN — Max Richter: On the Nature of Daylight 

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Here Comes the Sun

The viola plays an important role in the string section of orchestras, and it has a unique, rich sound and history. What does the viola sound like? Join host Liz Lyon and listen to beautiful viola music on this episode of YourClassical Adventures.

Episode 89 playlist

Michel Corrette: Viola da Bracchio Sonata - III. Minuetto — This piece features one of the earliest types of viola, the viola da barcchio. It was played just like a modern viola. Michel Corrette plays the viola de bracchio on this recording.

LISTEN — Michel Corrette: Viola da Bracchio Sonata - III. Minuetto 

Rebecca Clarke: Viola Sonata — Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata is by far the best-known of her works. She even submitted it for a competition and tied for first place. Marina Thibeault plays the viola in this recording.

LISTEN — Rebecca Clarke: Viola Sonata 

William Walton: Viola Concerto — The viola most often plays the midtones in supporting the orchestra. However, there are a lot of pieces written that feature the viola as a solo, like this piece. Yuri Bashmet plays the viola in this recording.

LISTEN — William Walton: Viola Concerto 

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The Warmth of the Viola

Music can still be music without a melody or harmony, but you can’t really have music without some sort of rhythm. Join host Liz Lyon as we explore the musical concept of rhythm.

Episode 94 playlist

George Gershwin: I’ve Got Rhythm — Gershwin worked with his older brother on this piece. He composed the music, and his older brother, Ira Gershwin, wrote the lyrics. This rhythm can really help to put you in a good mood.

LISTEN — George Gershwin: I’ve Got Rhythm

Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring — Rhythm doesn’t have to be a simple pattern of sound and silence. In 1913, Stravinsky used rhythm in new ways that people weren’t used to. Because of this, many listeners didn’t like this piece at first, but over time it has become an orchestral favorite.

LISTEN — Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

Danny Elfman: Percussion Quartet, 3rd Movement — Percussion instruments do a great job of presenting the rhythm of a piece. Sometimes pieces of music are written just for percussion, and they can play really complicated rhythms. Here the Third Coast Percussion Ensemble plays a piece by Elfman.

LISTEN — Danny Elfman: Percussion Quartet, 3rd Movement

You can now search and listen to YourClassical Adventures where podcasts are found.

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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.

Get Into the Rhythm

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