The New Criterion Podcasts

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James Panero on “a classical illness” Aug 17, 2020

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James Panero, the Executive Editor of The New Criterion, discusses the pathology of recent protests and the impending demise of Teddy Roosevelt’s statue at the American Museum of Natural History. https://newcriterion.com/issues/2020/9/a-classical-illness

Music for a While #31: Four-handed phenomena Aug 07, 2020

Show notes

The title of this episode pretty much tells the story: Jay discusses, plays, and celebrates piano duets. Schubert, “Marche militaire” No. 1 in D major, Op. 51, No. 1 Debussy, “En bateau,” from the “Petite Suite” Mendelssohn, Andante and Allegro brillante, Op. 92 Mozart, Concerto for Two Pianos in E flat

Music for a While #30: A joyful jolt Jul 24, 2020

Show notes

Actually, Jay says “an ingenious, joyful jolt.” He is speaking of the Toccata in G by Théodore Dubois. That’s how the podcast begins. We also get Grieg (and a memory of a TV game show, long ago). Lead Belly (singing “Study War No More”). Mozart, Hahn, and “America” — a fugue on “America,” which is also known as “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” (and as “God Save the Queen” by some of our cousins). Dubois, Toccata in G Grieg, “Morning Mood” from “Peer Gynt” Trad., “Study War No More” Mozart, “Soave sia il vento” from “Così fan tutte” Hahn, Danse, Piano Concerto Thayer, Fugue on “America” from the Organ Sonata No. 2

Music for a While #29: America: plenty good room Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

In honor of Independence Day, Jay does an all American program: ending with “Plenty Good Room,” the spiritual. He begins with some ballet, cowboy style: “Hoe Down” (Copland). Along the way, we have songs, piano pieces, an aria, some bluegrass—Happy Fourth, to all. Copland, “Hoe-Down,” from “Rodeo” MacDowell, “By a Meadow Brook,” from “Woodland Sketches” Beach, “Ah, Love, but a Day” Wheeler, Scott, “Isolation Rag” Hoiby, “Lady of the Harbor” Meyer, Edgar, et al. (?), “Death by Triple Fiddle” Floyd, “Ain’t It a Pretty Night?” from “Susannah” Gershwin-Heifetz, Prelude in C-sharp Minor Trad., “Plenty Good Room”

Music for a While #28: Poems, songs, and shouts Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

This episode begins with a shout -- “a shout of joy on the organ,” Jay says. It also has a poem, written and recited by Langston Hughes. And a song, setting that same poem. The episode includes a little Broadway -- and other curiosities, finds, and wonders. Enjoy “music for a while.“ Hughes-Manz, “God of Grace and God of Glory” Langston Hughes, “I, Too” Margaret Bonds, “I, Too” Frederic Rzewski, “The People United Will Never Be Defeated!” Coleman-Stewart, “Thank God I’m Old” Herbert Murrill, “Carillon” Handel, “O Lord, whose mercies numberless,” from “Saul” Trad., arr. Bonds, “This Little Light o’ Mine”

Eric Gibson and James Panero discuss sculpture in exile and culture under siege Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

In a new podcast from The New Criterion, Eric Gibson and James Panero discuss sculpture in exile and culture under siege. Eric Gibson's book "The Necessity of Sculpture: Selected Essays and Criticism, 1985–2019" can be found at https://newcriterion.com/bookstore?mode=criterion. Cover photo: the recently defaced Robert Gould Shaw Memorial in Boston, Massachusetts, depicting Shaw and the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an African-American regiment during the Civil War.

Music for a While #27: Vexed and unvexed. Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

“Got a real smorgasbord for you,” says Jay—“even more than usual. An almost wacky variety.” He begins with Rachmaninoff, turns to Satie, then to a classic American song, then to Satie again, then to Penderecki, and on to Fauré and Busoni (no, not Bach-Busoni). Some interesting issues, points, personalities, and, of course, music. Rachmaninoff, “Spring Waters” Satie, “Vexations” Androzzo, Alma Bazel, “If I Can Help Somebody” Satie, “Gymnopédie” Penderecki, “La Follia” Fauré, “Le secret” Busoni, “Berceuse”

Roger Kimball introduces the June issue Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the June 2020 issue and reads from its opening pages.

Music for a While #26: Time, timelessness, etc. May 28, 2020

Show notes

Jay begins with some festive music: specifically, the “Festive Overture” of Shostakovich. He has a showtune: “Some Other Time.” He has an Aretha Franklin hit, about zoomin’. He has a spiritual: “Ain’t Got Time to Die.” Some French organ music. And more. He ends with Karel Ančerl, the great Czech conductor who endured horror and produced much beauty and brilliance. Tracks played: Shostakovich, “Festive Overture” Bernstein and Comden & Green, “Some Other Time,” from “On the Town” Aretha Franklin et al., “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?” Trad., “Ain’t Got Time to Die” Guilmant, March on a Theme by Handel Tchaikovsky, “Garland Waltz” from “Sleeping Beauty” Mahler, Symphony No. 9, final movement

James Panero on “the woman who saw the future.” May 20, 2020

Show notes

James Panero, the Executive Editor of The New Criterion, reconsiders the Gilded Age author Anna Bowman Dodd and her uncanny predictions about the future.

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