The New Criterion Podcasts

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Music for a While #25: Sons, daughters, and others May 16, 2020

Show notes

Jay plays some music by a Bach son. There is also Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns, and other composers. The episode ends with a tribute to Rosalind Elias, the late American mezzo-soprano: the thirteenth and last child of Lebanese immigrants. Tracks played: Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel, Rondo II in C minor Saint-Saëns, “Aimons-nous” Beethoven, Sonata for Piano and Violin in G major, Op. 3, No. 3, final movement Hahn, “À Chloris” Dohnányi, Serenade in C Wolf, “Benedeit die sel’ge Mutter” Tchaikovsky, String Sextet in D minor, “Souvenir de Florence” Verdi, “Stride la vampa,” from “Il trovatore”

Roger Kimball introduces the May issue May 07, 2020

Show notes

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

Music for a While #24: Springtime, round two Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

Jay’s previous episode was devoted to music of spring. As he points out, it’s still spring—and there’s a lot of spring music out there. So he goes a second round. This round serves up Schubert, Mahler, Copland, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and more. A colorful, happy bouquet. Tracks played: Argento, “Spring” Schumann, “Spring” Symphony Mahler, “Frühlingsmorgen” Mahler, “Der Trunkene im Frühling,” from “Das Lied von der Erde” Copland, “Appalachian Spring” Schubert, “Frühlingsglaube” Duke, “April in Paris,” Count Basie and His Orchestra Rodgers & Hammerstein, “It Might As Well Be Spring”

James Panero on plagues, art & Venice Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

James Panero, the Executive Editor of The New Criterion, discusses the long history of plagues and their relationship to the art of our Western tradition, especially in Venice.

Music for a While #23: Springtime Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

Jay has seven pieces—songs, an opera aria, a piano piece, a violin sonata, and a violin concerto. All in honor of spring. It has sprung, whether the pandemic likes it or not. Happy spring, everyone. Tracks played: Vivaldi, “Spring,” from “The Four Seasons” Hahn, “Le Printemps” Beethoven, “Spring” Sonata Saint-Saëns, “Printemps qui commence,” from “Samson and Delilah” Strauss, “Herr Lenz” Sinding, “Rustle of Spring” Hoiby, “Always It’s Spring”

Roger Kimball introduces the April issue Apr 09, 2020

Show notes

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

Music for a While #22: Music as Balm—and Delight Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

The title of this episode pretty much tells its story. Jay plays balm-like music, and delight-giving music—heavy on the Bach. At the beginning of the show, he asks, “Need I say that music is extra-important in these strange and trying times?” He answers, “Of course I don’t.” Tracks played: Bach–Petri, “Sheep May Safely Graze” Bach, “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen” Bach, “Alleluia” Chopin, Étude in A flat, Op. 25, No. 1, “Aeolian Harp” Haydn, Piano Concerto in D Elgar, Nimrod Variation Bach, Bourées from English Suite No. 2 in A minor Bach, Gigue from English Suite No. 2 in A minor Ochs, attr. Handel, “Dank sei dir, Herr” Bach, Allegro for keyboard only, Violin Sonata No. 6 in G Trad., “Give Me Jesus”

Music for a While #21: A Little Program for Kids (and Their Parents, and Others) Mar 23, 2020

Show notes

Lots of parents now have kids at home, in need of schooling. A friend of Jay’s asked him, “Could you put together a little program for my kids?” Here it is: Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Chopin, and worthy others. A neat, balanced smattering. For “kids” of all ages. Tracks played: Bach, Prelude in C major, Book I, “The Well-Tempered Clavier” Chopin, Etude in C major, Op. 10, No. 1 Mozart, Twelve Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” Brahms, “Wie Melodien zieht es mir” Wagner, Prelude, Act III, “Lohengrin” Puccini, “Addio, mio dolce amor,” from “Edgar” Debussy, “Reflets dans l’eau” Turina, “Zapateado” Shostakovich, Scherzo, Piano Quintet in G minor Lowry, arr. Copland, “At the River”

Roger Kimball introduces the March issue Mar 09, 2020

Show notes

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, introduces a handful of noteworthy pieces from the March 2020 issue and reads from its opening pages.

Music for a While #20: Upward and Onward Mar 05, 2020

Show notes

Jay ends this episode with the beloved theme song to “The Jeffersons,” “Movin’ on Up.” It was co-written and sung by Ja’net DuBois, who died recently. Also in this episode you have two arias by Handel; a piano piece by Ravel, miraculously played; some little-known Mozart, which is knockout; and yet more. Take a break away, as Jay says. Tracks played: Handel, “Bel piacere,” from “Agrippina” Galuppi, Andante from the Keyboard Sonata No. 5 in C major Handel, “Pensieri, voi mi tormentate,” from “Agrippina” Ravel, “Une barque sur l’océan,” from “Miroirs” Mozart, Chaconne from the ballet music to “Idomeneo” DuBois-Barry, “Movin’ on Up”

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