The New Criterion Podcasts

Latest Episodes:

Jeremy Black & James Panero discuss “Britain & the Middle East” Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Jeremy Black, author of “The Holocaust: History and Memory,” and James Panero, Executive Editor of “The New Criterion,” discuss the misplacing of blame for the Middle East’s instability.

Music for a While #89: Ragtime & other riches May 22, 2024

Show notes

Jay begins this episode with Paul Hindemith, who in 1921 combined his interest in ragtime with his love of Bach. There is also a minuet by Ravel, glancing back at Haydn. There is a song by Zemlinsky, setting Langston Hughes. There are wonders and curiosities in this episode—which, by the way, has a sponsor: Michael Lohafer, who, as Jay says, is “a particular authority on Mozart.” Mr. Lohafer says, “My sponsorship is on behalf of all attentive listeners to Music for a While who enjoy the well-considered selections that always delight the ear.” Bach, Fugue in C minor from “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” Book 1 Hindemith, “Ragtime (Well-Tempered)” Ravel, “Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn” Schumann, “Faschingsschwank aus Wien” Zemlinsky, “Afrikanischer Tanz” from “Symphonische Gesänge” Liszt, “Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa” from “Années de pèlerinage, deuxième année: Italie” Vasks, Dolcissimo from “The Book” Prokofiev, Sonata No. 7, Precipitato Martinů, Fantasia for String Quartet, Oboe, Theremin, and Piano Gounod, “Ah! lève-toi, soleil!” from “Roméo et Juliette” Tchaikovsky-Pletnev, Pas de deux from “The Nutcracker”

Music for a While #88: Shout it out Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Jay begins with a shout—“Carolina Shout,” the classic jazz number by James P. Johnson. There are songs by Schumann, Puccini, and Porter (Cole). There are piano preludes—starter pieces by their composers. At the end, there is a sunburst of calypso. Enjoy this smorgasbord. Johnson, James P., “Carolina Shout” Schumann, “Röseleine, Röseleine!” Bonds, Margaret, “Young Love in Spring” Szymanowski, Prelude in E-flat minor, Op. 1, No. 8 Gorecki, Prelude, Op. 1, No. 4 Puccini, “Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso,” from “La rondine” Puccini, “Chi il bel sogno,” from “La rondine” Young, Victor, arr., Evans, Bill, “When I Fall in Love” Porter, Cole, “Don’t Fence Me In” Tanker, André, arr., Shaw, Theron, “Morena Osha”

Peter Vertacnik reads from “The Nature of Things Fragile” Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

The Friends of The New Criterion recently gathered for an evening in celebration of Peter Vertacnik, whose “The Nature of Things Fragile” won the magazine’s twenty-third poetry prize. Listen to hear Peter read a number of poems from this new collection.

Music for a While #87: Spring forward Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

Jay has assembled a little celebration of spring: songs, arias, a symphony, a sonata. Who doesn’t want to sing spring? Argento, “Spring,” from “Six Elizabethan Songs” Sinding, “Rustle of Spring” Wagner, “Du bist der Lenz,” from “Die Walküre” Beethoven, “Spring” Sonata, Rondo Strauss, “Herr Lenz” Saint-Saëns, “Printemps qui commence,” from “Samson et Dalila” Schumann, “Er ist’s” Hoiby, “Always It’s Spring” Wolf, “Er ist’s” Schumann, “Spring” Symphony, first movement Warlock, “Pretty Ring Time”

Goodbye, Dr. Banda Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

On March 14, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at the magazine’s headquarters to hear remarks from Dr. Alexander Chula on his new book, “Goodbye, Dr. Banda: Lessons for the West From a Small African Country.”

Music for a While #86: A Williams gala Mar 15, 2024

Show notes

Recently, Carnegie Hall hosted a John Williams gala. The program was all-Williams and the composer himself conducted most of the concert. In this episode, Jay hosts his own little Williams gala. All by John Williams: “The Mission” Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” Olympic Fanfare and Theme Main Title from “Catch Me If You Can” Raiders March from “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” Flying Theme from “E.T.” The Imperial March, a.k.a. Darth Vader’s Theme, from “Star Wars”

Is there life after woke? Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

On February 29, the Galliard Society joined the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion at The Players in New York for remarks delivered by Dominic Green.

Music for a While #85: Our leap baby Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

Rossini was born on February 29, 1792. So Jay doffs his cap to him. We also hear Schubert, Brahms, Ravel, and worthy others (including Dvořák, who knew how to swing). Rossini, Overture to “La gazza ladra” Schubert, Symphony No. 5, first movement Ravel, Piano Concerto in D for Left Hand Alone Dvořák, Symphony No. 7, Scherzo Chopin, Étude in A flat, Op. 25, No. 1, “Aeolian Harp” Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Rondo

Jeremy Black & James Panero in conversation Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

On the River Thames, the rise of cities & the future of history. A conversation occasioned by Jeremy Black’s essay in our February 2024 issue.