Classical Classroom

Bach's Invention No. 1 contains an entire universe of music as we learn in this episode with Kurt Stallmann, Associate Professor of Music at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music.  It gets metaphysical up in here, you guys. Audio production by Todd “Birthday Boy” Hulslander, with happy claps of approval by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode includes: – Johann Sebastian Bach, Invention No. 1 in C Major (from his Inventions and Sinfonias BWV 772–801, aka the Two- and Three-Part Inventions), played by Kurt Stallmann. – Recording of same piece by Glen Gould:  

Classical music is seriously funny. Iconoclast Emeritus, professor, and former classical announcer Ira J. Black talks all about just how funny serious classical music can be. There are surprises, Dudley Moore, and um…more in our most hilarious episode yet. Audio production by Todd “Tootsie” Hulslander with reassuring winks and nods from Dacia Clay. Music in this episode includes: – Haydn’s “Surprise Symphony”

All about the flute!! Joel Luks, CultureMap Houston editorial staffer and columnist, and classically trained flutist, teaches all about the history and surprising range of the dainty, lovely, badass, whale-sound-making, beatboxing flute. He takes us from "Carmen" to Mario Brothers (and a few other places in between). Audio production by Todd “Big Head Todd” Hulslander with positive affirmations by Dacia Clay. Warning: This episode contains a few naughty words. Music used in this episode includes: Georges Bizet, Carmen: Entr’acte, Act III – Intermezzo (1875) Beastie Boys, “Sure Shot”, from Ill Communication (1994) Niccolò Paganini, 24 Caprices – No. 5 in A minor, Bonita Boyd flutist Andre Jolivet: Chant de Linos (1944) – Emmanuel Pahud from French Flute Music George Crumb – Vox Balaenae (1971) (Voice of the Whale) Movements I and II – Vocalise and Sea Theme PROJECT Trio’s Greg Pattillo, Beatboxing Flute: Super Mario Brothers Theme Gheorghe Zamfir, Einsamer Hirte

Hear the second part of our conversation with composer, author, educator, and Executive Director of the American Festival for the Arts, Dr. Michael Remson, about John Adams'minimalist opera, Nixon in China! In this episode: Act 2, wherein we meet the ladies. You don't want to miss Mme. Mao yelling, opera-style. Audio production by Todd “the Toddler” Hulslander, with management oversight by Mr. Torey Malatia. JK! It was Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: – John Adams, Nixon in China, Act 1. Libretto by Alice Goodman, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Edo De Waart conducting. Nonesuch 79177.

All about Act 1 of John Adams' minimalist opera, Nixon in China! In this episode, the first part of our conversation with composer, author, educator, and Executive Director of the American Festival for the Arts, Dr. Michael Remson. World history, music history, and singing politicians?? This episode has pretty much everything you didn't know you'd been waiting for. Audio production by Todd "Hot Toddy" Hulslander with snarky but - let's face it - spot-on suggestions from Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: - John Adams, Nixon in China, Act 1. Libretto by Alice Goodman, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Edo De Waart conducting. Nonesuch 79177.   Click here to hear all of Act 1!

All things clarinet! In this episode, clarinetist, radio host, and Classical 91.7 MusicLab intern, Alexandra Doyle talks with Dacia. Among many things, we learn that auditioning may or may not make one pee one's pants. If you like reeds and/or David Bowie, you'll like this one. Audio production by Todd “Toddly Winks” Hulslander with paroxysms of approval from Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: – Hector Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, Op.14: V. Songe d’une nuit du Sabbat – Sergei Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf, Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy, narrated by Davide Bowie, RCA – Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 6, 1st mvmt., Larry Combs, Orchestral Excerpts for Clarinet – Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5 in E minor, 1st mvmt. – Richard Strauss, Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche

Time for a research presentation! In this short, Dacia explores the history of banned and censored classical music. And you thought classical music was just for elevators and nap time!

August is Arts Appreciation Month! During August, Houston Public Media Arts and Culture is paying tribute to art forms that have inspired other art forms. We thought this Classical Classroom rerun fit with that theme perfectly, hence the rerunning. The remix has been alive as long as the Beastie Boys’ “License to Ill”. JK! It’s been around for as long as music. Learn how composers have been inspired by, paid tribute to, given tips of the hat to, and plain ripped off, each other since the very beginning. MusicLab intern, composer, drummer, and snappy dresser, Daniel Webbon tells all. Audio production by Todd “Sir Toddeus of Toddleton” Hulslander with serving suggestions by Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: – Aerosmith and RUN-DMC “Walk This Way” (with an appearance by Missy Elliott) – Dies Irae: Gregorian Chant from the 13th century – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Twelve Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman”, K. 265/300e – Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 1 in D major – Dmitri Shostakovich, String Quart

Artists as entrepreneurs, Lady Gaga, horror movies, and Schubert! In this episode, concert pianist, author, lecturer, Huffington Post contributor, and probable superhero, Jade Simmons chats with Dacia about how Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony changed her life. Audio production by Todd “ToHu” Hulslander with knowing winks of encouragement from Dacia Clay. Music from this episode includes: – Schubert, Symphony, No. 8 in B minor D.759, aka the “Unfinished Symphony”

Samuel Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915", as sung by – no, not Bryan Adams – Eleanor Steber. In this episode, Keith Weber, Grammy-nominated Producer, Director of Music and Organist at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Houston, and Artistic Director of Grace Song, Inc., teaches Dacia about this all-American commissioned piece. Audio production by Todd “Todd Almighty” Hulslander with spiritual guidance from Dacia Clay.

Nico Muhly, indie classical, and the future of classical music! In this episode, Classical 91.7 announcer Chris Johnson – our first returning instructor! – comes back to the Classical Classroom.  This one isn't for the faint of heart: there are banjos! Audio production by Todd “Toddy” Hulsander with gentle nudges of encouragement from Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: – The Only Tune (parts 1-3), from Nico Muhly’s Mothertongue, on Brassland Records.

In this special 4th of July edition of Classical Classroom Research Presentations, Dacia ponders why Americans listen to Russian music on their Independence Day. She uncovers the [not really that] secret history of how one man and his love of pyrotechnics made Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture the theme music for America’s most patriotic celebration. Written, produced, and otherwise manhandled by Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: – Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, Boston Pops Orchestra, RCA 63516 References: For information on David Mugar, Arthur Fiedler, and the Boston Pops Orchestra, click here and here. For information about Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, click here.

Brahms’ Opus 118 – plus the first two Intermezzos played live! In this episode, Associate Professor Timothy Hester from the University of Houston Moores School of Music, teaches Dacia a bonafide lesson. Don’t miss Prof. Hester waxing nostalgic about his childhood love of Steppenwolf. Timothy Hester. Courtesy of the UH website. Audio production by Todd “the Todd” Hulslander with post-hypnotic suggestions from Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiClaudio. Music used in this episode includes: – Brahms Six Pieces for Piano, Opus 118, Intermezzos No.’s 1 & 2 For more about Timothy Hester, go here. For more about the Texas Music Festival, go here.

WindSync Wind Quintet bassoonist, Tracy Jacobson, takes Dacia along on her journey to continue her musical education as a professional musician. She steps outside of her comfort zone and into Debussy’s piano works. Come with us to Paris, talk in your museum voice, and have some wine. It’ll be awesome! Audio production by Todd Hulslander with encouraging yelps from Dacia Clay, and s few nods and shakes of the head from Tracy Jacobson, too. For more about WindSync: www.windsync.org. Thumbnail photo of Tracy Jacobson courtesy of WindSync’s website. Audio production by Todd Hulslander with encouraging yelps from Dacia Clay, and few nods and shakes of the head from Tracy Jacobson, too. Music used in this episode included: – Debussy Preludes, Book 1 & 2, pianist Pascal Roge, Onyx Classics – Debussy Piano Works, pianist Pascal Roge, London/Decca – Arthur Rubinstein playing “La Plus Que Lente” – Jack Kerouac, “American Haikus” from Blues and Haikus – Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight”

Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Suite from Incidental Music! In this episode, Classical 91.7 announcer and producer, and Cheeto the cat's person, Catherine Lu chats with Dacia. Learn about scherzos, nerds, and Dacia's totally plausible theory about Puck's "love potion".   Audio production from Todd Hulslander, with a lot of help this time actually from Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: – Mendelssohn: Incidental Music to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Op. 61 (We used CBS/Sony 37760 with Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra, which is not available – we think – for MP3 download, but here is another recording which is perfectly lovely.)

    In this episode, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra's Artistic Director, founder, and principal oboist, Alecia Lawyer takes Dacia inside the mind of an oboe player. In this strange world, people grow their own (bamboo), enjoy fame alongside Willie Nelson, and live on the edge without all of the annoying parachutes and bungee cords. Audio production by Todd Hulslander, with pearls of editing wisdom from Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: – Le Tombeau de Couperin by Ravel:  St. Paul chamber Orchestra with Kathy Greenbanks, principal oboist – La Scala, by Rossini: rocohouston.org (look for the Season Finale) – Shostakovich Symph #5, Mvt. III – Tchaikovsky #4 Mvt. II, Lorin Maazel with the Cleveland Orchestra – Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Mvt III oboe solo     – Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite, Mvt II, Israel Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta     – William Schuman New England Tryptich,  Mvt. II. When Jesus Wept, Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony

In this episode, Classical 91.7’s Saturday Morning Music host and contra dancer extraordinaire, Amy Bishop takes Dacia on a journey with Smetana, Strauss, and Gershwin to learn about tone poems, invoking a surprising number of mermaids and mimes. Audio production by Todd Hulslander with “insightful” suggestions from Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: Smetana’s “The Moldau” from Tchaikovsky/Smetana, Chesky CD65 Richard Strauss’ “Death and Transfiguration” from Metamorphosen, Tod Und Verklarung, Deutsche Grammophon 410 892 Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” from Rhapsody in Blue, RCA 68792

In this episode, independent producer, author, documentary filmmaker, Peabody Award-winner (et cetera, et cetera…), Wesley Horner chats with Dacia about Bach’s B Minor Mass and bringing classical music to people who hate wearing tuxedos. Audio production by Todd Hulslander with occasional grunts of approval from Dacia Clay.

In this episode, Classical 91.7's Senior Recording Engineer, host of Music from the Movies, and Emmy-nominated composer, Brad Sayles talks to Dacia about his own work and the creative process of a classical music composer. Audio production by Todd Hulslander with assistance from Dacia Clay. You can find music used in this episode at www.bradsayles.com.

In this episode, Grammy-nominated Producer, Director of Music and Organist at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Houston, and Artistic Director of Grace Song, Inc. Keith Weber teaches Dacia about Camille Saint-Saëns' Organ Symphony. Audio production by (also Grammy-nominated!) Todd Hulslander with assistance from Dacia Clay.