30 episodes

Liz Lyon hosts YourClassical Adventures, a presentation of classical music for kids (and their grown-ups), produced by Melanie Renate. Join us as we ask questions that will help families explore classical music together!

YourClassical Adventures American Public Media

    • Kids & Family

Liz Lyon hosts YourClassical Adventures, a presentation of classical music for kids (and their grown-ups), produced by Melanie Renate. Join us as we ask questions that will help families explore classical music together!

    The Rich and Vibrant Cello

    The Rich and Vibrant Cello

    Episode 104 playlist


    J. S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: Prélude —



    Performed by Yo -Yo Ma






    Johann Sebastian Bach - Cello Suite No. 1 Prelude



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    Anonymous: Song of the Birds -



    Performed by Sheku Kanneh-Mason & CBSO Cellos






    Anonymous - Song of the Birds



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    Francesco Gasparini: Cantate da camera a voce sola, Op 1 —



    Performed by Roberta Invernizzi, Auser Musici & Carlo Ipata






    Francesco Gasparini - Cantate da camera a voce sola, Op 1



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    Harold Arlen: Over the Rainbow —



    Performed by Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott






    Harold Arlen - Over the Rainbow



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    Akua Dixon: Afrika! Afrika! —

    Performed by Akua Dixon






    Akua Dizon - Afrika! Afrika!



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    • 5 min
    The Changing Season

    The Changing Season

    When you picture your perfect day in the fall season, what does it look like Does it include crisp fall leaves, sweater weather and cooler temperatures? Join host Liz Lyon as we discover pieces that sound like the different stages of fall.



    Episode 102 playlist


    Scott Joplin: Maple Leaf Rag - (Used at the beginning and end of the episode) This piece by Scott Joplin was groundbreaking for the genre of rag music and became a template for the composers of rag music in the years to come.

    The Maple leaves change their color in the fall to the vivid browns and fiery reds.

    Performed by The Band and Lara Downes on Piano.






    Scott Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag



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    Fanny Mendelssohn: Das Jar No. 9 (September) - Fanny Mendelssohn composed a set of 12 piano pieces representing every month of the year.

    ‘September’ of Das Jahr (‘The Year’) is based it off a poem “To the Moon,” which compares the passage of time with a flowing river.

    Performed by Liana Serbescu on piano.






    Fanny Mendelssohn - Das Jahr No. 9 - September



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    Imogen Holst: Fall of Leaf — As you get further into the fall you can see the magic of leaves turning different colors and they begin to fall….

    In this piece you can almost hear the individual leaves falling and drifting in the wind.

    Performed by Steven Isserlis on Cello.






    Imogen Holst - Fall of the Leaf



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    Tōru Takemitsu: A String Around Autumn — Tōru Takemitsu wrote this piece of music to celebrate a fall festival but it sounds like the end of autumn. It is sadder, more sparse and you can almost hear the promise that snow is on the way.

    Performed by Saito Kinen Orchestra and featuring Nobuko Imai on viola.






    Tōru Takemitsu - A String Around Autumn



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    Astor Piazzolla: Autumn in Buenos Aires (Otono Porteno) - Astor Piazzolla wrote a piece of music to celebrate the different seasons in Buenos Aires Argentina. Autumn contains musical raindrops and a wintery sun.

    Performed by the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra featuring Tessa Lark on violin.






    Astor Piazzolla - Autumn in Buenos Aires



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    What are you curious about?



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    • 5 min
    Something Spooky

    Something Spooky

    Halloween is a great time to explore the most mysterious music ever composed.

    Episode 58 playlist
    Camille Saint-Saens: Danse Macabre — Music about ghosts and spirits coming alive in a graveyard to dance in the moonlight.

    LISTEN — Camille Saint-Saens: Danse Macabre











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    Carl Orff: O Fortuna from Carmina Burana — This piece makes us want to hide. Where is your favorite hiding spot? Do you use it when you play hide-and-seek?

    LISTEN — Carl Orff: O Fortuna











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    Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, “In the Hall of the Mountain King” — This piece may make you feel like running. How fast can you run in place?

    LISTEN — Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, “In the Hall of the Mountain King”







    Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, “In the Hall of the Mountain King”



    by




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    What are you curious about?
    Tell us what you think


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    • 4 min
    More Buried Treasures

    More Buried Treasures

    Sometimes composers and their work can get buried in time. Join producer Melanie Renate as we uncover and learn more about composers who aren’t as well known in the traditional classical world.

    Episode 96 playlist
    Gerald Finzi - Cello Concerto — Some of Gerald Finzi’s pieces are well known, but after he died his family worked hard to help make sure more of his music was made accessible to people. This is the last piece he wrote.LISTEN  — Gerald Finzi: Cello Concerto






    Gerald Finzi: Cello Concerto



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    Jan Dismas Zelenka: Capriccio No. 4  — War causes great loss. One of the many things that can be lost or destroyed by war is art. Jan Dismas Zelenka’s music was thought to have been lost when his city was destroyed during a war. Luckily, some of his music survived.LISTEN  —  Jan Dismas Zelenka: Capriccio No. 4






    Jan Dismas Zelenka: Capriccio No. 4



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    Kikuko Kanai: Ryukyu Dances - 'Maidens Under the Moon' — There are so many amazing composers who aren’t well-known simply because their music hasn’t been recorded yet. Kikuko Kanai was well-known in her home country of Japan. Even though she composed more than 150 pieces of music, only a relative few have been recorded.LISTEN  —  Kikuko Kanai: Ryukyu Dances - 'Maidens Under the Moon'






    Kikuko Kanai: Ryukyu Dances - 'Maidens Under the Moon'



    by




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

    Explore more from YourClassical Adventures!



    What are you curious about?



    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.

    • 5 min
    Calming Sounds

    Calming Sounds

    Enjoy peaceful music that can help you feel calm and relaxed.

    Episode 62 playlist


    Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending — Sometimes music can help you slow down and let your mind wander by creating pictures or places in your mind. Like this piece by Ralph Vaughan Williams.LISTEN — Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending






    Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending



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    Claude Debussy: Claire de Lune — Music can play a part in some of our favorite memories and can help us feel comforted and happy.LISTEN — Debussy: Claire de Lune






    Claude Debussy: Claire de Lune



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    Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata — Some music can help us relax our minds and our bodies and lull us to sleep. This piece is a good example of sleepy sounds.LISTEN — Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata






    Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata



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

    Explore more from YourClassical Adventures!

    What are you curious about?
    Submit your feedback
    https://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2021/04/17/classical-kids-corner

    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.

    • 4 min
    Xuefei Yang - The Musical Pioneer

    Xuefei Yang - The Musical Pioneer

    When Xuefei Yang was a young girl, she became the first Chinese guitarist to enter an international competition. It was one of many firsts for her as she paved the way for future female guitarists from China.

    Episode 68 playlist
    Xuefei Yang: Romance de Amor — This is a piece off of Xuefei Yang’s debut album.LISTEN — Xuefei Yang: Romance de Amor






    Xuefei Yang: Romance de Amor



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    Xuefei Yang: Shuo Chang — This piece was written by Chinese composer Chen Yi. Although they were famous for writing music for various instruments, this was the first time they composed a piece for the guitar.LISTEN — Xuefei Yang: Shuo Chang






    Xuefei Yang: Shuo Chang



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    Xuefei Yang: Flower Drum — This is from an album released in August 2020 and dedicated to the music of Yang’s home country, China.LISTEN — Xuefei Yang: Flower Drum






    Xuefei Yang: Flower Drum



    by




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

    Explore more from YourClassical Adventures!

    What are you curious about?



    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.

    • 5 min

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