YourClassical Adventures

American Public Media
YourClassical Adventures Podcast

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!

  1. 05/11/2022

    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 by 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 by 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 by 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 by 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 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
  2. 22/10/2022

    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 by 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 by 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
  3. 02/10/2022

    The Road to The Guitar

    The modern guitar is a popular instrument, but did you know there are many different types of guitars? Join host Liz Lyon as we take a trip around the world to listen to the sounds of different guitars throughout history. Episode 67 playlist Issam Rafea and Gao Hong: From Our World to Yours — This piece showcases the oud, which is a pear-shaped, stringed instrument popular in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Armenia and Turkey.LISTEN — Issam Rafea and Gao Hong: From Our World to Yours Issam Rafea and Gao Hong: From Our World to Yours by John Dowland: Mrs. Winter’s Jump — The lute was popular in Europe in the 1500 and 1600s. There are different variations of the lute. There are lutes of different sizes and with different numbers of strings.LISTEN — John Dowland: Mrs. Winter’s Jump John Dowland: Mrs. Winter's Jump by Robert de Visee: La Muzette — The Baroque Guitar was popular in Spain. Everyone, from people in the streets up to King Charles II, was fond of this guitar. You can hear it featured in this piece.LISTEN — Robert de Visee: La Muzette Robert de Visee: La Muzette 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
  4. 24/09/2022

    Will You Play With Me?

    Working and collaborating together is a great way to build a friendship. Join two friends, host Liz Lyon and producer Melanie Renate, as they explore friendship in classical music. Episode 74 playlist Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Haydn Quartets — Not much is documented about their friendship, but what we do know is that Mozart and Franz Joseph Haydn enjoyed spending time together and that they respected and inspired one another.LISTEN — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Haydn Quartets Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Haydn Quartets by Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations, Nimrod — The Enigma Variations are like sketches of some of Edward Elgar’s friends. They describe not just their personality, but many of these variations also act as a musical reference to the way a friend laughed or spoke, or references a special moment they shared.LISTEN — Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations, Nimrod Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations, Nimrod by Yehudi Menuhin and Ravi Shankar: Prabhati — These two musicians were friends for 14 years before they decided to record an album together. This is a piece off their album, West Meets East.LISTEN — Yehudi Menuhin & Ravi Shankar: Prabhati Yehudi Menuhin & Ravi Shankar: Prabhati 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

About

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!

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