Classical Deep Dive

Interlochen Public Radio

Dive deep is part of Morning Medley every weekday on Classical IPR.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    Bach's 'Air on the G String'

    You might not be able to put your finger on why you recognize Johann Sebastian Bach's "Air," which feels like an exhale produced with no actual air (wind instruments). It started as an early 18th century version of a coffeehouse open mic offering, tucked inside Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3. But this “Air” (meaning a melody which in this case is played entirely by strings) eventually found a new title, “Air on the G String” and drifted into pop music, movie soundtracks and albums to keep your dog from tearing up the couch cushions while you’re out of the house. Pour yourself a cup of Johann, take a deep breath and a Deep Dive with host Christy L'Esperance into Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air on the G String.”

  2. Oct 26

    'Psycho'

    When you hear the word, "Psycho," do you immediately hear screeching, stabbing violins? Take a Deep Dive with host Christy L'Esperance into Bernard Herrmann's score to the 1960 Hitchcock horror film, Psycho and find out how Hitchcock and Herrmann together brought the creepy factor to a new level, drawing in crowds of teenagers, followed by decades of film scholars. Without the "rree! rree! rree! rree!" and the rest of the brooding score, would we uncover the evidence of Psycho in songs from the Beatles to the Beastie Boys or in films ranging from Mel Brooks spoofs to Jaws? Not bloody likely.

  3. Oct 19

    'Dies Irae'

    The chant "Dies Irae," or "Day of Wrath," has its origins in the Funeral Mass. Was it always so creepy?

  4. Oct 12

    Puccini's 'Musetta's Waltz'

    Diving deep into Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini's (!!) "Musetta's Waltz" from La Bohème is a little like stepping onto the set of a daytime soap opera. The spicy stories—both factual (from Puccini's life) and fiction (from the opera's plot) are laced with bitter feuds, public spectacles, fast living and eat-your-heart-out flirting. Does this saga end with a tidy conclusion or a tense cliffhanger? Join host Christy L'Esperance for this Classical Deep Dive to find out.

  5. Oct 5

    Vivaldi's 'Autumn'

    Antonio Vivaldi was used to defying the odds—born during an earthquake, stricken with a "tightness of the chest" that limited his employment and composing not for the wealthy initially, but for a girls' orchestra within the walls of an early 18th-Century orphanage. How did this composer's music, considered out of style at his death, become so popular that it was "Muzak'd to death" 200 years later? Take a running jump into the pile of leaves which is Vivaldi's "Autumn" from "The Four Seasons" to find out.

  6. Sep 28

    Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag

    What image comes to mind when you hear the word "ragtime?" Someone playing a saloon piano in a striped shirt? This week on Classical Deep Dive from Interlochen Public Radio, take the plunge with host Christy L'Esperance into Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag.

  7. Sep 21

    Aaron Copland's 'Fanfare for the Common Man'

    Explore the depths of "Fanfare for the Common Man" with Christy L'Esperance. What did it mean to be a "common man" in post-World War II America? And how did a composer, grilled by the House Un-American Activities Committee, become the quintessential American composer?

  8. Sep 14

    Beethoven's 5th Symphony

    This week on Classical Deep Dive, explore the depths of Ludwig van Beethoven's world in 1809 when he composed possibly the world's most iconic classical work: the Symphony No. 5. We'll also dive into the score and how this piece has been sampled and reimagined over time. It's found its way into World War II resistance movements, rock stages, and even outer space.

  9. Sep 8

    Coming soon: 'Deep Dive'

    Get ready to dive deep into classical music with Christy L'Esperance!

  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Dive deep is part of Morning Medley every weekday on Classical IPR.

Information

  • Creator
    Interlochen Public Radio
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © '2026'
  • Show Website
    Classical Deep Dive

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