What Makes It Great http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95448272&ft=1&f=95448272 From Beethoven to Broadway, pianist and composer Rob Kapilow reveals the heart of the music with a touch of humor and humility. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg What Makes It Great http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95448272&ft=1&f=95448272 yes Robert Schumann's Childhood Dreams Some of the most profound, beautiful moments in classical music are spoken softly. To mark the 200th anniversary of Robert Schumann's birth, commentator Rob Kapilow takes a look at "Träumerei,"one of Schumann's most quiet, introspective pieces. Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2010/06/08/127211553/robert-schumanns-childhood-dreams?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2010/06/08/127211553/robert-schumanns-childhood-dreams?ft=1&f=95448272 Some of the most profound, beautiful moments in classical music are spoken softly. To mark the 200th anniversary of Robert Schumann's birth, commentator Rob Kapilow takes a look at "Träumerei,"one of Schumann's most quiet, introspective pieces. no Some of the most profound, beautiful moments in classical music are spoken softly. To mark the 200th anniversary of Robert Schumann's birth, commentator Rob Kapilow takes a look at "Träumerei,"one of Schumann's most quiet, introspective pieces.

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]]> Barber's 'Adagio': Naked Expression Of Emotion There's a simple logic behind Samuel Barber's emotional <em>Adagio</em>. It progresses from a single note to high emotional wailing to release to final acceptance. On today's centennial of Barber's birth, take a guided tour of the music with commentator Rob Kapilow. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:35:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2010/03/09/124459453/barbers-adagio-naked-expression-of-emotion?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2010/03/09/124459453/barbers-adagio-naked-expression-of-emotion?ft=1&f=95448272 There's a simple logic behind Samuel Barber's emotional <em>Adagio</em>. It progresses from a single note to high emotional wailing to release to final acceptance. On today's centennial of Barber's birth, take a guided tour of the music with commentator Rob Kapilow. 0 no There's a simple logic behind Samuel Barber's emotional Adagio. It progresses from a single note to high emotional wailing to release to final acceptance. On today's centennial of Barber's birth, take a guided tour of the music with commentator Rob Kapilow.

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]]> A World Of Expression In A Tiny Chopin Mazurka Chopin had the courage to believe that the expression contained in a three-minute Mazurka for solo piano could be as powerful as the expression in an entire four-hour Wagner opera. Hear pianist and composer Rob Kapilow, and radio host Fred Child, explain what makes Chopin great. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2010/03/02/124040015/a-world-of-expression-in-a-tiny-chopin-mazurka?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2010/03/02/124040015/a-world-of-expression-in-a-tiny-chopin-mazurka?ft=1&f=95448272 Chopin had the courage to believe that the expression contained in a three-minute Mazurka for solo piano could be as powerful as the expression in an entire four-hour Wagner opera. Hear pianist and composer Rob Kapilow, and radio host Fred Child, explain what makes Chopin great. 0 no Chopin had the courage to believe that the expression contained in a three-minute Mazurka for solo piano could be as powerful as the expression in an entire four-hour Wagner opera. Hear pianist and composer Rob Kapilow, and radio host Fred Child, explain what makes Chopin great.

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]]> 'Cheek To Cheek': The Melody Lingers On <em>Top Hat</em>, from 1935, featured Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. But commentator Rob Kapilow says the real star of the movie is Irving Berlin's classic song, "Cheek to Cheek." Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2010/02/02/123031711/cheek-to-cheek-the-melody-lingers-on?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2010/02/02/123031711/cheek-to-cheek-the-melody-lingers-on?ft=1&f=95448272 <em>Top Hat</em>, from 1935, featured Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. But commentator Rob Kapilow says the real star of the movie is Irving Berlin's classic song, "Cheek to Cheek." 0 no Top Hat, from 1935, featured Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. But commentator Rob Kapilow says the real star of the movie is Irving Berlin's classic song, "Cheek to Cheek."

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]]> Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata Connections Beethoven whittles the world down to its essence in his "Kreutzer" Sonata for violin and piano. Commentator Rob Kapilow demonstrates how, with just two little notes, Beethoven connects an entire universe. Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2009/10/14/113764595/beethovens-kreutzer-sonata-connections?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/10/14/113764595/beethovens-kreutzer-sonata-connections?ft=1&f=95448272 Beethoven whittles the world down to its essence in his "Kreutzer" Sonata for violin and piano. Commentator Rob Kapilow demonstrates how, with just two little notes, Beethoven connects an entire universe. 379 no Beethoven whittles the world down to its essence in his "Kreutzer" Sonata for violin and piano. Commentator Rob Kapilow demonstrates how, with just two little notes, Beethoven connects an entire universe.

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]]> Janacek's Love Letters, With Strings Attached Leos Janacek's personal and powerful String Quartet No. 2 was inspired by the unrequited love he held for a much younger, married woman — and by the 700 letters he wrote to her. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2009/09/14/94294582/janaceks-love-letters-with-strings-attached?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/09/14/94294582/janaceks-love-letters-with-strings-attached?ft=1&f=95448272 Leos Janacek's personal and powerful String Quartet No. 2 was inspired by the unrequited love he held for a much younger, married woman — and by the 700 letters he wrote to her. 574 no Leos Janacek's personal and powerful String Quartet No. 2 was inspired by the unrequited love he held for a much younger, married woman — and by the 700 letters he wrote to her.

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]]> Mozart's Deceptive Simplicity Hear commentator Rob Kapilow demonstrate how Mozart sets up our expectations but takes us in unpredictable directions in the String Quintet in G minor. His music, like a hologram, flashes back and forth between the simple and the complicated. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2009/08/13/111630915/mozarts-deceptive-simplicity?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/08/13/111630915/mozarts-deceptive-simplicity?ft=1&f=95448272 Hear commentator Rob Kapilow demonstrate how Mozart sets up our expectations but takes us in unpredictable directions in the String Quintet in G minor. His music, like a hologram, flashes back and forth between the simple and the complicated. 320 no Hear commentator Rob Kapilow demonstrate how Mozart sets up our expectations but takes us in unpredictable directions in the String Quintet in G minor. His music, like a hologram, flashes back and forth between the simple and the complicated.

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]]> Aaron Copland's American Vision Commentator Rob Kapilow explains how Copland's pure, American sound springs from two simple chords that open the ballet <em>Appalachian Spring</em>. Stacked upon each other, the chords reveal a sound like all of America, like the purest values, and like Shaker simplicity. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2009/07/01/106146490/aaron-coplands-american-vision?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/07/01/106146490/aaron-coplands-american-vision?ft=1&f=95448272 Commentator Rob Kapilow explains how Copland's pure, American sound springs from two simple chords that open the ballet <em>Appalachian Spring</em>. Stacked upon each other, the chords reveal a sound like all of America, like the purest values, and like Shaker simplicity. 251 no Commentator Rob Kapilow explains how Copland's pure, American sound springs from two simple chords that open the ballet Appalachian Spring. Stacked upon each other, the chords reveal a sound like all of America, like the purest values, and like Shaker simplicity.

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]]> 'Petrushka': Stravinsky's Opaque Reality Commentator Rob Kapilow uncovers the genius beneath the layers of Stravinsky's great ballet, <em>Petrushka</em>, and recalls how it inspired him to follow a career in music. Thu, 28 May 2009 16:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2009/05/28/103956775/petrushka-stravinskys-opaque-reality?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/05/28/103956775/petrushka-stravinskys-opaque-reality?ft=1&f=95448272 Commentator Rob Kapilow uncovers the genius beneath the layers of Stravinsky's great ballet, <em>Petrushka</em>, and recalls how it inspired him to follow a career in music. 233 no Commentator Rob Kapilow uncovers the genius beneath the layers of Stravinsky's great ballet, Petrushka, and recalls how it inspired him to follow a career in music.

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]]> Steve Reich: Minimalism In The Mainstream Commentator Rob Kapilow takes the motor-like rhythms of minimalism out for a test drive. He explains that the music is "about making us alive to the differences that are everywhere beneath the surface, if we only listen closely enough." Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2009/04/20/103179258/steve-reich-minimalism-in-the-mainstream?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/04/20/103179258/steve-reich-minimalism-in-the-mainstream?ft=1&f=95448272 Commentator Rob Kapilow takes the motor-like rhythms of minimalism out for a test drive. He explains that the music is "about making us alive to the differences that are everywhere beneath the surface, if we only listen closely enough." 515 no Commentator Rob Kapilow takes the motor-like rhythms of minimalism out for a test drive. He explains that the music is "about making us alive to the differences that are everywhere beneath the surface, if we only listen closely enough."

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]]> Stephen Sondheim's Clever 'Clowns' While discussing Sondheim's quintessential song "Send in the Clowns," commentator Rob Kapilow reveals that, like other great song composers, Sondheim doesn't really set words to music. Instead, he focuses on the emotion behind the words. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2009/03/11/94772727/stephen-sondheims-clever-clowns?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/03/11/94772727/stephen-sondheims-clever-clowns?ft=1&f=95448272 While discussing Sondheim's quintessential song "Send in the Clowns," commentator Rob Kapilow reveals that, like other great song composers, Sondheim doesn't really set words to music. Instead, he focuses on the emotion behind the words. 635 no While discussing Sondheim's quintessential song "Send in the Clowns," commentator Rob Kapilow reveals that, like other great song composers, Sondheim doesn't really set words to music. Instead, he focuses on the emotion behind the words.

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]]> Debussy: A World Revealed In Two Footsteps Is it possible to write music that sounds like an icy landscape? Claude Debussy succeeded in a Prelude he called "Footsteps in the Snow," taking the solo piano to places it had never been before. Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:36:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2009/02/18/100814333/debussy-a-world-revealed-in-two-footsteps?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/02/18/100814333/debussy-a-world-revealed-in-two-footsteps?ft=1&f=95448272 Is it possible to write music that sounds like an icy landscape? Claude Debussy succeeded in a Prelude he called "Footsteps in the Snow," taking the solo piano to places it had never been before. 0 no Is it possible to write music that sounds like an icy landscape? Claude Debussy succeeded in a Prelude he called "Footsteps in the Snow," taking the solo piano to places it had never been before.

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]]> Felix Mendelssohn's Genius In 40 Seconds Commentator Rob Kapilow unfolds the opening, fugue-like layers of Felix Mendelssohn's Octet for strings, revealing the most fantastic 40 seconds ever written by a 16-year-old. Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:17:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2009/02/03/100196868/felix-mendelssohns-genius-in-40-seconds?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/02/03/100196868/felix-mendelssohns-genius-in-40-seconds?ft=1&f=95448272 Commentator Rob Kapilow unfolds the opening, fugue-like layers of Felix Mendelssohn's Octet for strings, revealing the most fantastic 40 seconds ever written by a 16-year-old. no Commentator Rob Kapilow unfolds the opening, fugue-like layers of Felix Mendelssohn's Octet for strings, revealing the most fantastic 40 seconds ever written by a 16-year-old.

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]]> Bold Beginnings: The Art Of The Opening Notes You never get a second chance at a first impression, the old adage goes. At the start of the new year, Rob Kapilow describes how it works for composers, who want to set a certain tone from the very opening notes of their works. Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:35:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2009/01/05/99009941/bold-beginnings-the-art-of-the-opening-notes?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2009/01/05/99009941/bold-beginnings-the-art-of-the-opening-notes?ft=1&f=95448272 You never get a second chance at a first impression, the old adage goes. At the start of the new year, Rob Kapilow describes how it works for composers, who want to set a certain tone from the very opening notes of their works. 0 no You never get a second chance at a first impression, the old adage goes. At the start of the new year, Rob Kapilow describes how it works for composers, who want to set a certain tone from the very opening notes of their works.

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]]> The Pure Power Of Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus' Composer-commentator Rob Kapilow examines what makes Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" one of the best known — and best loved — pieces in all of music. He says the exuberance is powered by a few deceptively simple techniques. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:41:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2008/12/23/98517850/the-pure-power-of-handels-hallelujah-chorus?ft=1&f=95448272 http://www.npr.org/2008/12/23/98517850/the-pure-power-of-handels-hallelujah-chorus?ft=1&f=95448272 Composer-commentator Rob Kapilow examines what makes Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" one of the best known — and best loved — pieces in all of music. He says the exuberance is powered by a few deceptively simple techniques. no Composer-commentator Rob Kapilow examines what makes Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" one of the best known — and best loved — pieces in all of music. He says the exuberance is powered by a few deceptively simple techniques.

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