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Virgil Thomson

When Pandemics Arise, Composers Carry On

In the wake of pandemics and large-scale crises, composers have responded in a broad variety of ways over the centuries. Wellcome Library, London/Wikimedia Commons hide caption

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Wellcome Library, London/Wikimedia Commons

Deceptive Cadence

When Pandemics Arise, Composers Carry On

Plagues and epidemics are ages-old phenomena. They've triggered both fear and inspiration. NPR's Tom Huizenga surveys musical responses from composers over the centuries.

When Pandemics Arise, Composers Carry On

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Critical Condition: Revisiting Composer Virgil Thomson's Masterful Prose

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and celebrated critic Virgil Thomson, photographed in 1972. The Library of America has brought out a second volume of his writings on music. Jack Mitchell/Getty Images hide caption

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Jack Mitchell/Getty Images

Deceptive Cadence

Critical Condition: Revisiting Composer Virgil Thomson's Masterful Prose

A remarkable American composer was also one of the country's finest critics. Another leading critic reflects on both his predecessor's work and music journalism today.

Virgil Thomson: On being a composer

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The Mid-Century American Symphony

Composer Marc Blitzstein (left) with Leonard Bernstein studying the score of a Blitzstein work during a 1947 recording session. W. Eugene Smith/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image hide caption

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W. Eugene Smith/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

Deceptive Cadence

The Mid-Century American Symphony

The middle of the 20th century was a golden age for American symphonic music. From William Grant Still's celebration of African-American culture to Marc Blitzstein's ode to aviation and the U.S. military, Harvard scholar Carol Oja explores a compellingly diverse group of American symphonies.

Music Interviews

Insults And Praise On The Classical Campaign

Commentator Miles Hoffman offers a classical variation on a political theme: insults and endorsements among the great composers. Invectives hurled at their colleagues and competitors were effective means of shaping public opinion. Whether positive, negative or the all-too-common flip-flop, classical-music criticism, just like political commentary, is little more than biased opinion in time.

Insults And Praise On The Classical Campaign

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