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The Theremin

Invented in 1919 by a Russian physicist, the theremin looks like no other musical instrument. It's played without being touched. And its haunting sound has been heard in science fiction movies and rock bands. Pamelia Kurstin, a renowed theremin player, is giving a "graphics performance" where the sound will be turned into interpretive images. NPR's Nancy Solomon reports.

The Theremin

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Solomon Burke

The "King of Rock and Soul" is back. In the 1960s, Solomon Burke scored hits with "Cry to Me," "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love," and "Got to Get you Off My Mind," among many others. His new album features songs written specifically for him by such fans as Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Tom Waits. And today is "Solomon Burke Day" in Philadelphia, the city where he was born. Joel Rose has the story. The new CD is Don't Give Up On Me.

Solomon Burke

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Country Music's First Family

It's been three-quarters of a century since the Carter Family made its first recordings in Bristol, Tenn. The music of A.P. Carter, his wife Sara and her cousin Maybelle influenced countless country, folk and bluegrass artists. On Morning Edition, host Bob Edwards interviews the co-author of a new book about the Carter Family's musical legacy.

Country Music's First Family

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Cover Chains

Robert Siegel talks to Chris Heschong about the Covers Project. It's a Web site devoted to finding strings of "cover" versions of popular songs. A "cover" version is simply a song redone by an artist other than the original artist. And a string means Artist "A" covered a song by Artist "B," who in turn covered a song by Artist "C," who covered a song by Artist "D," and so on. In the spirit of the "six degrees of separation," Heschong has created a list stringing more than 80 tunes together linked in this fashion.

Cover Chains

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Mashups

Music reviewer Will Hermes tells us about a current fad among DJs, computer-savvy musicians and music artists. They're taking already recorded songs — some popular, some very obscure — and with the help of computer software, mixing them with new beats and sounds. The results are known as "mashups." (6:15) The music used in this piece came from http://www.base58.com. The software ACID can be found at http://www.sonicfoundry.com/products/home.asp.

Mashups

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White Stripes

All that big, messy garage rock from a band of two playing guitar and drums? The White Stripes are gaining mainstream notoriety. Allegedly brother and sister but really ex-husband and wife, they have a candy-coated mantra and a new CD. They also had a spot on the MTV Movie Awards. Whitney Pastorek reports.

White Stripes

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Fans Remember Lisa 'Left-Eye' Lopes

Thousands of fans gathered at the New Birth Baptist Church outside of Atlanta today for the funeral of singer Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes. Lopes, a member of the record-setting group TLC, was killed in an automobile accident in Honduras last week. She would have been 31 this month. NPR's Joshua Levs reports.

Fans Remember Lisa 'Left-Eye' Lopes

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Junk Orchestra

Pippin Ross reports on the Alloy Orchestra, a band of three musicians who use junk to make music for old silent films. The trio searched through trash piles for objects like horseshoes, radiator pipes, and bedpans out of necessity: they couldn't afford instruments.

Junk Orchestra

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'Life's Journey'

Jean Battey Lewis reports on a singing-dance production that teams some of the greats in choreography, theater, and art, to produce a ballet called Life's Journey. Choreographer Septime Webre of the Washington Ballet collaborated with Aisha Kahlil of the a capella group, Sweet Honey in the Rock, playwright Norman Allen, and visual artist Sam Gilliam, to create the hour-long ballet that evokes heaven and earth.

'Life's Journey'

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Review

Music Reviews

Beethoven's Wig

Susan Stamberg talks with Richard Perlmutter about his CD called Beethoven's Wig. This children's CD is a series of classical music favorites, but the twist here is that Perlmutter composed silly lyrics for them that both tell a story about the artist and can help classically impaired remember the names and composers of these old faves. (5:00) Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Symphonies, by Richard Perlmutter is on Rounder Kids records. See http://www.rounder.com.

Beethoven's Wig

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