From the Village to the Concert Hall

Classical Music, Jazzed Up

May 20, 2005 • In the final part of a series on the connection between folk and classical music from around the world, Performance Today turns to the world of American jazz with the Turtle Island String Quartet, the music of Chris Brubeck and the Jacques Loussier Trio.

The Music of Russia: Balalaikas and Baritones

May 19, 2005 • Performance Today's series on folk and classical traditions around the world continues with two Russian performances in NPR's Studio 4A: the Trio Voronezh and celebrated baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.

Songs and Sounds of South Africa

May 18, 2005 • As part of Performance Today's continuing series celebrating the folk roots of classical music, South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo offers a performance in Studio 4A and the Kronos Quartet performs Kevin Volans' White Man Sleeps.

Exploring the Nordic Roots of Music

May 17, 2005 • Performance Today travels to the Nordic countries of Finland, Norway, Iceland and Sweden. Hear music from Icelandic composer Jón Leifs, Finnish band JPP, Hardanger fiddler Loretta Kelley and Swedish fiddler Andrea Hoag.

Carnaval and the Bossa Nova: Sounds of Brazil

May 16, 2005 • The sounds of Brazil kick off the second week of Performance Today's popular ongoing series From the Village to the Concert Hall, an exploration of the connections between folk and classical traditions in music.

The Sounds of the Tennessee Music Box

January 28, 2005 • Over 100 years ago, farming communities in middle Tennessee produced a folk instrument unique to the area. Similar to a dulcimer, the instrument, called a Tennessee music box, was much more clunky in appearance.

Banjo, Bass & Fiddle: Fleck & Myer, Mark O'Connor

January 28, 2005 • Banjo player Bela Fleck, bassist Edgar Myer, and violinist Mark O'Connor weave traditional music influences into their compositions.

From the Village to the Concert Hall: Early American Music

January 28, 2005 • All week long we've been sampling the similarities between traditional music and classical music. Today we wrap up our series with a look at American music. We begin with an ensemble called Hesperus, playing some early dances in NPR's Studio 4A.

From the Village to the Concert Hall: Flamenco

January 27, 2005 • As part of a continuing series on the connection between folk music from around the world and western classical music, NPR's Fred Child talks about the Spanish national dance with Eva Encinias, director of the National Institute of Flamenco.

Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble

January 26, 2005 • Led by renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the Silk Road Ensemble is the musical face of Ma's Silk Road Project, an artistic, cultural and educational organization he founded in 1998 to "study the ebb and flow of ideas along" the ancient trade route.

Pepe Romero's Spanish Guitar

January 27, 2005 • Acclaimed Spanish guitarist Pepe Romero represents one of several generations of guitarists in his family. He joins NPR's Fred Child in Studio 4A to perform the Suite Andaluza by his father, Celedonio Romero.

From the Village to the Concert Hall: Chinese Music

January 26, 2005 • During the last two decades, Chinese traditional music has begun to have a real impact on Western classical music. In the third of a five-part series, NPR's Fred Child explores the connections between folk traditions from around the world and the western tradition of art music.

From the Village to the Concert Hall: Béla Bartók

January 24, 2005 • One of the great composers of the early 20th century, Béla Bartók was also one of the founders of the field of ethnomusicology. Hungarian musicologist Peter Laki joins NPR's Fred Child to explore the folk and classical elements in Bartok's music.