Positively Puzzled

The latest Musica della sera show is now up on the Internet to enjoy on demand; see below for locating the link. This program will be available until Thursday, April 23, 2009 This show features Gregorian chant sung by the Monks of Solesmes. They wrote the book on Gregorian Chant, literally! The Liber Usualis , a compendium of standard Gregorian Chant was prepared at the Abbey of St. Peter, Solesmes . The chant set concludes with the ringing of the Angelus bell, and the chirping of the monastery birds. On the show, a favorite old LP of the music of Dufay performed by the Early Music Consort, conducted by the late David Munrow (He sadly died much too young.) Various settings, including a full mass, based on the lovely tune "Se la Pale Face" (If my face is pale, the cause is love.) Listen for a shout-out to my friend Randy who was listening to the show live from his digs in Oregon. There's also a Gregorian tie-in with a virtuoso 20th Century French horn piece by Eugen...

The latest Musica della sera show is now up on the Internet to enjoy on demand; see below for locating the link. This program will be available until Thursday, April 9, 2009 I can't remember the last time this happened, but I managed to do a whole show without going baroque. And yet, Bach figures into it anyhow. Listen to find out how. Liszt, Chopin, Dvorak figure prominently. (Ask me about the terrible pun I decided not to make at this time.) I was delighted to find, hidden on the shelves of the radio station's music library, a CD of Liszt's music for violin and piano; it had only been played once before, years ago. A beautiful performance by violinist Rachel Barton. Also featured, a brief horn recital, John Cerminaro playing works of Franz Strauss (Richard's dad!), Beethoven, and Fauré. You can see exactly what was played and who performed it by referring to the playlist (originally broadcast 4/2/2009). My wife, Meera Collier-Mitchell , and I take turns hostin...