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When Rudolf Ganz was younger, he first played the cello. After his cello broke into 800 pieces, Rudolph Ganz's father told Ganz he had to play the piano. Ganz became a world-renowned pianist and composer. Ganz's attitude toward music: in order to be progressive, one has to respect the past.
Studs interviews Rolf Liebermann, director and composer, at the Hamburische Staatsoper in Hamburg, Germany. Liebermann explains some history of previous directors and performances. Many artists and operas are mentioned, but only a few were focused on in detail. Liebermann explains details about the operation of the opera highlighting the budget and the functions of the opera house. The recording stops short toward the end of the interview.
While their works and forte is classical music, Roger Detmer and Virgil Thomson talk about tape and electronic music. Detmer points out that in some eastern European countries, tape is considered pasee, and yet it's used often to recreate a sound to be used with their orchestras. Both men talk about electronic music and how it's sometimes used to make hand-made music sound artificial.
Studs interviews Rita Streich, and they discuss the meaning of some of her operas and lieds. Streich names Erna Berger and Maria Ivogun as her best teachers, and she speaks a little about her family. Studs and Streich read part of the poem, "The Nut Tree" by Robert Schuman. Streich reads a part of "Brahms Lullaby" and "Shepherd On the Rock" by Franz Schubert. She also discusses the difference between opera in her day compared to opera at the time of the interview. The musical pieces are removed from this edited version of the original recording.
A master at playing the sitar, Ravi Shankar, also composed the music for the soundtrack of "Gandi". According to Shankar, there are 72 scales in Indian music and when he plays music, 90% of it is improvisation. Younger people became interested in playing the instrument after Shankar announced he was teaching George Harrison of the Beatles how to play the sitar. There is an excerpt of an interview with Shankar from 22 years ago, to the date of this program.
Presenting music and discussing the tuba with tubists Arnold Jacobs, Harvey Phillips, Fritz Kaenzig, and Richard Frazier. This mixdown includes recorded and live music in the last three minutes.
Studs interviews Phyl Garland about her book "Sound of Soul." They discuss the history of music and how black music influenced white music. Studs reads a quote from her book where she quoted Lerone Bennett. Garland also reads from her book a few times. They discuss how music changed over time for blacks from spirituals to slave songs to the blues because it was a reflection of their lives. Garland explains how blacks used music to help them through their trials and frustrations.
Peter Schickele, the man behind the pseudonymous musical persona P.D.Q. Bach, gives a lecture on the oft-forgotten composer and sibling of Johann Sebastian Bach, playing and discussing a number of works by the fictitious composer.
Ned Rorem discusses the differences between writing books and writing compositions, his book "The Paris Diary of Ned Rorem", and how he uses poetry in his compositions.
Studs Terkel interviews composer Ned Rorem. They discuss Rorem's childhood, music, poetry, languages, and religion.
In a quick roundtable discussion, Moe Asch, Jerry Silverman and Dick Waterman cover the topic of music. Much to their surprise, American folk music is very popular over in Europe. All three men agree that one's everyday experiences, past or present, do become subjects of writers' songs.
Merce Cunningham, choreographer and John Cage musician and composer speak about music and dance. The two gentlemen discuss with Studs how music and dance come together to create the avant-garde of art in both worlds (music and dance).
Self-taught composer Maurice Weddington talks about his music career from his early years when he was raised on the West Side of Chicago to his performances around Western Europe.
Margie Adam, singer, songwriter, pianist and activist discusses her latest album (1980) Naked Keys which features her solo piano music.