Rilla Bergman, Lou Fant, and Bill Reese converse with Studs about The National Theater for the Deaf and the production they are presenting. Two of the actors Ms. Bergman and Mr. Reese discuss what it took to learn, as hearing people, the best ways to express themselves with sign language. They all talk about how much more expressive the actors in the Deaf Theater have to be to convey the message of the piece they are presenting.

Russian composer Alexander Tcherepnin discusses his early upbringing, training, and composing bagatelles in Saint Petersburg, as well as the influence of his composer father, Benois family relatives, Russian/Asian/European cultural influence, electronic music.

Russian composer Alexander Tcherepnin discusses his travels to China & Japan and their influence on his music, composing for non-traditional instruments, electronic music, teaching young composers, and his "Concerto No. 2".

Mary Lynn Kotz discusses her book "Rauschenberg, Art and Life" with Studs as they recount the works and story of 20th century art pioneer Robert Rauschenberg. They survey his career beginning in Port Arthur, TX, discussing his Depression-era upbringing which caused him to reuse and salvage virtually any object and transform it into art, his studies in Paris, made possible by the G.I.

Studs and Mr. Blackwood discuss his musical theory of tonal composition, and Mr. Blackwood plays several excerpts of his piece "Chamber Work for Fourteen Winds" on the piano.

The program begins with an excerpt from BBC Radio about a hoax piece of music by Pietorzac (Hans Keller). Hans Keller and a friend went into studio and made noise and presented it as music. In this round table discussion the three gentlemen - all composers, musicians, and educators, discuss with Studs, contemporary music and the standards for defining a composition as music. In the second hour, they discuss what level of knowledge of music a critic should have in order to form a proper opinion of music. All animatedly offer their opinion to both the pro's and the cons.

In this round table discussion the three gentlemen - all composers, musicians, and educators - discuss with Studs contemporary music and the standards for defining a composition in music. In the second hour they discuss what level of knowledge of music a critic should have in order to form a proper opinion of music. All animatedly offer their opinion to both the pro and the con. A movement of both Blackwood and Shapey compositions is played.

Discussing the music of the Mothers of Invention and interviewing Frank Zappa. Songs include "Who are the Brain Police," "Brown Shoes Don't Make It," "Concentration Moon," "Mom and Dad," "Bow Tie Daddy," "Harry, You're a Beast," "What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?" "Trouble Every Day," "Very Distraughtening," "White Ugliness" and "There Will Come a Time."

Terkel comments and presents a musical performance of the Kronos Quartet

John Cage and Merce Cunningham discuss their collaborations of choreography and music. They discuss their influences and careers. Includes a clip of an earlier interview with John Cage.

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).

Terkel interviews Corky Siegel and the West End String Quartet. Corky Siegel and the West End String Quartet also performs during the broadcast. They also discuss the musical genre of chamber blues.

Studs Terkel interviews composer Ned Rorem. They discuss Rorem's childhood, music, poetry, languages, and religion.

Laurie Anderson discusses her album "Big Science" and talks about he creative process. Talks briefly about her transition from plastic arts to performance artist and her perspective of the world after World War II and her collection of short stories and songs called "United States"

Joel Sachs discusses Russian avant-garde music and Soviet Union artists.