Ursula Oppens and Studs discuss contemporary avant-garde piano. Oppens performs pieces from contemporary composers.

Jazz scholar and historian Richard Wang discusses Charles Mingus' "Epitaph", a 4,237 measure-long composition. Wang discusses Mingus’ upbringing and how he was trained on the trombone originally. Throughout the interview, performances of the Epitaph are played and Wang notes in the composition where listeners can hear Mingus’ classical training, as well as where other classical musicians, such as Duke Ellington and Claude Debussy, most likely were referenced as inspiration in the composition.

Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson sits down with Studs Terkel to discuss historical developments in jazz piano, his own personal development as a pianist, and his experience directing a youth jazz piano school. Includes Peterson playing short excerpts from "Chicago (that toddlin' town)," "Soon," Chopin's Nocturne in E flat Major to demonstrate musical concepts.

Aaron Copland discusses his music, his colleagues, contemporaries, musicians, and composers.