Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

There are very few works of art that have had such a profound influence on classical composers than Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This week on Sticky Notes we take a look at 5 different settings of the play by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Berlioz, Gounod, and Bernstein. Its no accident that I chose an overture, a ballet, a symphony, an opera, and a musical; it shows the astonishing variety of approaches to the play, and its flexibility in fitting almost every form classical music takes. Thanks for listening!

This week we dive into one of the great Early Romantic symphonies, Schubert's 9th.  Mysteries have shrouded this symphony ever since it was heard for the first time, long after Schubert's death.  Despite, or because of, its radical simplicity and "heavenly length," this symphony remains controversial to this day, with some people worshipping Schubert's unsurpassed melodic gift, and others turning up their noses at a feeling of monotony and repetitiveness. Whichever side you're on, I hope you enjoy the sh

We're kicking off 2019 with a bang with an exploration of the Bach Cello Suites. These pieces represent the apex of the path of every cellist. We'll go through the history of the Suites, including their disappearance, rediscovery, and now ubiquity. We'll then look at one movement from each of the Suites, comparing the wildly different approaches that cellists have taken since the first recordings appeared in 1939. You'll also learn what HIP means in the context of classical music! Thanks for listening!

Ring in the New Year with a look back at one of the most famous pieces of music ever written, Beethoven's 5th symphony!  This symphony shattered conventions and built new ones that have endured in music until this very day. We'll take a look at how Beethoven built this revolutionary symphony, and how he both borrowed from his predecessors and moved away from them. We'll also explore the cultural, philosophical, and political connotations of this monumental piece. Happy New Year from Sticky Notes!

What is there to say about this ubiquitous Holiday classic?  Quite a lot, actually!  This week's show will delve into the complicated process that brought the ballet to life, the not so successful premiere, and the brilliant and characteristic music that has made it such an enduring classic.  This episode is meant not only for adults, but also for parents to listen to with their children, nieces and nephews, cousins, etc!  Happy Holidays from Sticky Notes and see you next year!  

This week we finish our two week look at Mahler's monumental 5th symphony. We'll explore Part II, a massive 17 minute scherzo that is as complicated to understand as it is difficult to play and conduct. Then, of course, there is the Adagietto, the most famous of all Mahler movements. We'll talk about the all important tempo of the movement, which informs so much of about we understand its meaning. To finish things up, we'll talk about Mahler's both highly traditional and deeply unusual 5th movement.

This week, we take a deep dive into part 1 of Mahler's monumental 5th symphony. Looking at the first two movements of the piece, we talk about Mahler's unusual idea of symphonic structure, his brilliant orchestration, and the unfiltered emotional impact that makes listening to Mahler symphonies so overwhelming. We'll also talk about Mahler's embrace of the past, present, and the future in his music - a wholly unique combination that makes Mahler like no other composer. Thanks for listening!

Continuing a now 4 part series, this week we take a deep look at the Baroque Era, featuring composers like Bach, Handel, Couperin, Vivaldi, Purcell, Monteverdi, Biber, and more.  What made the Baroque Era distinct from the Renaissance?  A lot! We'll take a look at all of the innovations of the baroque, from tonality, the expansion of the orchestra, the emergence of true national styles, and the biggest key of the Baroque era, a focus on text and on meaning that distinguished it from the Renaissance. Thank

Very few pieces of American classical music are as iconic as Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which makes it the perfect piece to dive into to accompany your Thanksgiving travel! We'll talk about the amazing circumstances of the piece's premiere, the criticism of it, the difficulty of crossing the bridge between jazz and classical music, and of course, the piece itself with its unforgettable tunes and unorthodox structure. Is this classical music? Or is it jazz? Find out this week! Happy Thanksgiving!

Have you ever been to an art museum and wanted to have music to accompany your experience? Well, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition is the piece for you. Inspired by the art of his late friend Victor Hartmann, Mussorgsky composed a series of 10 miniature piano pieces full of character, excitement, and pathos. Perhaps the most fascinating thing about the piece is its arrangements, especially by Maurice Ravel. We'll go through the piece picture by picture, exploring this wonderful double work of art!

Just in time for Election Day in the US, this week we explore 12 pieces of Political Classical Music! All throughout history, composers have expressed their feelings about the issues of the day through their music, from Haydn and Mozart discussing class, to Verdi and Sibelius' Nationalism, to Shostakovich, Penderecki, and Rsewski's anti-war and fascism messages. We also discuss music like Weill's Seven Deadly Sins, and the deeply controversial John Adams opera, The Death of Klinghoffer. Happy voting!

This week, on Part 2 of our exploration of the most important piece of the 20th century, we'll go through the narrative section of the Rite of Spring, beginning with the introduction and taking us to the sacrifice of the young girl and the beginning of spring. There is no piece of Western Classical Music that was more influential to 20th and 21st century music than this one, and during the show we'll explore all the reasons why, as well as looking in detail at this mind-blowingly revolutionary score.

Today we start a two week exploration of Stravinsky's earthshakingly revolutionary Rite of Spring. Focusing on Part 1, we'll talk about the cast of characters involved in the ballet: Diaghilev, Nijinsky, Roerich, Monteux, and of course Stravinsky. These 5 men were part of a performance that quite literally changed the musical world. We'll also talk about the famous riot that made the opening night a sensation, the hidden folk music influence on Stravinsky, and Stravinsky's remarkable rhythmic invention.

People are often fascinated when I tell them what I do for a living. Sometimes they do a little imitation of a band director they had back in school, or talk about a great conductor they saw, or once in a while, they ask me what train company I work for. But when it comes down to it, I always seem to get some kind of variation on the same theme: "what does a conductor really do?” This week is all about answering this question - from the basic level, to the 30,000 feet level, all the way to the cosmic.

This week we take a trip to Italy, exploring Mendelssohn's most popular symphony. We discuss Mendelssohn's love of nature, and the remarkable independence and variety that Mendelssohn achieves within a tightly knit German Romantic era symphony. This symphony is like flipping through a photo album of Mendelssohn's Grand Tour of Italy, so we explore how he was able to create such a distinct picture in each movement, while also discussing the extensive revisions that Mendelssohn attempted on the symphony.