It's been called a rare moment of drama in liturgical music, and it's showcased in the final verse of "O Come All Ye Faithful," rising up under the lyrics "Word of the Father," leading many to dub it the "Word of the Father Chord."

The word "Gloria" has appeared in many pieces of music over the centuries, and that music is often a part of holiday celebrations.

From Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" to John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," yearning is everywhere in Christmas music. But why?

Biographer Peter Ames Carlin describes the making of Born to Run as an "existential moment" for Springsteen. Carlin's book is Tonight in Jungleland. Originally broadcast Aug. 7, 2025.

Georgetown professor Charles King tells the story in his book "Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah."

Albom is the author of Tuesdays with Morrie, which chronicled Albom's relationship with Morrie Schwartz, his old college professor who died of ALS. Originally broadcast Oct. 13, 2025.

Hundreds of new Christmas songs are released every year, but each time December rolls around, the same small handful of classics races to the top of the charts. Will anything new ever break through?

From Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" to John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," there's a lot of yearning in Christmas songs. But why?

D'Angelo. Brian Wilson. Sly Stone. We lost these greats and so many more in 2025 — singers, producers, conductors and writers whose departures gave us a pang of loss, but whose art still lifts us up.

NPR's Juana Summers speaks with publisher Michael Szczerban about the new full English translation of the classic Italian cookbook, The Talisaman of Happiness by Ada Boni.