Music & Culture

Wexford Carols Brings Irish Holiday Relics To Life

11:39am December 20, 2014

A new Christmas music collection resurrects Irish carols from the 17th century. NPR's Scott Simon talks to singer Caitriona O'Leary and producer Joe Henry about songs both sacred and political.

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These TED Radio Hour stories get musical.

Playlist: What Music Means

9:47am December 19, 2014

by NPR/TED Staff

Our favorite interviews about music from the TED Radio Hour.

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Music & Culture

Music A Longtime Feature Of Cuba-U.S. Cultural Exchange

6:32pm December 18, 2014

by Jasmine Garsd

Cuban rhythms and melodies have been part of what's been called the most American of art forms — jazz — ever since Jelly Roll Morton first heard them in the port of New Orleans and used them in his music. Josephine Baker performed in Cuba and Nat King Cole recorded there. But the revolution made cultural exchange all but impossible and even supposedly open-minded artists and musicians took sides.

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The late conductor, keyboard player and scholar Christopher Hogwood.

Music & Culture

Remembering Christopher Hogwood, An Evangelist For Early Music

3:37pm December 18, 2014

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The English conductor, keyboard player and musicologist died Wednesday at age 73. He used modern scholarship and keen musicianship to bring new life to works by Handel and Bach, Mozart and Haydn.

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Music & Culture

How Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker' Became A Holiday Tradition

12:31pm December 18, 2014

Renee Montagne talks with Miles Hoffman about the history of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite. Hoffman is the violist of the American Chamber Players, and authored The NPR Classical Music Companion.

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