Music

Wayne Horvitz's latest album, Some Places are forever Afternoon, is based on poems by the late Seattle native Richard Hugo.

Music & Culture

At 60, Wayne Horvitz Is Protecting — And Expanding — His Musical Language

6:41pm December 06, 2015

by NPR Staff

Horvitz is one of those musicians who does almost everything — from leading a small group of improvisers to conducting a big band, and from composing for symphony orchestra to running a nightclub.

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Taylor Swift's 1989 came out in October 2014, but that shouldn't stop it from being heavily nominated for the 2016 Grammy Awards.

Music & Culture

Beyond Taylor Swift: Predicting The 2016 Grammys

5:42pm December 06, 2015

Grammy nominations are announced Monday morning. NPR's Stephen Thompson offers a few predictions.

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Return of the Tender Lover, Babyface's new album, his first solo collection of originals in a decade, is out now.

Music & Culture

Babyface Remembers Slow Dancing, Old Crushes And His First Song

8:17am December 06, 2015

by NPR Staff

The R&B hitmaker picked up guitar in sixth grade, just in time for an early lesson in heartbreak. He speaks with Rachel Martin about his new album and what his late mother taught him about love.

Music & Culture

An App That Helps You Scat Sing A La Ella Fitzgerald

7:54am December 06, 2015

Wanna be the next Ella Fitzgerald or Cab Calloway? As they say, there's an app for that. NPR's Rachel Martin tries out "ScatAbility" with vocal improv educator Michele Weir.

Organist Cameron Carpenter is a composer and performer who plays everything from Bach to pop.

Music & Culture

'An Object Of Pure Mathematics': Organist Cameron Carpenter On His Instrument

12:57pm December 05, 2015

by NPR Staff

Carpenter performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. this week. Scott Simon speaks with the virtuoso musician about his latest tour.

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Young Jewish children gather around the piano, circa 1955, to perform songs during the Hanukkah celebrations.

Beyond The Dreidel: The Songs Of Hanukkah — And How They've Changed

11:39am December 05, 2015

by NPR Staff

Who says Christmas gets all the fun music? Josh Kun, of the Idelsohn Society for Musical Preservation, talks the evolution of Hanukkah music — from traditional Hebrew to hits fit for the club.

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Kevin Gordon performs live for Folk Alley.

Music & Culture

Folk Alley Presents: Kevin Gordon

8:04am December 05, 2015

by Linda Fahey

Watch the singer-songwriter spin a tale of faith-healing and the supernatural in "Following A Sign."

Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel star in Youth as the fictional composer Fred Ballinger and his filmmaker friend Mick Boyle.

Music & Culture

'We Use Music To Understand Where We Are': David Lang On The Music Of 'Youth'

9:27pm December 04, 2015

by NPR Staff

David Lang was tasked with writing music for Michael Caine's character, an elderly composer who gets abruptly called out of retirement.

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Music & Culture

Stone Temple Pilots Singer Scott Weiland Dies At 48

4:25pm December 04, 2015

by Tom Moon

NPR looks back on the career of Scott Weiland, singer in the bands Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver. Weiland died in his sleep on Thursday at age 48.

song-travels-home-for-the-holidays-small

Music & Culture

Song Travels' 2015 Holiday Spectacular

3:30pm December 04, 2015

Join Michael Feinstein for an hour of yuletide music and cheer in this special edition of Song Travels.