Music

Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is the subject of a new documentary.

Music & Culture

Get To Know One Of The Most-Performed Living Composers

6:24pm September 11, 2015

by Tom Huizenga

To mark the 80th birthday of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt (Bjork and Michael Stipe are among his fans), preview an upcoming documentary and explore a few facts and myths about this singular artist.

Stephen King poses for the cameras during his promotional tour for the novel Doctor Sleep in 2013. Now, just imagine him in a suit and tie, with a medal around his neck.

A Medal For A King — And For Many Of America's Greatest Living Artists

11:10pm September 10, 2015

by Colin Dwyer

The 2014 National Medals of Arts and the National Humanities Medals was awarded in tandem Thursday to 21 of the most renowned U.S. artists and patrons. Among the winners was Stephen King.

Mohamed Hashem, one of Saudi Arabia's best known musicians, plays the oud, a Middle Eastern lute.

An Art Scene Flourishes Behind Closed Doors In Saudi Arabia

3:14pm September 10, 2015

by Leila Fadel

There isn't much public space to be creative. Artists Arwa Alneami and Ahmed Mater are trying to change that. They host a salon where creative people gather and exchange ideas.

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Jon Batiste, seen here at the 2014 Newport Jazz Festival, will take on a new gig as the bandleader for CBS' Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Music & Culture

Jon Batiste And The Legacy Of Jazz On Late-Night TV

2:35pm September 10, 2015

Tonight, when Stephen Colbert begins his run as host of the Late Show on CBS, he'll have a new partner in crime: pianist Jon Batiste. Bassist Christian McBride lends some insight into what he expects.

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Music & Culture

Carly Rae Jepsen Mixes Bubble-Gum Pop With Ache And Anguish On 'Emotion'

1:11pm September 10, 2015

by Ken Tucker

The "Call Me Maybe" singer proves she's not just a one-hit wonder with her new album. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Jepsen's record is "adventurously diverse in both its sounds and its sentiments."

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As a high schooler in Lafayette, Ind., Circuit des Yeux's Haley Fohr was encouraged by Pink Reason's Kevin Failure to pursue music.

Music & Culture

Question Dot GIF: What Hometown Artist Inspired You To Make Music?

9:18am September 10, 2015

by Lars Gotrich

Circuit Des Yeux, White Lung, SubRosa, Obnox, and others sit for GIF portraits during Raleigh, N.C.'s Hopscotch Music Festival, an event that celebrates its homegrown music scene.

Sam Smith Follows In Long Line Of Stars To Record James Bond Theme

8:28pm September 08, 2015

Sam Smith has recorded the theme song, called "Writing's on the Wall," for the upcoming James Bond movie. He joins artists such as Adele, Madonna and Tina Turner.

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A glimpse of the Hill sisters' work. The handwritten notes to "Good Morning to All" offer singers a guide to the simpler tune.

An Unnoticed 'Happy Birthday' Draft Gives Singers A Simpler Tune

2:57pm September 06, 2015

by Tara Anderson

We all know the words to "Happy Birthday to You" — yet the song's still tough for kids to sing. Now, tucked in the notes of the sisters who wrote it, an easier draft of the song has finally surfaced.

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Everyone knows how to sing "Happy Birthday to You." But performing the song in movies or on TV requires payment of sometimes hefty licensing fees. Now the song is at the heart of a lawsuit.

'Happy Birthday' Hits Sour Notes When It Comes To Song's Free Use

2:53pm September 06, 2015

by NPR Staff

"Happy Birthday to You" is sung everywhere, but because it's copyrighted, it's rarely heard on TV or in movies. A filmmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking to make the song part of the public domain.

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'Wingin' It' Takes Funky On The Road With 'Boz Scaggs

10:12am September 06, 2015

On this week's "Wingin' It," music historian Ashley Kahn shares his favorite road trip song, "Loan Me a Dime," by Boz Scaggs, featuring Duane Allman.

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