In this episode, three pieces by the American Amy Beach—two piano pieces and a song (to a poem by Robert Browning). Also, a piece by Bach’s cousin. And other worthy numbers. Walther, “Lobe den Herren” Beach, “A Hermit Thrush at Eve” Dvořák, “Goin’ Home” Beach, “A Hermit Thrush at Morn” Beethoven, Triple Concerto Beach, “Ah, Love, but a Day” Beethoven, Sonata for Violin and Piano in G major, Op. 96
Tennyson wrote a famous poem for New Year’s Day, or any day. Jonathan Dove, a contemporary English composer, set it to music. This episode begins with that piece. There is also a song from the American Revolution, sometimes known as “Chester” (“Let tyrants shake their iron rod”). Jay further includes a little-known composer from Brazil with a flavorful name: Radamés Gnattali. Then you get Brahms and others. A nice, varied menu. Dove, “Ring Out, Wild Bells” Gnattali, Guitar Concerto No. 4 Brahms, Ballade in D, Op. 10, No. 2 Billings, “Chester” (“Let tyrants shake their iron rod”) Martucci, Nocturne, Op. 70, No. 1 Verdi, Ave Maria from Otello
Jeremy Black and James Panero discuss the transformative power of steam engines, the evolution of rail systems, and the cultural and social impact of railways in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They also explore the challenges of public transport systems, the importance of public safety, and Black’s latest article on the history of the British Navy. Occasioned by “The scream of steam” in the January 2025 issue of The New Criterion.
A Christmas selection: songs old and newer, performed by Leontyne Price, Luciano Pavarotti, Heidi Grant Murphy, Odetta, Mel Tormé, et glorious al. Trad., “Angels We Have Heard on High” Bach, “Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben,” from the Christmas Oratorio Trad., “Ríu ríu chíu” Trad., “Il est né, le divin Enfant” Schultz, “Ihr Kinderlein, kommet” Schubert-Melichar, “Mille cherubini in coro” Trad. (Moravian), “Long Ago in Bethlehem” Trad., “What Month Was Jesus Born In?” Martin & Blane, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Tormé & Wells, “The Christmas Song”
Lately, Jay has been writing about Stefan Zweig’s memoirs, “The World of Yesterday.” Zweig was a writer of immense talent and versatility. He also knew a lot of music and a lot of musicians. Composers set poems of his to music. Strauss collaborated with him on an opera. This episode is dedicated to Zweig and music. Reger, “Ein Drängen ist in meinem Herzen” List, “Feux follets” Marx, “Ein Drängen ist in meinem Herzen” Strauss, “Die schweigsame Frau,” Act I, finale Strauss, “Die schweigsame Frau,” “Wie schön ist doch die Musik”
As Jay explains in his introduction, he has done many Christmas podcasts. And Fourth of July podcasts. And an Easter podcast or two. And Halloween podcasts. But not until now a Thanksgiving podcast. So, here are songs of gratitude and other items appropriate to the holiday. A little feast on its own, filling but not fattening. Handel or Ochs, “Dank sei Dir, Herr” Berlin, “I’ve Got Plenty to Be Thankful For” Strauss, “Zueignung” Chabrier, “Ballade des gros dindons” ?, “The Turkey of 29 Pounds” Valerius-Paulus, “We Gather Together” Brahe, “Bless This House” Beethoven, Andante from String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132
This episode begins with Mozart—the glorious, peppy last movement of a piano concerto—and ends with Sarah Vaughan, singing a song (“Black Coffee”). In between we have Bill Monroe, Fanny Mendelssohn, Earl Scruggs—a real variety show. But all to a purpose. Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat, K. 449, last movement Clarke, “The Cloths of Heaven” Monroe, “Blue Moon of Kentucky” Bernstein, “Some Other Time” Mendelssohn, Fanny, arr. Masur, Ken-David, “Schöne Fremde” Dunhill, “The Cloths of Heaven” Kern, “Why Was I Born?” Scruggs, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” Burke, “Black Coffee”
Jay begins with the song for which the podcast is named: “Music for a While,” by Purcell. He ends with some theme music by the late Quincy Jones, “The Streetbeater.” In between are Mendelssohn, Liszt, Sibelius, and estimable others. A nicely diverse program. Purcell, “Music for a While” Mendelssohn, “Song without Words” Mozart, Symphony No. 35 in D, “Haffner,” Presto Liszt, “Chasse-neige” Strauss, excerpt from “Elektra” Sibelius, “Water Droplets” Widor, Toccata from Organ Symphony No. 5 Jones, “The Streetbeater”
On October 24, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at The Players with David Dubal for a special version of his beloved piano evenings, featuring Cecile Licad performing Frédéric Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op. 28.
Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the October 2024 issue and reads from its opening pages.
On September 5, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at the magazine’s headquarters to hear remarks from D. J. Taylor in celebration of his new books, “Orwell: The New Life” (Simon & Schuster) & “Who is Big Brother?” (Yale University Press).
Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the September 2024 issue and reads from its opening pages.
Werner Hink, who for many years was a concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic, has died. Jay interviewed him some years ago and found him memorable. This episode ends with some playing by Hink (Bach). There is also some Schubert by Isaac Stern, whom Hink prized. There’s a little Broadway, a little rap. A nice buffet of music. Mozart, Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro” Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90, second movement Schubert, “Serenade” Rodgers-Sondheim, “Hate Song” from “The Mad Show” Prokofiev, March from “The Love for Three Oranges” Ginastera, Violin Concerto, final section C+C Music Factory, “Things That Make You Go Hmmm” Trad., “Shine You No More (Last Leaf)” Bach, Adagio from the Violin Sonata in G minor
Jeremy Black, author of “The Holocaust: History and Memory,” and James Panero, Executive Editor of “The New Criterion,” discuss the misplacing of blame for the Middle East’s instability.
Jay begins this episode with Paul Hindemith, who in 1921 combined his interest in ragtime with his love of Bach. There is also a minuet by Ravel, glancing back at Haydn. There is a song by Zemlinsky, setting Langston Hughes. There are wonders and curiosities in this episode—which, by the way, has a sponsor: Michael Lohafer, who, as Jay says, is “a particular authority on Mozart.” Mr. Lohafer says, “My sponsorship is on behalf of all attentive listeners to Music for a While who enjoy the well-considered selections that always delight the ear.” Bach, Fugue in C minor from “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” Book 1 Hindemith, “Ragtime (Well-Tempered)” Ravel, “Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn” Schumann, “Faschingsschwank aus Wien” Zemlinsky, “Afrikanischer Tanz” from “Symphonische Gesänge” Liszt, “Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa” from “Années de pèlerinage, deuxième année: Italie” Vasks, Dolcissimo from “The Book” Prokofiev, Sonata No. 7, Precipitato Martinů, Fantasia for String Quartet, Oboe, Theremin, and Piano Gounod, “Ah! lève-toi, soleil!” from “Roméo et Juliette” Tchaikovsky-Pletnev, Pas de deux from “The Nutcracker”
In this episode, Jay begins with a shout—“Carolina Shout,” the classic jazz number by James P. Johnson. There are songs by Schumann, Puccini, and Porter (Cole). There are piano preludes—starter pieces by their composers. At the end, there is a sunburst of calypso. Enjoy this smorgasbord. Johnson, James P., “Carolina Shout” Schumann, “Röseleine, Röseleine!” Bonds, Margaret, “Young Love in Spring” Szymanowski, Prelude in E-flat minor, Op. 1, No. 8 Gorecki, Prelude, Op. 1, No. 4 Puccini, “Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso,” from “La rondine” Puccini, “Chi il bel sogno,” from “La rondine” Young, Victor, arr., Evans, Bill, “When I Fall in Love” Porter, Cole, “Don’t Fence Me In” Tanker, André, arr., Shaw, Theron, “Morena Osha”
The Friends of The New Criterion recently gathered for an evening in celebration of Peter Vertacnik, whose “The Nature of Things Fragile” won the magazine’s twenty-third poetry prize. Listen to hear Peter read a number of poems from this new collection.
Jay has assembled a little celebration of spring: songs, arias, a symphony, a sonata. Who doesn’t want to sing spring? Argento, “Spring,” from “Six Elizabethan Songs” Sinding, “Rustle of Spring” Wagner, “Du bist der Lenz,” from “Die Walküre” Beethoven, “Spring” Sonata, Rondo Strauss, “Herr Lenz” Saint-Saëns, “Printemps qui commence,” from “Samson et Dalila” Schumann, “Er ist’s” Hoiby, “Always It’s Spring” Wolf, “Er ist’s” Schumann, “Spring” Symphony, first movement Warlock, “Pretty Ring Time”
On March 14, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at the magazine’s headquarters to hear remarks from Dr. Alexander Chula on his new book, “Goodbye, Dr. Banda: Lessons for the West From a Small African Country.”
Recently, Carnegie Hall hosted a John Williams gala. The program was all-Williams and the composer himself conducted most of the concert. In this episode, Jay hosts his own little Williams gala. All by John Williams: “The Mission” Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” Olympic Fanfare and Theme Main Title from “Catch Me If You Can” Raiders March from “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” Flying Theme from “E.T.” The Imperial March, a.k.a. Darth Vader’s Theme, from “Star Wars”