Music from Minnesota Public Radio

Chamber orchestras flock to St. Paul

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:00:00 -0600

For the next month, the Twin Cities will play host to an extraordinary orchestral event. Four of the worlds top chamber orchestras will join the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for what's believed to be the first ever International Chamber Orchestra Festival.

New Classical Tracks: Bach, in the present time

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:50:50 -0600

Anne-Sophie Mutter's new disc pairs Bach's two violin concertos with a new piece written for her by Sofia Gubaidulina. Mutter finds that there's an intellectual and a spiritual element that unites both composers.

New Classical Tracks: Best of '08

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:58:11 -0600

Beethoven symphonies, a little-known concerto and wide-ranging American fare were among the stand-out discs of the past year.

A tradition of carols continues

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:00:00 -0600

Christmas Eve is a time for tradition, and we continue what has become a holiday tradition for Minnesota Public Radio by featuring a new Christmas carol written by composer Abbie Betinis.

Making the Scene: an Oral History of Twin Cities Rock

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:55:19 -0600

"Making the Scene: An Oral History of Twin Cities Rock," traces the evolution of the local-music scene from the mid-1960s through the '90s, through the eyes and ears of key figures from each decade.

New Classical Tracks: The "Angels" of Venice

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:59:32 -0600

Antonio Vivaldi wrote some of his best-known pieces for an unusual group of musicians: young women who were taught to sing and play instruments at a Venetian orphanage. A new disc pays homage to their extraordinary talent.

The Hopefuls perform in The Current studios

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:46:56 -0600

It's been over four-and-a-half years since The Hopefuls released their debut "The Fuses Refuse to Burn." Formerly named The Olympic Hopefuls until the Olympic committee protested, they've had more changes than just their name before the release of their new album, "Now Playing at the One-Seat Theater."

Longwave performs in The Current studios

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:43:39 -0600

With their fourth album "Secret are Sinister" under their belts, Brooklyn indie-rockers Longwave are hoping the release of this album will go better than the last. Challenges like Hurricane Katrina, a record label merger, and a canceled tour plagued the release of their previous album "There's A Fire." After some encouragement, the band decided to record another record.

New Classical Tracks: Enchanting, Exhilarating: Choral Works from Latvia

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:43:05 -0600

The nation of Latvia, on the Baltic Sea, has a rich musical tradition, but in 1975, one choir discovered that there was a dearth of Christmas music for them to perform in concert, and decided to do something about it.

Golden Animals perform live in The Current studio

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:39:26 -0600

They met in Brooklyn where the duo of guitarist Tommy Eisner and drummer Linda Beecroft created the bluesy psychedelic folk-rock of Golden Animals. After the release of their first EP in 2006, they moved to southern California for a more laidback atmosphere to write their full-length.

Wayne Coyne brings Christmas to Mars

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:24:55 -0600

It's natural that the Flaming Lips' new dramatic feature film, Christmas on Mars - conceived by bandleader Wayne Coyne and billed as "a fantastical film freak-out" - should contain all of the psychedelia, drama, humor and hopefulness that fans have come to love about the band's music itself.

Heiruspecs performs in The Current studios

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:15:06 -0600

The heavy-touring Hip Hop group Heiruspecs formed in 1997 while in a high school recording arts program at St. Paul Central High School. The band is mostly known for their raw, live sound.

Considering the life of Mary in music

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:49:41 -0600

This Sunday people will gather at a Twin Cities chapel to hear the story of Mary, mother of Jesus. It's not a sermon, but a musical concert, by local folk singer Ruth MacKenzie.

Ryan Adams performs in The Current studios

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:00:22 -0600

Ryan Adams may have left behind the confines of the "alt-country" genre long ago, but the moniker still tends to cling to him - despite having spent a fair chunk of the past decade-plus making music that has drawn from a broad and deep well of influences.

Winter music and musings on a singing career

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Singer-songwriter Keri Noble questioned her commitment to writing hits when the industry asked her to sound more like Norah Jones. She also talks about her strict Christian upbringing in a Spanish-speaking congregation in Detroit, and how she made it big in Japan.