Soundcheck (Classical)
- Next available on WNYC-FM 93.9 New York, NY in 22 hours 2 minutes
- Find another station or time for this program on one of 8 other stations & times
- Host: John Schaefer
- WNYC music host John Schaefer showcases the finest composers and performers with a program focused squarely on New York's vibrant cultural scene. Tune in for live music performances by leading musicians and composers, stimulating conversation about the latest trends in arts and ideas, and regular updates about the cultural, musical and artistic life of New York City.
- Add to Presets
Last updated 240 days ago
Update program info
Ballet Mecanique, Performed by... Robots (Soundcheck: Monday, 13 October 20
Mon, Oct 13
One of the great curiosities of 20th-century music is "Ballet Mcanique," a 25-minute percussion-and-piano extravaganza featuring 16 player pianos, electric bells, airplane propellers, an alarm clock and a siren, by Trenton-born composer George Antheil. The groundbreaking work is now being staged in a performance...by robots. Charles Amirkhanian, the music executor of Antheil's estate, and Eric Singer, the director of the League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots, join us with a preview.
Pop the Cork and Press Play (Soundcheck: Monday, 13 October 2008)
Mon, Oct 13
The style of music we listen to while having a glass of wine dramatically affects our opinion of how it tastes. Test subjects rated the change in taste by up to 60%. Researcher Adrian North of Heriot Watt University in Scotland, made the link between wine and song and he joins us today. Also joining us is Lettie Teague, the executive wine editor of Food Wine magazine; she’s also the author of several books on wine including Educating Peter. Our blog: John Schaefer on the days of wine and...
Viola Unleashed (Soundcheck: Friday, 10 October 2008)
Fri, Oct 10
Garth Knox made his name as the violist in the celebrated Arditti String Quartet. Increasingly he's been a pioneer of the viola d'amore, a baroque viola precursor, exploring its possibilities in modern music and period appropriate pieces. He joins us to share his debut album on the ECM label, featuring music from 1600 to the present day.
The Vote Is In (Soundcheck: Friday, 10 October 2008)
Fri, Oct 10
Grammy Award-winning songwriter Jesse Harris, joins us to explain his choice and talk about what makes a great song. And the innovative Brooklyn-based band One Ring Zero plays the new song live. Jesse Harris performs Nov. 21st at Abrons Arts Center. One Ring Zero performs on Oct. 18th at Barbes in Brooklyn. Soundcheck's Songwriting Contest: The Winner Is... Soundcheck blog: Reflections on Our Songwriting Contest
The Return of Peter Walker (Soundcheck: Thursday, 09 October 2008)
Thu, Oct 9
In the late 1960s, guitarist Peter Walker studied raga with Ravi Shankar and released two raga-inflected folk music. In the 1970’s he settled in Woodstock and disappeared from the music scene. He has now being re-discovered by a record label and is into Flamenco. He joins us with a live performance.
Soundcheck's CD Picks of the Week (Soundcheck: Thursday, 09 October 2008)
Thu, Oct 9
Juana Molina – Un Dia (One Day) – Domino Records Twenty years ago in Argentina, way before the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, there was a comic news program called La Noticia Rebelde, or Rebel News. One young actress featured on the show was Juana Molina, a rising star on television. But Juana dropped acting a few years later – for her country’s dismay – to pursue music. Now she is one of the most innovative singer-songwriters to come from Argentina who experiments with pop, electronica, beats...
Guest Appearances Gone Wild (Soundcheck: Thursday, 09 October 2008)
Thu, Oct 9
Lil' Wayne appeared on more than 70 tracks and mixtapes last year. And Jay-Z will guest on an upcoming Coldplay song, repaying singer Chris Martin for appearing on the rap mogul's "Kingdom Come." With guest appearances quickly becoming the norm and not the exception, we ask New York times pop critic Jon Caramanica why cameos are so prevalent in hip hop. Soundcheck blog: When hip hop cameos reach the point of diminishing returns
Girl Talk (Soundcheck: Wednesday, 08 October 2008)
Wed, Oct 8
Not long ago, Gregg Gillis was just a mild-mannered biomedical engineer. But his obsession with samples turned him into Girl Talk, a mad-scientist DJ who masterminds sweaty (and nearly naked) live shows. He joins us to talk about the risks and rewards of mashing up LL Cool J, Yo La Tengo, and more than 300 other ear-catching samples on his latest album "Feed the Animals."
DJ Shadow (Soundcheck: Wednesday, 08 October 2008)
Wed, Oct 8
In 1996, the mysterious DJ Shadow released "Endtroducing," a scratch-happy album that made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the first made up entirely of samples. Many of those samples came from old vinyl records. But as DJ Shadow told "Studio 360" producer Derek John, finding all those records wasn’t easy.
Steinski (Soundcheck: Wednesday, 08 October 2008)
Wed, Oct 8
Steven Stein currently writes a blog about music and copyright laws. But 25 years ago he was known as Steinski, a pioneering force in the controversial hip-hop style of record sampling and beat-making. Stein joins us to talk about breaking ground -- and wrestling with copyright issues -- in the 1980s. Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer muses on our increasingly sampled world
Esperanza Spalding (Soundcheck: Tuesday, 07 October 2008)
Tue, Oct 7
Jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding has always been precocious. She started playing the club scene Portland, Ore., as a teenager. When she was 20, she became the youngest faculty member ever at Berklee College of Music in Boston. And now at 23, after playing with jazz giants like Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny, she is releasing an album in three languages. She joins us with a live performance.Esperanza Spalding is playing at the Highline Ballroom tomorrow night. The show starts at 8 p.m.
The MySpace Debate (Soundcheck: Tuesday, 07 October 2008)
Tue, Oct 7
The popular social networking website has always been a place for small bands to reach out to fans and in many cases, achieve success. But the website is now owned by Ruphert Murdoch and when it launched its online music store last month it left the indies out. In the first of a four-smackdown series on music buying, we'll debate MySpace. Joining us is Erick Schonfeld, co-editor of Techcrunch.com, and Farhad Manjoo, technology columnist of Slate.com. Soundcheck Blog: John Schaefer on MySpace...
The Forecast Calls for Rock (Soundcheck: Monday, 06 October 2008)
Mon, Oct 6
Sam Champion visits the Soundcheck studio for a live performance. No, not the New York-area TV weatherman and "Good Morning America" personality. We're joined by Sam Champion, the Brooklyn-based indie-rock quartet. They join us to play songs from their new album "Heavenly Bender."
Boogaloo Nights (Soundcheck: Monday, 06 October 2008)
Mon, Oct 6
One story compiled in "Best Music Writing 2008" tells the story of a Latin music craze that briefly reigned supreme in 1960s New York. Music writer Oliver Wang shares the rise and fall of the boogaloo.
Music: The Year in Words (Soundcheck: Monday, 06 October 2008)
Mon, Oct 6
This year's installment of the "Best Music Writing" series pulls together stories on Pete Seeger, the Wu Tang Clan, and a punk band called Nunzilla. Guest editor Nelson George joins us to talk about this year's selections.
Indie Opera around New York (Soundcheck: Friday, 03 October 2008)
Sat, Oct 4
New York City Opera has long been known as the cheaper and more accessible alternative for opera-goers. But as its home at Lincoln Center is being renovated this season, the company will essentially be closed. Without its roughly 120 performances, audiences and singers will have to look elsewhere. One place to start is the bars, basements and shoebox theaters around town, home to the city’s small, indie opera companies. Soundcheck’s Brian Wise reports.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops (Soundcheck: Friday, 03 October 2008)
Fri, Oct 3
The Carolina Chocolate Drops are from an unusual place for old-time music – Durham, North Carolina – and also from an unusual demographic group – the band is formed by three young, African-American musicians. They join us with a live performance.The Carolina Chocolate Drops are playing tonight in the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space. The show starts at 8 p.m.
Indie Opera around New York (Soundcheck: Friday, 03 October 2008)
Fri, Oct 3
New York City Opera has long been known as the cheaper and more accessible alternative for opera-goers. But as its home at Lincoln Center is being renovated this season, the company will essentially be closed. Without its roughly 120 performances, audiences and singers will have to look elsewhere. One place to start is the bars, basements and shoebox theaters around town, home to the city’s small, indie opera companies. Soundcheck’s Brian Wise reports.
In Good Humor (Soundcheck: Friday, 03 October 2008)
Fri, Oct 3
Two-time Grammy winning blues guitarist Taj Mahal has been playing the blues for four decades, but he hasn't lost his sense of humor. He joins us to talk about singing about an old man's itch on his new album, Maestro. The record includes high-profile guests like Ben Harper and Ziggy Marley.The Taj Mahal Trio is playing tomorrow night at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, starting at 9 p.m.
First Impressions are everything (Soundcheck: Thursday, 02 October 2008)
Thu, Oct 2
Classical music has had its own history of rivalries - Mozart vs. Salieri being the most famous. Today, Rob Kapilow, conductor, composer, and author of the new book, "All You Have to Do is Listen: Music from the Inside Out," talks about these, and also about what makes for a good opening idea in music.
Rock 'n' Roll Rivalries (Soundcheck: Thursday, 02 October 2008)
Thu, Oct 2
Beatles vs. Stones. Blur vs. Oasis. Axl Rose vs. everyone else. Rivalries make the music world go round. Today, music writer Sean Manning talks about "Rock and Roll Cage Match: Music’s Greatest Rivalries, Decided," a compilation of essays on some familiar (Jay-Z vs. Nas) and not-so-familiar (Phil Spector vs. Timbaland) music rivalries. Tell us: Do you have a favorite music rivalry? Who comes out on top?
Raphael Saadiq (Soundcheck: Wednesday, 01 October 2008)
Wed, Oct 1
A founder of the 1980s new-jack swing outfit Tony! Toni! Tone!, Raphael Saadiq has explored the roots of soul and R&B since launching a career as a producer and solo artist. On his latest album, "The Way I See It," Saadiq's original songs hark back to the Temptations and Smokey Robinson - without seeming dusty or worn-out.
Decades Later, Classic Fleisher Released (Soundcheck: Wednesday, 01 October
Wed, Oct 1
Pianist Leon Fleisher made a series of landmark recordings for CBS Records between 1954 and 1963, before a neurological affliction known as focal dystonia rendered two fingers of his right hand immobile in 1965. Now, in the year of his 80th birthday, Sony has released six of his classic recordings for the first time – including music by Schubert, Ravel, Liszt and Copland. Fleisher joins us to talk about these, and about his busy fall season.
Uncovering Parts of the Body in Song (Soundcheck: Wednesday, 01 October 200
Wed, Oct 1
Two IBM researchers have analyzed over 10,000 songs to find out which parts of the human body were mentioned the most and broke down the resulting data by genre. Across all of the categories, the eyes are most frequently mentioned body part -- with the exceptions of hip hop. Researcher and artist Martin Wattenberg joins us to explain his research. Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on the "Fleshmap" project
Damien Jurado (Soundcheck: Tuesday, 30 September 2008)
Tue, Sep 30
Seattle's Damien Jurado cut his teeth on punk and hardcore as a small-town teenager, then evolved into an introspective, no-frills songwriter in the style of Elliott Smith or Nick Drake. He joins us to talk about his new full-length album, "Caught in the Trees." Damien Jurado performs tonight (Sept. 30) at Mercury Lounge at 10 p.m. and tomorrow (Oct. 1) at Union Hall, doors at 7:30 p.m.
Booze: Music's Friend or Foe? (Soundcheck: Tuesday, 30 September 2008)
Tue, Sep 30
In another edition of Soundcheck Smackdown, we debate the role of alcohol in live music. Some venues are allowing audience members to bring glasses of wine into once-dry concert halls. But Van Morrison has banned alcohol consumption from his concerts in England. Joining us to weigh in is Limor Tomer, WNYC's executive producer of music programming, and Will Layman, a jazz critic who writes for Popmatters.com and NPR. Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on the role of alcohol at concerts Tell us: Is...
Tom Morello, Still Raging (Soundcheck: Monday, 29 September 2008)
Mon, Sep 29
As the baseball-capped powerhouse behind Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, Tom Morello is one of today’s most dynamic -- and most creative -- rock guitarists. In 2007, he launched a solo acoustic project called The Nightwatchman. But this summer, he popped up in the videogame “Guitar Hero III” and reunited with Rage to rock the Democratic and Republican conventions. The Harlem-born Morello joins us to perform songs from his latest Nightwatchman record, “The Fabled City,” set for...
Heart of Glass (Soundcheck: Monday, 29 September 2008)
Mon, Sep 29
Philip Glass has been making music for more than 40 years and he is one of the country’s best-known living composers. He has done operas, symphonies, and film scores, like those for "The Hours" and "The Truman Show," and has still managed to remain controversial. Glass joins us in light of the release of "Glass Box" — a 10-disc retrospective of his work. Soundcheck Blog: Philip Glass, perennial lighting rod
Jennifer O'Connor (Soundcheck: Friday, 26 September 2008)
Fri, Sep 26
A psychic once told Jennifer O’Connor she’d be rich. The no-frills Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter is still not on the Forbes 400, so perhaps the clairvoyant was speaking in metaphor. When it comes to emotionally stirring songs, O’Connor is one of the wealthiest on the New York scene. She joins us for a live performance of songs from her latest album, "Here with Me."
CD Picks of the Week (Soundcheck: Friday, 26 September 2008)
Fri, Sep 26
Skuli Sverrison, "Seria" (12 Tnar) For a country with such a small population, Iceland seems to have more musicians than it knows what to do with. So some of them have to leave the musical hotbed of Reykjavik backwaters like London or New York. Bassist Skuli Sverrison is one of them. He’s been here in NY for some years now, and has worked with everyone from Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto to indie rockers Blonde Redhead to Laurie Anderson, with whom he tours (as her music director). Now,...
© 2008 RadioTime. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks displayed do not imply endorsement by their holders.