The New Criterion

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

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”

On February 29, the Galliard Society joined the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion at The Players in New York for remarks delivered by Dominic Green.

Rossini was born on February 29, 1792. So Jay doffs his cap to him. We also hear Schubert, Brahms, Ravel, and worthy others (including Dvořák, who knew how to swing). Rossini, Overture to “La gazza ladra” Schubert, Symphony No. 5, first movement Ravel, Piano Concerto in D for Left Hand Alone Dvořák, Symphony No. 7, Scherzo Chopin, Étude in A flat, Op. 25, No. 1, “Aeolian Harp” Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Rondo

On the River Thames, the rise of cities & the future of history. A conversation occasioned by Jeremy Black’s essay in our February 2024 issue.

A Valentine’s Day special—with music by the likes of Strauss, Poulenc, and Barber, sung by the likes of Jessye Norman, Arleen Auger, and Leontyne Price. A bouquet, a box of candies—a musical present for you. Trad., arr. Quilter, “Over the Mountains” Strauss, “Traum durch die Dämmerung” Strauss, “Amor” Poulenc, “Fleurs” Koechlin, “Si tu le veux” Prokofiev, Amoroso, from “Cinderella” Fusté, “Háblame de amores” Donaudy, “O del mio amato ben” Leoncavallo, “Mattinata” Barber, “Nocturne” Wild, Étude on Gershwin’s “Embraceable You” Bridge, “Love Went A-Riding”

Some rare Prokofiev, some common Prokofiev. An operatic blast from the past (Price and Tucker). A tribute to Colette Maze, a French pianist who has died at 109. Another tribute to Ewa Podleś, the great Polish contralto. A mixture of music, and thoughts, in this episode. Tchaikovsky, “Miniature Overture” from “The Nutcracker” Prokofiev, Symphony No. 2 Puccini, Love Duet, “Madama Butterfly” Prokofiev, Symphony No. 5 Prokofiev, Amoroso from “Cinderella” Debussy, Arabesque No. 1 Prokofiev, “The Field of the Dead,” from “Alexander Nevsky”