The New Criterion

Jay offers a personal appreciation of Rodion Shchedrin (1932–2025). Bizet-Shchedrin, “Changing of the Guard,” from “Carmen Suite” Bizet-Shchedrin, “Bolero,” from “Carmen Suite” Rachmaninoff, Prelude in G-sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12 Shchedrin, “Humoresque” Shchedrin, Piano Concerto No. 1, Scherzo-toccata Tchaikovsky, “Miniature overture,” from “The Nutcracker” Shchedrin, Chamber Suite, Finale

In recent days, the music world—classical and popular—has lost Alfred Brendel and Brian Wilson. Jay pays due tribute. He has other selections as well—beginning with a summer song, refreshing on a hot day, or any. Berlioz, “Villanelle,” from “Les nuits d’été” Mozart, Piano Sonata in E flat, K. 282, third movement Schubert, “Moments musicaux” No. 3 Liszt, “Eclogue,” from “Years of Pilgrimage: Year One: Switzerland” Trad., “Do, Lawd, Oh, Do, Lawd” Trad., “Walk Together, Children” Wilson-Love, arr., Chilcott, “Good Vibrations”

Ricky Ian Gordon has written a cycle of songs about flowers. In this episode, we hear one of them. Rachmaninoff wrote a song called “Lilacs.” We hear that, too. Bach opens his Goldberg Variations with an aria (and closes the work with that same aria). Tchaikovsky’s wrote a couple of blockbuster arias in The Queen of Spades. And on we go. Gordon, “We should not mind so small a flower” Rachmaninoff, “Lilacs” Bach, Goldberg Variations Tchaikovsky, Lisa’s Aria from Act III of “The Queen of Spades” Tchaikovsky, Prince Yeletsky’s Aria, Act II, “The Queen of Spades” Tchaikovsky, “It was in early spring” Shostakovich, Prelude in D-flat major Bach-Kempff, Siciliano

Have you ever heard Contemplazione, a piece for orchestra by Catalani, the composer of La Wally? Have you ever heard “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”—but arranged for piano? These are two of the offerings in this eclectic, stimulating program. Catalani, “Contemplazione” Catalani, “Ebben? Ne andró lontana,” from “La Wally” Stravinsky, “Le Baiser de la fée” Shchedrin, “Changing of the Guard” from “Carmen Suite” Fauré, Pavane Churchill-Walford, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” Tveitt, “Sonata etere” Sibelius, “Was It a Dream?” Weill, “My Ship”

This year marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s birth. So we have been hearing a lot of him. Jay plays two pieces by him—two of his best, and most typical. There are also Spanish songs, by Obradors and Rodrigo. Some Schumann, some Vaughan Williams, and so on. Plus several stories—personal ones. An enriching, smile-making program. Obradors, “Del cabello más sutil” Rodrigo, “De ronda” Bernstein, Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Beethoven, “Leonore” Overture No. 3 Vaughan Williams, “Linden Lea” Ravel, “Pavane for a Dead Princess” Schumann, Sonata in D minor for Piano and Violin Handel, “Son nata a lagrimar,” from “Giulio Cesare” Ravel, “The Fairy Garden” from the “Mother Goose” Suite

This is Episode No. 100 of “Music for a While.” To mark the occasion, Jay presents music associated with that number: 100. So, we can consider this a centennial celebration. Bach, “Darum wir billig loben dich,” from the Cantata BVW 130 Dvořák, Scherzo from Sonatina for Violin and Piano, Op. 100 Bach, “Er ist mein Licht, mein Leben,” from the Cantata BVW 100 Haydn, Presto, from Symphony No. 100 in G major, “Military” Beethoven, “Merkenstein” Prokofiev, Allegro marcato, from Symphony No. 5 Mozart, Serenade No. 1 in D Brahms, Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in A major Schumann, “The Bride of Messina,” Overture in C minor Shostakovich, “Little Stars” from “Spanish Songs” arr. Vaughan Williams, “Old Hundredth Psalm”

On March 19, Friends of The New Criterion gathered in New York to hear a conversation between the New Criterion contributors D. J. Taylor and Dominic Green on the question “What would Orwell do?”

An appetizing, eclectic program. Charity is represented by a sturdy American song: “If I Can Help Somebody.” Malice is represented by a movement from Walton’s Symphony No. 1, marked “Presto con malizia.” Much to listen to and absorb. Shostakovich, “A Spin through Moscow” from “Moscow, Cheryomushko” Fauré, “Clair de lune” Beethoven, “Abscheulicher!,” from “Fidelio” Walton, Symphony No. 1, Scherzo: Presto con malizia Ruby (?), “I’m Against It” Hoiby, “Winter Song” Hoiby, “There came a wind like a bugle” Androzzo, “If I Can Help Somebody” Gubaidulina, “Glorious Percussion”

This episode begins with Pärt’s “Hymn to a Great City.” (That would be New York.) Elsewhere, there are songs, setting Langston Hughes and Mark Van Doren. Oscar Peterson plays a pop song, adding various musical ingredients. Finally, there is a tribute to Edith Mathis, the Swiss soprano, who has died at eighty-seven. Much to listen to, and maybe even think about. Pärt, “Hymn to a Great City” Wheeler, “If I Had a Wife” Tchaikovsky/Wild, Pas de quatre (“Dance of the Cygnets”) from “Swan Lake” Bonds, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” Prokofiev, Sonata for Solo Violin Modugno, “Volare” Wood & Mellin, “My One and Only Love” Bach, “Alleluja” from “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen”

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).