It used to be that all classical musicians could improvise. That was just part of the job. Over the years, it's become something of a lost art among performers. With one notable exception. The tradition of improvisation has never died out among organists. Why? Michael Barone, host of "Pipedreams," and organist Cameron Carpenter both comment on that question. Carpenter also demonstrates his improvisational skill in concert. Join us as we continue our look at improvisation in classical music.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
George Frideric Handel: "A dispetto," from "Tamerlano"
Countertenor David Daniels with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and conductor Sir Roger Norrington
Joseph Haydn: Piano Trio in E minor, Hob. XV: 12
Pianist Derek Han, violinist Jorja Fleezanis and cellist Laurence Lesser
Music@Menlo Festival, Palo Alto, California
Sir Edward Elgar: Three Movements from the Symphony No. 1 in A-flat, Op. 55
The Stuttgart Radio Symphony with conductor Sir Roger Norrington
The BBC Proms, London, England
Hour 2
Andrea Falconieri: "Folias echa para mi Senora Dona Tarolilla de Carallenos"
Chatham Baroque
David Popper: "Hungarian Rhapsody for Cello and Piano," Op. 68
Cellist Dilyana Momchilova and pianist Rujka Charakchieva
Bulgarian National Radio Studio 1, Sofia, Bulgaria
Claude Debussy: Sonata for Cello and Piano, L.135
Cellist Ralph Kirshbaum and pianist Peter Jablonski
The Frick Collection, New York
Improvisation on "Mary had a Little Lamb"
Organist Cameron Carpenter
Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata, Minnesota
Thomas Lupo: Two Fantasias
Baroque Violinist David Douglass with Chatham Baroque
Synod Hall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Anonymous: "Guarde las Vaces"
Labyrinto
Tage Alter Musik (Early Music Days) Festival, Herne, Germany
Arcangelo Corelli: "Fantasy on La Follia"
Red Priest
Schwetzingen Festival, Schwetzingen, Germany
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