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Performance Today®

The patterns of life

Composer Jessie Montgomery found inspiration in nature's infinitely repeating patterns: fractals. Her fascination with these natural wonders led her to write a captivating new piece that brings fractals to life through sound. On today's show, we'll hear "Rounds" by Jessie Montgomery, a musical exploration of nature's boundless beauty.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Robert Paterson: String Quartet No. 3 movement 2: Poet Voice
Indianapolis Quartet
Album: Robert Paterson: String Quartets 1-3
American Modern Recordings 1054

Sergei Rachmaninoff, arr. Dmitri Atapine: Vespers, Op. 37: Movement 5 Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart in Peace
Dmitri Atapine, Nicholas Canellakis, Joshua Halpern, Jasper Lee, Estelle Choi, Katina Pantazopoulos, Rachel Siu, Katherine Lee, Inbal Segev, Sara Flexer, Brian Gadbow, Lucas Chen, Joel Kim, David Finckel, cellos
Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival and Institute, Spieker Center for the Arts, Menlo Park, CA

Antonio Vivaldi: Flute Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 10 RV439 "La Notte"
Elizabeth Mann, flute | Michael Kroth, bassoon | Steven Copes, violin | Stefan Hersh, violin | David Ying, cello | Susan Cahill, bass | Susan Grace, harpsichord
Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Packard Hall, Colorado Springs, CO

Robert Paterson: Triple Concerto
Neave Trio | Mostly Modern Orchestra | JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Mostly Modern Festival, Arthur Zankel Music Center, Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall, Saratoga Springs, NY

Hour 2

Johannes Brahms: Ballade No. 1
Awadagin Pratt, piano
Album: Awadagin Pratt: A Long Way from Normal
EMI

Max Bruch: Selections from 8 Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano
Todd Palmer, clarinet | Masumi Per Rostad, viola | Inon Barnatan, piano
Spoleto Festival USA Chamber Music Series, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston, SC

Jessie Montgomery: Rounds for Piano and Strings
Awadagin Pratt, piano | Minnesota Orchestra | Mei-Ann Chen, conductor
Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN

Gustav Holst: St. Paul's Suite
The Scottish Ensemble | Jonathan Morton, conductor
University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, GA

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

PT Weekend: Nikolai Kapustin

PT Weekend: Nikolai Kapustin

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1:59:00
Maria Dueñas

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The Aznavoorian Duo

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The intersection of classical and jazz

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Nikolai Kapustin’s compositions are full of joyful syncopations, and some listeners called him a jazz pianist. But, Kapustin emphasized that he was a classically trained composer who just happened to love jazz. We’ll hear Kapustin’s music at the intersection of classical and jazz on today’s show.

1:59:00
Michael Abels: Winged Creatures

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1:59:00
Ruth Gipps: Symphony No. 2

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1:59:00
PT Weekend: Richard Danielpour

PT Weekend: Richard Danielpour

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1:59:00
El Dia de los Muertos

El Dia de los Muertos

El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a time to joyfully remember family and friends who've passed away. Because death is always present, life is worth living to the fullest. Today, we’re celebrating life... on the Day of the Dead.

1:59:00
Alim Beisembayev

Alim Beisembayev

Winning a music competition often means winning cash prizes and publicity galore. Pianist Alim Beisembayev also won the chance to perform the world premiere of a new piece. He'll play a brand piano concerto by Eleanor Alberga on today's show.

1:59:00
The Piano Puzzler

The Piano Puzzler

Every week on our Piano Puzzler, composer Bruce Adolphe re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a great composer. One of our listeners calls in and tries to guess the tune and the composer whose style Bruce is mimicking. Tune in and play along with our weekly musical game: the Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
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About Performance Today®

To find a station near you on our Stations Listings page, click here.

American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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