TED Radio Hour Remembering a maestro through 'New World Symphony'
Dec 10, 2025
In this enlightening conversation, Robert Franz, a renowned orchestral conductor and music director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, shares his insights on Dvořák's 'New World Symphony.' He offers four essential listening tools: rhythm, melody, texture, and visuals. Robert dives into the emotional depth of the piece, highlighting its American folk influences and poignant melodies. He discusses the tension created by rhythm, the dramatic development section, and the euphoric finale, encouraging listeners to explore the journey music can take them on.
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Use Four Listening Tools
- Focus on rhythm, melody, texture and visuals when listening to orchestral music.
- Use these four tools to hear structure, feel tension, and enjoy music more.
Rhythm Can Mirror Or Oppose Your Heartbeat
- Rhythm can align with or oppose your heartbeat to create ease or tension.
- Recognizing that relationship reveals how music affects your physical feeling.
Melody As Musical Story
- Melody carries you through time like a story with beginning, middle, and end.
- Following melodic motion helps you perceive narrative and emotional direction.