Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast
Joshua Weilerstein
Sticky Notes is a classical music podcast for everyone, whether you are just getting interested in classical music for the first time, or if you've been listening to it and loving it all your life. Interviews with great artists, in depth looks at pieces in the repertoire, and both basic and deep dives into every era of music. Classical music is absolutely for everyone, so let's start listening! Note - Seasons 1-5 will be returning over the next year. They have been taken down in order to be re-recorded in improved sound quality!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 24, 2020 • 43min
Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker
It's possible that the Nutcracker is the most recognizable Western Classical Music in the world, so what could one say about this ubiquitous piece? Well, from the adaptations of the original story, to the composition process, to the premiere, to the music itself, and to what the Nutcracker means to classical institutions, there's a lot here! At the end of the show, I also make a plea on behalf of ballet companies worldwide, and look forward to next year, when we can all enjoy this wonderful classic again.
Dec 17, 2020 • 46min
Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring, Part 1
You might be surprised to know that the famous riot at the premiere of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring was by no means the only disturbance at a classical concert in history. But it is the most famous. This week, we'll explore the who, what, when, where, and WHY of this riot, and go through Part 1 of the Rite of Spring. We'll talk about folk music and Stravinsky's use of it, rhythm, orchestration, color, and much more as we grapple with a piece that sounds just as revolutionary in 2020 as it did in 1913.
Dec 10, 2020 • 40min
Mahler Symphony No. 3, Part 3 (Season 6 Finale)
Welcome to the Season 6 Finale of Sticky Notes! Mahler titled the last movement of his 3rd symphony "What Love Tells Me." This movement is my favorite movement of any Mahler symphony. It is a profoundly heartfelt chorale that traverses peaks and valleys of ecstasy and despair in equal measure. We'll talk all about this emotionally complex movement and how it relates to the other 5 movements in the symphony. At the end of the show, I took a moment to reflect on the previous year of shows. Please join me!
Dec 3, 2020 • 56min
Mahler Symphony No. 3, Part 2
The middle four movements of Mahler's 3rd symphony were central to his mission - that is, to portray the entire world in one symphony. And when I say entire world I really mean it. In these movements, Mahler musically portrays what the flowers, nature, man, and angels tell him. These are some of the most colorful, kaleidoscopic, fascinating, and difficult movements in all of Mahler, and we'll talk all about them. We'll also try a new experiment where I take you through how I study a piece like this - enjoy!
Nov 25, 2020 • 47min
Copland "Appalachian Spring" (Re-Upload)
For this Thanksgiving week we're doing another re-upload from the archive! Today we'll look at Copland's Appalachian Spring, a ballet that has captured the imagination of listeners worldwide and seems to be the marker of the "American" sound in Western Classical Music. We'll look at some of the differences between the two versions of the piece, talk about why it sounds so American, and listen to some fascinating rehearsal footage with Copland himself! This is one of my favorite past episodes - please enjoy!
Nov 19, 2020 • 1h 1min
A Conversation with Harry Christophers, Founder and Director of The Sixteen
This week I spoke with Harry Christophers, who wears many different hats in his jobs as Artistic Director of the Handel and Haydn Society, and as the Founder and Director of The Sixteen, one of the world's most renowned choirs. I spoke with Harry about A Choral Odyssey, a new program debuting TONIGHT on thesixteen.com. The show explores great choral repertoire while exploring the venues in which it was first created. We also talked about choral conducting vs. orchestral conducting, and much much more.
Nov 12, 2020 • 44min
Mahler Symphony No. 3, Part 1
Mahler on his third symphony: "Just imagine a work of such magnitude that it actually mirrors the whole world—one is, so to speak, only an instrument, played on by the universe. . . . My symphony will be something the like of which the world has never yet heard! . . . In it the whole of nature finds a voice." As one of the grandest symphonies ever written, Mahler's 3rd symphony truly does embrace the world of nature in every possible way. This week we discuss the first movement, a 36 minute long colossus!
Nov 5, 2020 • 59min
A Conversation with Composer and Violinist Jesse Montgomery
Jessie Montgomery is an acclaimed composer, violinist, and educator. Her works are performed frequently around the world by leading musicians and ensembles. Her music interweaves classical music with elements of vernacular music, improvisation, language, and social justice, placing her squarely as one of the most relevant interpreters of 21st-century American sound and experience. We had a great conversation touching on her upbringing, improv in classical music, her wide range of works, and much more!
Oct 29, 2020 • 53min
Politics in Classical Music
First of all, if you're American, I hope you're listening to this while standing in line to vote! Western Classical Music does not have the reputation for political activism that other kinds of music have, but that doesn't mean composers haven't made political statements all throughout history with their music. Today we'll go through some of the most politically charged pieces in Western Classical Music History, all the way from the music of Joseph Haydn to the music of today. Don't forget to vote!!
Oct 22, 2020 • 48min
Mozart Symphony No. 40
Explore the mysteries surrounding Mozart's Symphony No. 40, from its origins to its emotional impact on listeners. Dive into the contrasting exposition and recapitulation, the ambiguity and rhythmic challenges in the music, and the intense and joyous last movement. Discover the dramatic depth of Mozart's music and its historical context, along with references to Brahms.
