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A Perilous Playlist of the Most Macabre Music
Explore a Halloween playlist, featuring macabre music chosen by hosts and staffers. From Verdi’s Requiem to John Williams’ Jaws theme, prepare for a harrowing holiday.
Chapman Challenge: What’s the Spookiest Instrument?
In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses the spookiest instruments in honor of Halloween, highlighting the eerie sounds of the theremin and the scary potential of violins.
Trippy Tales in Classical Music
Explore the connection between altered states of consciousness and music composition, featuring works by Berlioz, Hildegard of Bingen, and Schumann.
13 Days of Spooky Classical
Countdown to Halloween with 13 Days of Spooky Classical
An Obsessive Love that Mirrored Life
Explore the dramatic tale of Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique, an autobiographical piece reflecting his obsessive love for actress Harriet Smithson and his descent into madness.
10 Scary-Good Performances of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue
Explore the Classical California Ultimate Playlist's blog series, featuring awe-inspiring performances of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor on various instruments, from organ to glass harp.
Saturday Morning CarTunes: The Organ
Tune in for a special Halloween edition of Car Tunes featuring the spookiest instrument, the organ! Enjoy works by Bach, Widor, Saint-Saëns, and a surprise from Phantom of the Opera.
Spooky Surprise
For the week of Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos, Glissando has a couple of "Spooky Surprises" for you! At the top of each 20-minute segment of Glissando, get ready for ghosts, ghouls, and jump-scares.
Beyond the Classics: 12 More “Sleigh Rides” For the Holidays
Explore the history of the popular holiday song 'Sleigh Ride', from its creation by Leroy Anderson in 1946 to various renditions by artists like Mozart, Delius, and Mahler.
The Ukrainian Folk Tune Behind “Carol of the Bells”
The Lesser-Known History of “Jingle Bells”
Explore the history of the iconic Christmas song "Jingle Bells," from its creation by James Lord Pierpont in 1850 to its evolution and various renditions by famous artists over the years.
Chapman Challenge: The Story Behind Handel’s “Messiah”
In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses Handel's journey with oratorios, from his first encounter in Italy to his profitable English oratorios, culminating in the creation of Messiah.
What Makes a Christmas Concerto a Christmas Concerto?
In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains that a Christmas concerto is a type of concerto grosso from the Baroque period, characterized by a Pastorale movement.
A Playlist to Celebrate All Things Fall
Explore the beauty of autumn through music with this curated list of compositions inspired by the season's warm colors, chilly weather, and melancholic mood.
