This episode features the first part of a two-part interview with Professor Mira T. Sundara Rajan. In this segment, she shares her perspective on the role of improvisation in Western classical music. Mira is a concert pianist, amongst other things. Improvisation plays an important role in her practice and performance of music in interesting ways. As it so happens, the approach she describes is similar to that of the great pianist Vladimir Sofronitsky, which I discuss in an Epilogue to our conversation.

 

For more information about Mira and her activities, see her website: https://professormira.com/

 

Artur Schnabel's interpretation of Beethoven Op. 109

 

Geniuses: Vladimir Sofronitsky (Documentary 2007) English Subtitles 

 

Vladimir Sofronitsky's interpretation of Chopin's Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat Major, Op. 51

 

The musical interlude towards the beginning features music by Bradley Vines and the following verbal content: 

• A quote from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, S1 E8 - The Elysian Kingdom, spoken by Babs Olusanmokun's character, Dr. Joseph M'Benga 
• A quote from Anil Seth from his lecture, Is Reality a Controlled Hallucination?