The New Criterion Podcasts

The New Criterion Podcasts episodes:

• 04.22.2024

  Music for a While #88: Shout it out

  In this episode, Jay begins with a shout—“Carolina Shout,” the classic jazz number by James P. Johnson. There are songs by Schumann, Puccini, and Porter (Cole). There are piano preludes—starter pieces by their composers. At the end, there is a...

  
• 04.08.2024

  Peter Vertacnik reads from “The Nature of Things Fragile”

  The Friends of The New Criterion recently gathered for an evening in celebration of Peter Vertacnik, whose “The Nature of Things Fragile” won the magazine’s twenty-third poetry prize. Listen to hear Peter read a number of poems from this new...

  
• 04.04.2024

  Music for a While #87: Spring forward

  Jay has assembled a little celebration of spring: songs, arias, a symphony, a sonata. Who doesn’t want to sing spring? Argento, “Spring,” from “Six Elizabethan Songs” Sinding, “Rustle of Spring” Wagner, “Du bist der Lenz,” from “Die Walküre” Beethoven, “Spring” Sonata, Rondo Strauss, “Herr Lenz” Saint-Saëns,...

  
• 03.18.2024

  Goodbye, Dr. Banda

  On March 14, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at the magazine’s headquarters to hear remarks from Dr. Alexander Chula on his new book, “Goodbye, Dr. Banda: Lessons for the West From a Small African Country.”

  
• 03.15.2024

  Music for a While #86: A Williams gala

  Recently, Carnegie Hall hosted a John Williams gala. The program was all-Williams and the composer himself conducted most of the concert. In this episode, Jay hosts his own little Williams gala. All by John Williams: “The Mission” Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra from...

  
• 03.04.2024

  Is there life after woke?

  On February 29, the Galliard Society joined the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion at The Players in New York for remarks delivered by Dominic Green.

  
• 02.27.2024

  Music for a While #85: Our leap baby

  Rossini was born on February 29, 1792. So Jay doffs his cap to him. We also hear Schubert, Brahms, Ravel, and worthy others (including Dvořák, who knew how to swing). Rossini, Overture to “La gazza ladra” Schubert, Symphony No. 5, first movement Ravel,...

  
• 02.15.2024

  Jeremy Black & James Panero in conversation

  On the River Thames, the rise of cities & the future of history. A conversation occasioned by Jeremy Black’s essay in our February 2024 issue.

  
• 02.14.2024

  Music for a While #84: A world of (love) songs

  A Valentine’s Day special—with music by the likes of Strauss, Poulenc, and Barber, sung by the likes of Jessye Norman, Arleen Auger, and Leontyne Price. A bouquet, a box of candies—a musical present for you. Trad., arr. Quilter, “Over the Mountains” Strauss,...

  
• 01.26.2024

  Music for a While #83: Pieces & people to know

  Some rare Prokofiev, some common Prokofiev. An operatic blast from the past (Price and Tucker). A tribute to Colette Maze, a French pianist who has died at 109. Another tribute to Ewa Podleś, the great Polish contralto. A mixture of...

  
• 12.19.2023

  Music for a While #82: Christmas carols (& other timely music)

  Jay offers tracks of various types—appropriate to the season. From William Byrd on through spirituals and George Shearing. Merry Christmas. Bach, Christmas Oratorio Handel, “Messiah” Byrd, “This Day Christ Was Born” Niles, “I Wonder as I Wander” “Ding Dong! Merrily on High,” with George Shearing and...

  
• 10.30.2023

  Music for a While #81: Pictures, souvenirs & more

  Mussorgsky was inspired by some pictures at an exhibition. Mendelssohn, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky, among others, were inspired by their sojourns in Italy. In this podcast, Jay leads an enjoyable and enriching tour. Mussorgsky, “Pictures at an Exhibition” Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4, Saltarello Strauss, “Aus...

  
• 09.20.2023

  Wilfred M. McClay & James Panero in conversation

  Executive Editor James Panero sits down with Visiting Critic Wilfred M. McClay to discuss “The burden of the humanities,” the fifth annual Circle Lecture of The New Criterion. The full text of the speech will be available in the November 2023 issue. For...

  
• 09.13.2023

  Music for a While #80: Telling the time

  A phrase has crept up into our political discussion: “to know what time it is.” Jay begins this episode with a Rodgers & Hart song: “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.” Then we have Mozart, Boccherini, Rachmaninoff, Donizetti—a slew...

  
• 08.29.2023

  Music for a While #79: Flicka-fest

  Frederica von Stade—known all over as “Flicka”—is an American mezzo-soprano and one of the greatest singers of our time, or any. Last month, Jay recorded a podcast with her, a “Q&A”: here. She is one of the most versatile singers....

  
• 07.18.2023

  Music for a While #78: Musical moments

  Several composers have written “moments musicaux,” or “musical moments,” including Schubert and Rachmaninoff. So has a contemporary American, Joshua Nichols. Jay plays a “moment” from each composer. (Actually, Rachmaninoff gets two.) He also plays music from Brazil, etc. The episode...

  
• 06.26.2023

  Music for a While #77: ’Tis of thee

  A program of American, or American-ish, music, in honor of Independence Day. Trad., “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” Dvorak, String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, “American,” final movement Puccini, “ Dovunque al mondo ,” from “Madama Butterfly” Joplin, “Gladiolus Rag” Gershwin, “Summertime,”...

  
• 06.13.2023

  Music for a While #76: Bustin’ out

  Yes, June is bustin’ out, and so is a new episode. Jay plays that song and several others, known and less known. There’s also piano music, a violin piece—a tasty musical meal. Rodgers & Hammerstein, “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,”...

  
• 06.07.2023

  Roger Kimball introduces the June issue

  Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the June 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

  
• 05.17.2023

  Music for a While #75: A coronation, a swan & more

  “Zadok the Priest” is the musical hit of British coronations, and has been since the 1720s. “The Swan” is a hit too, and is never more magical than in Godowsky’s piano arrangement. These are two of the selections in this...

  
• 05.15.2023

  The meaning of ballet with Lincoln Jones

  On May 11, 2023, The New Criterion welcomed Lincoln Jones, the director of the American Contemporary Ballet, Los Angeles, alongside the dancer Hannah Barr for a discussion and demonstration of ballet at a Friends and Young Friends spring soirée in...

  
• 05.04.2023

  Isaac Sligh & James Panero in conversation

  Isaac Sligh & James Panero discuss the Republic of Georgia, Crusaders, travel writing, audiophiles & more. To read Isaac's article on Crusaders and the Caucasus in The Critic, visit https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/march-2023/land-of-ghosts-and-legends/. To learn more about the Ralston Listening Library, which Isaac used to...

  
• 05.02.2023

  Roger Kimball introduces the May issue

  Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the May 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

  
• 04.24.2023

  Music for a While #74: Speak low, speak high

  Jay concludes this episode with “Speak Low,” the Kurt Weill song (lyrics by Ogden Nash). Before that, you have any number of other interesting things. Well, a specific number: six. A very tasty menu of music. Handel, “The Harmonious Blacksmith” Strauss, “Malven” Boccherini-Berio,...

  
• 04.05.2023

  Music for a While #73: Happy Easter

  A program of music, by a slew of composers. Bach, “Preis und Dank,” from the Easter Oratorio Bach, “Mache dich, mein Herze, rein,” from the St. Matthew Passion Mascagni, Easter Hymn, from “Cavalleria rusticana” Trad., arr. Bonds, “You Can Tell the World” Handel, “I know...

  
• 04.03.2023

  Adam Kirsch & James Panero in conversation; a reading by Brian Brodeur

  Adam Kirsch & James Panero discuss the April poetry issue, the New Criterion Poetry Prize, and more. Brian Brodeur reads selections from his winning book, Some Problems with Autobiography (Criterion Books).

  
• 03.31.2023

  Roger Kimball introduces the April issue

  Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the April 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

  
• 03.22.2023

  Music for a While #72: Songs, dances, laments . . .

  A smorgasbord of music, from the light and Viennesey to the angular and modern. Bacewicz, Overture for Orchestra Vustin, “Lamento” Sæverud, “Ballad of Revolt” Johnston/Burke, “Pennies from Heaven” Escaich, “Nun komm” Helmesberger, “Entr’acte Valse” Mussorgsky, Serenade, from “Songs and Dances of Death” Strauss, Eduard, “Mit Extrapost — Polka...

  
• 03.08.2023

  Roger Kimball introduces the March issue

  Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the March 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

  
• 02.27.2023

  Robert Erickson & James Panero in conversation

  Robert Erickson and James Panero discuss Plutarch, plays, pastrami, and more. The second of our podcasts on the Hilton Kramer Fellowship. The texts used in the New Criterion classics reading group are as follows: —Histories, Herodotus, Landmark Edition, tr. Andrea L. Purvis,...

  
• 02.07.2023

  Music for a While #71: Music in the life of Paul Johnson

  Paul Johnson, the great English historian and journalist, passed away last month. Music was important in the life of Paul Johnson. Jay has arranged a little program, in tribute. Mozart, Clarinet Concerto, first movement Bruckner, Scherzo from Symphony No. 9 Brahms, Intermezzo in...

  
• 01.30.2023

  Benjamin Riley and James Panero in conversation

  Benjamin Riley and James Panero discuss the Hilton Kramer Fellowship, the bridges of Robert Adam, and what it takes to write for The New Criterion. This is the first podcast in a series celebrating the tenth anniversary of the magazine’s Hilton...

  
• 01.26.2023

  Roger Kimball introduces the February issue

  Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the February 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

  
• 01.19.2023

  Harry Mount addresses the Young Friends

  Remarks from Harry Mount on the publication of his new book Et Tu, Brute? The Best Latin Lines Ever.

  
• 01.12.2023

  Music for a While #70: Ringtones and other tunes

  This episode features the “Nokia tune”—which actually comes from a Spanish guitar piece. We also have tributes to two late-greats: the clarinetist Stanley Drucker and the organist Frederick Swann. And music by Handel, Berkeley, Guillaume Connesson (b. 1970), et al....

  
• 01.05.2023

  Roger Kimball introduces the January issue

  Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the January 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

  
• 12.19.2022

  Music for a While #69: Noël!

  A Christmas podcast: with carols, songs, and other things from all over. Various musical presents under this Tannenbaum. Bach, “Grosser Herr, o starker König,” from the Christmas Oratorio Trad., “The First Noël” Trad., “Joy to the World” Rinker & Huddleston, “December” Trad., “O du fröliche” Trad.,...

  
• 12.06.2022

  Music for a While #68: Preludes and other short wonders

  As our heading suggests, Jay fills this episode with preludes and other short pieces, and songs—by Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Shostakovich, and others. A wonderful, filling assortment. Shostakovich, Fugue in A major, from Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87 Debussy, “La fille aux cheveux de...

  
• 11.22.2022

  Roger Kimball introduces the December issue

  Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the December 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

  
• 11.14.2022

  James Panero on “A library by the book”

  James Panero reads “A library by the book,” his article on the politicization of the American library in the December 2022 issue of The New Criterion. https://newcriterion.com/issues/2022/12/a-library-by-the-book

  
• 10.27.2022

  Music for a While #67: Mornings, etc.

  This episode begins with “Early in the Morning,” the song by Ned Rorem (who just turned ninety-nine). It proceeds with “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.” Later on, there is “Sunday Morning,” one of the “Sea Interludes” from Britten’s opera “Peter...

  
• 10.26.2022

  Roger Kimball introduces the November issue

  Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the November 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

  
• 10.25.2022

  The fourth annual Circle Lecture: “The beginnings” by Joshua T. Katz

  The New Criterion’s Visiting Critic Joshua T. Katz discusses “The beginnings: first words, first lines, first stories.”

  
• 10.17.2022

  Roger Kimball introduces the October issue

  Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the October 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

  
• 10.11.2022

  Joshua T. Katz and James Panero discuss “The beginnings”

  Executive Editor James Panero sits down with Visiting Critic Joshua T. Katz to discuss “The beginnings: first words, first lines, first stories,” the fourth annual Circle Lecture of The New Criterion.

  
• 09.21.2022

  Music for a While #66: September songs

  True to the title of this episode, Jay has September songs: classical (Strauss and Ives, for example); popular (Earth, Wind & Fire!); and in between (Weill). A wonderful and timely bouquet. Marx, “Septembermorgen” Weill-Anderson, “September Song” Stenhammar, “September” Schmidt-Jones, “Try to Remember” Ives, “September” Strauss, “September” Earth,...

  
• 09.09.2022

  Music for a While #65: Moods, indigo and not

  As you can tell from the heading, Jay plays “Mood Indigo” in this episode—or rather, Ella Fitzgerald sings it. There is more jazz at the end, as the Oscar Peterson Trio does up “Tangerine.” This episode also includes an aria...

  
• 08.16.2022

  Music for a While #64: Horne-o-rama

  This summer, Jay had a long talk with Marilyn Horne, the great mezzo-soprano, resulting in a piece called “A Life of Singing.” He thought a podcast, to accompany the piece, would be good. You may well agree. Tracks of various...

  
• 08.03.2022

  Music for a While #63: Little things, big things

  This episode begins with Mozart—a movement from a piano sonata. It ends with a popular song, from the mid-1950s: “Little Things Mean a Lot.” In between are wonders and curiosities—including the Orientalist song on which the James Bond theme is...

  
• 06.28.2022

  Music for a While #62: Beyond the sabre

  Jay presents a program of music by Aram Khachaturian. You get the “Sabre Dance,” sure, from the ballet “Gayane.” But plenty more, too. Very interesting fellow, Khachaturian. All tracks by Aram Khachaturian Waltz from “Masquerade” (orchestra) Suite from “Gayane” Adagio from “Spartacus” Waltz from “Masquerade”...