EPISODE · Jun 16, 2026 · 16 MIN
A brief history of the West's weirdest music
from The World: Latest Stories · host Jenna Gadbois
Most songs that reach the top of the charts have a few traits in common: They are a few minutes long, they're played on familiar instruments, and you can dance to them. But what if a composer doesn't care about popularity or dancing? That's when they get into mischief. That's the theme of a new book, "The Madman's Orchestra: The Greatest Curiosities from the History of Music." Author Edward Brooke-Hitching joins Host Marco Werman to take us on a tour through some of history's musical oddities.
What this episode covers
Most songs that reach the top of the charts have a few traits in common: They are a few minutes long, they're played on familiar instruments, and you can dance to them. But what if a composer doesn't care about popularity or dancing? That's when they get into mischief. That's the theme of a new book, "The Madman's Orchestra: The Greatest Curiosities from the History of Music." Author Edward Brooke-Hitching joins Host Marco Werman to take us on a tour through some of history's musical oddities.
NOW PLAYING
A brief history of the West's weirdest music
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Mar 19, 2026 ·34m
Feb 18, 2026 ·11m
Feb 11, 2026 ·45m