PODCAST · society
Take Note
by Arizona PBS
Take Note is a ninety-second weekly dive into music history where we choose topics based on music’s intersection with national and international cultural celebrations. Highlighting diverse topics within the history of music, Take Note aims to promote inclusivity in the world of classical music. Each Take Note episode has its own focus whether fun or educational so that listeners from all backgrounds will find something to enjoy from week to week. From holidays like Cinco de Mayo and the 4th of July to World Day of Social Justice and National Eisteddfod, Take Note covers a breadth of topics displaying the many roles music plays in our world.
Episodes
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Global Cat Day
In honor of Global Cat Day, we’re looking at a few classical composers who adored their feline companions and at one classical work that takes its inspiration from a cat’s piano improvisation.
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Oktoberfest
From September 19th to October 4th, Munich will celebrate the 191st Oktoberfest with food, beer, traditional garb, and music. Learn about that traditional Bavarian musical sound right here on Take Note!
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Broadway Musicals Day
September 29th is Broadway Musicals Day, and we’re celebrating with what some enthusiasts and scholars consider the first example of a staged musical production: The Black Crook.
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Chuseok
This week, we’re recognizing the Korean holiday of Chuseok, the harvest festival that falls from September 24th to 26th. Among Chuseok observances, a significant historical practice is "ganggangsullae" (강강술래), a communal dance in which participants join hands in the shape of the full moon and act...
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Hispanic Heritage Month 2026
It is Hispanic Heritage Month! And on Take Note, we’re celebrating with a string quartet by Peruvian Jewish American composer Gabriela Lena Frank.
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Ge'ez New Year
On this episode, we ring in the Ethiopian and Eritrean New Year, which is marked by the end of the region’s rainy season. Ge’ez New Year is also called Enkutatash in Amharic and Kudus Yohannes in Ge’ez and Tigrinya. We’ll hear some celebratory music and learn about the traditional instruments of...
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Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. The celebration falls on Friday, September 4th and is celebrated with devotional chant and singing, which we’ll hear in a recording of the Hare Krishna Maha mantra.
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Women's Equality Day
August 26th is Women’s Equality Day, and on Take Note, we’re celebrating an important composer in the fight for women’s equality: Amy Beach.
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National Radio Day
In this episode we celebrate National Radio Day by taking a look back at the history of classical music aired on radio.
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National Hip-hop Day
This August 11th, marks the 3rd annual National Hip-hop Celebration Day! Listen to learn about this iconic American genre - its influences and its place in significant American music.
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Ker Puja
On this week’s Take Note, we’re honoring the Hindu holiday of Ker Puja, which occurs on August 7th. It’s a solemn celebration primarily observed in the Northeastern Indian state of Tripura. Listen to hear the sound of the bamboo flute sumui.
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Asalha Puja
This week on Take Note, we’re honoring the Theravada Buddhist festival Asalha Puja, which commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon. We’ll hear traditional Sri Lankan Buddhist music and learn about the instrument horanawa.
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Fiesta de Santiago
As we wrap up the month of July, let’s celebrate the Fiesta de Santiago, a day that honors Spain’s patron saint St. James the Apostle. We’ll observe this holiday with 12th century sacred polyphonic music as well as some traditional sounds of the Spanish-speaking Americas.
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World Listening Day
This week on Take Note, we’re observing World Listening Day, a time to recognize the importance of sound in our lives and its role in shaping our understanding of the world around us.
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Star Festival
July 7th is Tanabata, or the Star Festival, in Japan. It is derived from the Chinese Qixi Festival. In this episode, we’ll hear the traditional Tanabata song.
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America 250: Sounds of the Revolution
In honor of America 250, let’s learn about the music and the instruments that created the soundscape of the Revolutionary War.
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Pride Month 2026: Tchaikovsky
In this episode, we celebrate pride month with the story of Tchaikovsky, and we discuss why it’s important to acknowledge musicians’ sexuality.
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Juneteenth: Blind Tom Wiggins
In this episode, in honor of Juneteenth, we learn about the life of Blind Tom Wiggins, who is sometimes referred to as the “last American slave.”
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African American Music Appreciation Month
June is African American Music Appreciation Month, and in this episode we cover the various popular music genres with African American roots and take a look at three very different musicians.
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Gawai Dayak
Celebrated annually on June 1st and 2nd, Gawai Dayak is the Harvest Festival celebrated in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia on Borneo. This week, we learn about the dance Ngajat and the instruments that accompany it.
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Africa Day
May 25th is Africa Day! This week on Take Note learn about two of Africa's premiere musicologists, Akin Euba and J. H. Kwabena Nketia.
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Luilak
May 23rd is Luilak, a Dutch holiday designed to energize the lazy. Learn about this clangorous celebration this week on Take Note.
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San Isidro's Feast Day
This week on Take Note we celebrate San Isidro’s Feast Day, a Catholic celebration that originated in Seville. We learn about Mozarabs and the history of Mozarabic chant.
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Kodomo-no-hi
On May 5th we celebrate children with Kodomo-no-hi, a Japanese holiday. Learn about the koinobori and its musical companion this week on Take Note.
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Lei Day
In Hawaii, May 1st is Lei Day, a time to celebrate the Aloha spirit and honor Native Hawaiian traditions. In this episode, learn about hapa haole music and how to let it inspire you to discover the authentic music of Hawaii.
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Organ Day
Happy Organ Day! This week on Take Note, celebrate this glorious and versatile instrument with Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 in C Minor and Larsen’s Aspects of Glory.
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Songkran
The Thai New Year Songkran brings many celebrations and water related festivities. Listen to this episode to hear the song Ram Wong Wan Songkran by innovative composer Eua Sunthornsanan.
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Passover
This week on Take Note, we're honoring the Jewish holiday of Passover that begins on April 1st and lasts until the 9th. We'll hear Erich Wolfgang Korngold's poignant work, A Passover Psalm.
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Easter
Celebrate the movable feast of Easter with some orchestral music and hot cross buns here at Take Note!
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Greek American Heritage Month
Happy Greek American Heritage Month! This week on Take Note, we learn about one iconic Greek American diva of the stage, Maria Callas.
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Eid al-Fitr
In this episode, celebrate Eid Al-Fitr by exploring the Arabic song that came to be associated with the holiday.
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Women's History Month 2026
Happy Women’s History Month from us here at Take Note! In this episode we hear about two compositions that align with this year’s Women’s History Month theme: “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”
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Holi (Festival of Color)
Holi, or the Festival of Color, takes place on March 4th this year, celebrating the start of spring, new beginnings, and the triumph of good over evil. This week’s episode features the music of Red Baraat.
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Black History Month
February is Black History Month, and today we're learning about two remarkable composers: William Grant Still and Valerie Coleman.
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Carnival
Celebrated this year between February 12th and 17th, Carnival is one of the most widely varied holidays in the Christian tradition; and this week on Take Note, we’re learning about music inspired by the holiday.
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Valentine's Day
What is more romantic than Shakespeare? This week on Take Note, it’s Romeo and Juliet in honor of Valentine's Day.
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National Ukulele Day
February 2nd is Ukulele Day, and this episode is all about the small but mighty instrument most commonly associated with Hawaii.
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Up Helly Aa
Join us in celebrating Up Helly Aa, a time marking the end of the Yule season. In this episode, we learn about Scottish folk music.
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Mariachi Day - Re-Air!
In this episode, celebrate Mariachi Day by exploring the origins of mariachi music and what led it to becoming widely celebrated today.
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Korean American Day
January 13 is Korean American day! On this episode we listen to Juri Seo’s Toy Store, a work that draws inspiration from her Korean and American musical and cultural influences.
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Muslim American Heritage Month
January is Music American Heritage Month. On this episode of Take Note we take a closer look at the often overlooked contributions that Muslim Americans have made to America’s quintessential genre of music, jazz!
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Kwanzaa
This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Kwanzaa and the music that plays an important role as one of the binding forces bringing African and African American cultures together.
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Christmas
This holiday season, explore rarely-heard contributions to the Christmas playlist from Franz Liszt and Arnold Schoenberg.
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Saturnalia
This week we’re learning about the ancient Roman winter festival Saturnalia, a time of feasting, merriment, gift-giving, and more.
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Hanukkah
This week on Take Note, we’re honoring the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah that begins on December 14th and lasts until the 22nd. We’ll hear a traditional blessing plus some rousing Klezmer tunes.
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Bodhi Day
December 8th is Bodhi Day, a holiday commemorating the Buddha achieving enlightenment. In this episode, we learn about Tan Dun’s work Buddha Passion.
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Native American Heritage Month 2025
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we’re highlighting the first Native American composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for music: Raven Chacon.
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Latvian Independence Day
We’re celebrating this year’s Latvian Independence Day by learning about composer Jāzeps Vītols who played a vital role in nurturing the musical culture of the newly independent country in the early 20th century.
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Veterans Day
Celebrate this Veterans Day with a full-scale work by Patrick Hawes dedicated to those who lost their lives in the first World War.
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Puerto Rican Heritage Month
This week on Take Note, we’re honoring Puerto Rican Heritage month by learning about the musical traditions of the archipelago and well-known contemporary artists.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Take Note is a ninety-second weekly dive into music history where we choose topics based on music’s intersection with national and international cultural celebrations. Highlighting diverse topics within the history of music, Take Note aims to promote inclusivity in the world of classical music. Each Take Note episode has its own focus whether fun or educational so that listeners from all backgrounds will find something to enjoy from week to week. From holidays like Cinco de Mayo and the 4th of July to World Day of Social Justice and National Eisteddfod, Take Note covers a breadth of topics displaying the many roles music plays in our world.
HOSTED BY
Arizona PBS
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Take Note have?
Take Note currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Take Note about?
Take Note is a ninety-second weekly dive into music history where we choose topics based on music’s intersection with national and international cultural celebrations. Highlighting diverse topics within the history of music, Take Note aims to promote inclusivity in the world of classical music....
How often does Take Note release new episodes?
Take Note has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Take Note?
You can listen to Take Note on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Take Note?
Take Note is created and hosted by Arizona PBS.
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