Take Note

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Celebrate the movable feast of Easter with some orchestral music and hot cross buns here at Take Note!

Happy Greek American Heritage Month! This week on Take Note, we learn about one iconic Greek American diva of the stage, Maria Callas. 

In this episode, celebrate Eid Al-Fitr by exploring the Arabic song that came to be associated with the holiday. 

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.” 

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.  

February is Black History Month, and today we're learning about two remarkable composers: William Grant Still and Valerie Coleman. 

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.

What is more romantic than Shakespeare? This week on Take Note, it’s Romeo and Juliet in honor of Valentine's Day. 

February 2nd is Ukulele Day, and this episode is all about the small but mighty instrument most commonly associated with Hawaii.

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.   

In this episode, celebrate Mariachi Day by exploring the origins of mariachi music and what led it to becoming widely celebrated today.

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. 

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!

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.   

This holiday season, explore rarely-heard contributions to the Christmas playlist from Franz Liszt and Arnold Schoenberg.

This week we’re learning about the ancient Roman winter festival Saturnalia, a time of feasting, merriment, gift-giving, and more.

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.

December 8th is Bodhi Day, a holiday commemorating the Buddha achieving enlightenment. In this episode, we learn about Tan Dun’s work Buddha Passion.

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we’re highlighting the first Native American composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for music: Raven Chacon.

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.

Celebrate this Veterans Day with a full-scale work by Patrick Hawes dedicated to those who lost their lives in the first World War.

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.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating National Immigrants Day by learning about Carlos Simon’s orchestral work, This Land, a musical tribute to this nation’s ideals of hope and unity. 

This week we are observing the Hindu celebration of Diwali. Along with traditions used to celebrate the festival, no Diwali is complete without dance and song.

October is Italian American Heritage Month, and we’re celebrating with the music of Henry Mancini, one of history’s most prolific composers of film and television soundtracks. 

October 10 is National Trumpet Day, and you can celebrate with trumpet music on Take Note. As aired on KBACH on October 7.

It is Hispanic Heritage Month! And on Take Note, we’re celebrating with a string quartet by Peruvian Jewish American composer Gabriela Lena Frank. As aired on KBACH on September 30.

This week on Take Note, we’re honoring International Week of the Deaf with famous deaf musicians and a special music program for deaf children. As aired on KBACH on September 23.

International country music day was established in the 1950s and is a time for country music enthusiasts to appreciate their favorite music. And today we’re celebrating by talking about the woman who brought a whole new audience to this genre. As aired on KBACH on September 16.

In honor of Brazil’s independence day, we’re learning about Brazilian music like samba and bossa nova. As aired on September 9th.

September 1 was World Letter Writing Day, and on Take Note, we’re learning about two particular letter writers whose correspondence we can read today. As aired on KBACH on September 2.

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. As aired on KBACH on August 26th.

This week on Take Note, we learn about the Festival of Obon, a Japanese tradition dating back over 500 years. In this episode, we will dive into the folk music behind this special holiday. As aired on KBACH on August 19.

August 12 is National Vinyl Record Day, and on Take Note, we’re explaining how this classic medium works. As aired on KBACH on August 12.

This week on Take Note, it’s British Columbia Day. You probably didn’t even know some of these famous artists are from British Columbia! As aired on KBACH on August 5.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating bagpipe appreciation day by learning all about this ancient instrument and its uses over the years. As aired on KBACH on July 29th.

This week on Take Note we’re learning about traditional Japanese hayashi music in honor of the Tobata Gion Yamagasa Festival. As aired on KBACH on July 22.

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.

This week in honor of Nunavut Day, learn about kattajaq, a form of throat singing practiced by Inuit musicians. As aired on KBAQ on July 8.

In this episode we celebrate the 4th of July as it is an American holiday that celebrates the passage of the declaration of independence. As aired on KBACH on July 1st.

This week on Take Note, we’re learning about the traditional religious festival of the Andes region known as Inti Raymi. As aired on KBACH on June 24.

In honor of Juneteenth, we’re taking the opportunity to examine the life of the newly rediscovered composer and fiddle player Sawney Freeman, who was perhaps the first Black composer to have his work published. As aired on KBACH on June 17th.

This special Father’s Day episode is all about the fathers in classical music history. As aired on KBACH on June 10.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month with the music of Erollyn Wallen and Bob Marley. As aired on KBACH on June 3.