 When Anthony McGill took two knees, "classical music" institutions everywhere stopped and listened. He talks with Garrett and Scott about what inspired him to create #TakeTwoKnees, and offers his opinions on the discussion of the audition screen. Scott shares his growing relationship with the music of DaBaby, and Garrett reminisces, with the help of some 90s R&B.
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Juan Pablo Contreras is a composer who unapologetically celebrates the sounds of Mexico in his music, and with the help of New Music USA, he'll be doing even more of it, with a commission from the Las Vegas Philharmonic. He talks with Garrett about writing with a Mexican sound, and how orchestras can do more to engage America's Spanish-speaking communities. Scott unpacks some of his latest feelings about growing older, and Garrett draws on a quote by Nicki Minaj to remind people to respect the work (and time) of Black creators.
Playlist: It It - "Jath" John Williams - The Imperial March DaBaby - "Rock Star" (arr. Ezinma) Valerie Coleman - 7 O'clock Shout Florence Price - Child Asleep, Down a Southern Lane Kyle Gann - Going to Bed (Homage to Philip Glass) William Grant Still - Summerland Jose Pablo Moncayo - Huapango Arturo Marquez - Danzon No. 2 Juan Pablo Contreras - Mariachitlan, Silencio en Juarez More: Demarre McGill Jeri Lynn Johnson/Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra Katie Brown Boulanger Initiative Youth Orchestra Los Angeles Lara Downes New Music USA Juan Pablo Contreras "Commentary: In the Time of COVID-19, a Plea for Classical Music" Robert Komaniecki tweet  When the curtain or "screen" was introduced into the world of orchestral auditions, many hoped that this would result in more racially diverse orchestras. It hasn't yet proven to do so, but musicians like Adedeji Ogunfolu still swear by it. He tells Garrett why that is, and sheds light on how his challenges as a musician paved the way for another passion. Scott reacts to seeing "Django Unchained" for the first time, and Garrett reacts to the drama surrounding Nick Cannon.
Episode Playlist: Jeff Scott - "Startin' Something'" Marga Richter - Concerto for Piano, Violas, Cellos, and Basses Traditional - "Steal Away" Florence Price - Piano Concerto in One Movement arr. String Queens - "Glory" Jim Croce - "I've Got a Name" Giuseppe Verdi - Dies Irae Rick Ross - 100 Black Coffins Ludwig van Beethoven - Fur Elise Megan Thee Stallion - "Ratchet" More: Speaker Geeker Podcast Composer or Kanye West? Black Artists on How to Change Classical Music To Make Orchestras More Diverse, End Blind Auditions  "Cancel culture" has rocked the world of social media for a while now, but a man named Paul Robeson was once cancelled by the US government in real life! Garrett chats with Cesare Civetta about the often overlooked legacy of Mr. Robeson, and Scott tackles the cognitive dissonance of being an ally while maintaining a position of power. Garrett and Scott also continue their closer look at so-called "country" music.
Episode Playlist: Kanye West - "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" Lady A - "Doin' Fine" Keb' Mo' - "Every Morning" Charlie Pride - "Between You and Me" Dolly Parton - "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" Crystal Gayle - "Take Me Home" Giuseppe Verdi - "Salve, Allah" from Il Corsaro Pete Seeger - "Joe Hill" Traditional - "Goin' Home" Jerome Kern - "Ol Man River" More: TRILLOQUY in the Star Tribune TRILLOQUY on 91Classical "A Letter on Justice and Open Debate" Cesare Civetta's website  Did you know that Minister Louis Farrakhan is a violinist? After 42 years of focusing on his ministry, Mr. Farrakhan returned to the stage back in 1993, which marked the beginning of the all-Black Gateways Music Festival, and the continued conversations concerning his controversial persona. Garrett and Scott explore this with Amanda Cook from I Care If You Listen, and with Caroline Jones, who helped make that historic event possible. The guys also honor the late Ennio Morricone, and address listener feedback concerning "roots" music.
Playlist: Ennio Morricone - "Upon a Time in the West"/"The Hateful Eight" Judd Greenstein - "Change" Felix Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in e minor More: I Care If You Listen For the Love of Music (The Minister Louis Farrakhan Documentary) Gateways Music Festival  All American music is Black music - even if people don't think so. Garrett and Scott explore this idea as it applies to the music of Shea Diamond, Megan Thee Stallion, Kane Brown, and many others. Titus Underwood, Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony, talks about Black enlightenment, his recent furlough, and the events that prevented his previous appearance on TRILLOQUY. Scott challenges an opinion by Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and Garrett lays out his frustrations with Grammophone and NPR Classical.
Episode Playlist: Shea Diamond, "American Pie" Modest Mussorgsky, "Night on Bald Mountain" Matthew Tyler, "Etude for Elijah McClain" Megan Thee Stallion, "Girls in the Hood" Eric Whitacre/Joby Burgess, "Sleep" Starbuck, "Moonlight Feels Right" Kane Brown, "Heaven" More: Meet the American Composer's Forum's High School Next Notes Artists Riccardo Muti Looks to Re-Open the American Classical Music Scene Someone Finally Remembered William Levi Dawson's 'Negro Folk Symphony'  Garrett and Scott wrap up Pride month with an opus featuring Marvell Terry, who brings an interesting conversation at the intersection of HIV awareness, music, and the Black queer experience. Rob Deemer offers a verbal response to recent critique, Scott reminds non-Black people to "read the room", and Garrett recalls his experiences exploring Black thought leaders of years past.
Playlist: John Corigliano - Symphony No. 1 Lichens - "The Psychic Nature of Being" Shea Diamond - "American Pie" More: Sister Souljah on "good" white people Jennifer Koh Support Marvell Terry on Cash App ($marvellterry) or at AdrianDunn.com  Sometimes organizations, individuals, and institutions get it right. Other times, they just get it...white. Garrett and Scott explore this idea as it applies to the Institute for Composer Diversity, the police, and more. Garrett chats with Stephanie Matthews about transitioning into pop music as a classically trained violinist, and Scott drags Zachary Woolfe.
Playlist: Gustav Holst - Japanese Suite Nina Simone - "Ain't Got No/I Got Life" Mary J. Blige - "I'm Goin' Down" Rachel's - Music for Egon Schiele NWA - "Fuk Da Police" More: https://www.doublereeddish.com https://stringcandy.com https://www.composerdiversity.com https://elizabethabaker.com https://www.pjmortonmusic.com "The Sheku Effect"  Everyone knows the name Derek Chauvin at this point, but do you know about the Black piano player named Louis Chauvin? The guys explore the more nefarious side of his legacy, and his relationship with Scott Joplin. Scott (Blankenship) reacts to the idea of white tears being violent, and offers a challenge to white-led orchestras. In honor of Black Music Appreciation Month, Garrett chats with Alicia Waller about her latest album, "Some Hidden Treasure", and Garrett and Scott unpack "The Birdcage" in honor of Pride Month.
Listen: "Some Hidden Treasure" - Alicia Waller & The Excursion "Heliotope Bouquet" - Louis Chauvin/Scott Joplin Watch: "The Birdcage" (dir. Mike Nichols) "Scott Joplin" (dir. Jeremy Kagan)  The season two premiere of TRILLOQUY features a conversation between the Garrett and Scott about the current unrest in the Twin Cities, and across the country. Garrett speaks with Chicago-based composer Adrian Dunn about Black ownership in classical music, and his relationship with a piece of music that everyone is listening to in light of George Floyd's murder.
Playlist: Aaron Copland - Our Town Joel Thompson - Seven Last Words of the Unarmed Traditional - Soon Ah Will Be Done More: Adrian Dunn's website CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE |
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