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Opus 127

11/30/2021

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Julia Adolphe is a composer who, in addition to writing music, speaks to and advocates for the conversation of mental health among musicians. She joins Garrett and Scott this week to talk about her podcast, her creative process, and the upcoming premiere of her latest work, "Woven Loom, Silver Spindle". Garrett dedicates a piece of music to his 2-year-old niece who lost her battle with cancer last week, Scott triggers a pointed conversation on race in highlighting William Levi Dawson's "Negro Folk Symphony", and the guys return to a Sister Souljah interview in which she questions the existence of "good" white people.

Support for this opus comes from Opera NexGen
Playlist:

Ann Richards Marching Stars 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Performance - "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
The Roots feat. Erykah Badu - "You Got Me" 
Jon Batiste - "MOVEMENT 11’"
ABBA (perf. Meryl Streep) - "Slipping Through My Fingers" 
Vince Guaraldi Trio - "Für Elise"
William Levi Dawson - "Hope in the Night" (from Negro Folk Symphony)
Julia Adolphe - "Smile Softly, Softly Smile"
Julia Adolphe - "Unearth, Release"
Vince Guaraldi Trio - My Little Drum
More:

Julia Adolphe World Premiere
Julia Adolphe's "Looseleaf Notebook"
Downbeat: R.I.P. Stephen Sondheim
95th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Lineup
New books by Questlove and Kelefa Sanneh explore 50 years of music history
America’s Black Classical Music
2022 Grammy Nominations
Sister Souljah Interview
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Opus 126

11/24/2021

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As Black Lives Matter protests continue across the nation there's a question that's being pushed more and more to the front: Are white people a help or a distraction in these spaces? Garrett and Scott dive into this conversation as it relates to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict and urge listeners to see the reverberations of racial injustice in the court system within all institutions - even the arts! The guys honor the late Young Dolph, unpack a violent situation at a local theater, and more. Rhapsody Snyder and Orbert Davis from the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic return for part 2 of their conversation with Garrett, which leans on "Third Stream" as the key toward a more accessible and equitable arts ecosystem for future generations. 

Support for this opus of TRILLOQUY comes from:

Hensel Pushers
Adrian Dunn & The RIZE Orchestra
Playlist:

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - "Deep River" (perf. Wynton Grant and Stefan Petrov)
Jean Ritchie - Black is the Color
Franz Schubert - String Quintet in C Major (perf. ChamberFest Cleveland)
Lady Gaga - "The Edge of Glory" (Live from A Very Gaga Thanksgiving)
Daijana Wallace - "i am the mind of winter"
Orbert Davis - "The Creation of Evolution"
Orbert Davis - "The Face of the Enemy is Always Changing" 
Brent Michael Davids - "Testament of Atom" 
More:

SUPPORT MAKEDA'S COOKIES
Downbeat (Young Dolph Gives Away $20k to students)
Apollo Chamber Players Debut Work Dealing with Slavery
Guthrie Theater Show Delayed by Audience Member’s Racist Rant
Daijana Wallace
White people are speaking up at protests
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Opus 125

11/16/2021

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Orchestras come in all shapes, sizes, and sounds, and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic is moving forward in its goal to offer a uniquely American aesthetic to as many listeners as it can. Garrett chats with the ensemble's Executive Director, Rhapsody Snyder and Artistic Director, Orbert Davis about the CJP's origins, the necessity of offering FREE concerts, and the concept of "Third Stream". Dalanie Harris from the Classically Black Podcast guest co-hosts and offers insights on the International Society for Black Musicians' inaugural conference, a widely overlooked album by Stevie Wonder, and more! Garrett and Dalanie spend the weekly TRILLOQUY engaging the conversation of respectability among some of the industry's Black musicians. 

Support for this opus of TRILLOQUY comes from HenselPushers
Playlist:

Tomas Adès - Violin Concerto
perf. Adam Eccleston and Lydia Chung - Walter Piston Flute Sonata
arr. Jasmine Pigott - "Lift Ev'ry Voice"
Stevie Wonder - "Same Old Story" 
Gamal Abdel-Rahim - "Variations on an Egyptian Folksong" 
Margaret Bonds - "Montgomery Variations" 
perf. Kebra-seyoun Charles - Giovanni Bottesini Bass Concerto
Orbert Davis - "Vice Versa" 
Orbert Davis - "Diaspora" 
More:

Classically Black Podcast
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Downbeat (Ahmaud Arbery Defense Requests 'No More Black Pastors')
Justice for Ahmaud Arbery
All Classical Portland Wins National Honor 
International Society for Black Musicians 
Alleged Diversity in Haydn's String Quartets
The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain
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Opus 124

11/9/2021

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The album, "White Power Outage Vol. 1" is a culmination of poetic and musical sounds and perspectives from across the globe that has been challenging institutions and individuals across political spectrums to rethink the road toward a harmonious, anti-racist human society. Two of the album's collaborators, Deniz dee!colonize Lopez and Genesis Blu join Garrett to talk about this project and its impact, alongside the project's Executive Producer, Nick Cooper. Scott revisits the issue of an opera singer's problematic use of face paint, and invites listeners to decide how far-off change is by surveying the programming of their local arts institutions. The guys spend the TRILLOQUY speaking to a recent local election that's blazed a trail in the fight for renters' rights. 
Playlist:

24-Carat Black - "Poverty's Paradise"
perf. Kanneh Masons - Redemption Song
Edward Elgar - "Nimrod" from "Enigma Variations" 
Kanye West feat. Caroline Shaw - "Say You Will" 
Lauryn Hill - "Just Want You Around" 
Lauryn Hill - "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You"
Genesis Blu & Jasmine Christine - "Chariot Rock" 
Free Radicals - "Student Debt Dub" 
perf. Kanneh Masons - Piano Concerto No. 3 mov. 1 (Beethoven)
More:

BUY "WHITE POWER OUTAGE VOL. 1"
Deniz dee!colonize Lopez
Genesis Blu
Downbeat (Kanye West on Drink Champs Podcast)
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra announces historic labor contract
Gramophone Magazine Announcement feat. Anna Netrebko
Anna Netrebko Makeup Controversies
News Presenter Gets A Visible Face Tattoo
Families identify all 8 victims killed in Astroworld Festival
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Opus 123

11/2/2021

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What would be your response to seeing a woman walked on a leash? Garrett and Scott explore this question in the weekly TRILLOQUY as it applies to the backlash surrounding a popular reggaetón artist and a real-life trip to a hardware store! Garrett chats with composer Ozie Cargile about the importance of self-confidence, "The Creation of the Universe", and life in Los Angeles. Scott honors the music of Elijah Daniel Smith, and the guys return to the conversation of "difficult" and "challenging" music, and how new music advocates can promote it. 
Playlist:

Louis Prima - "Sing Sing Sing" 
Victor Wooten - "You Can't Hold No Groove"
Elijah Daniel Smith - "Perihelion" 
Maurice Ravel - Piano Concerto in G (perf. Yuja Wang)
Elijah Daniel Smith - "Come, Clarity" 
Drake - "Shot For Me" 
Drake - "Shot For Me" (perf. The Theorist)
Ozie Cargile - "Creation of the Universe" 
Diana Ross - "Believe In Yourself" (from 'The Wiz')
Gioachino Rossini - Bassoon Concerto 
More:

Ozie Cargile
Downbeat (Jay-Z Accepts Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction)
Thomas Wilkins Brings Coleridge-Taylor, Ellington and Wooten to the Boston Symphony
Elijah Daniel Smith Featured with Chicago Symphony
"Spare us the skintight sonata"
J Balvin apologizes after music video depicted him walking Black women on leashes
Alec Baldwin Shooting Incident
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Opus 122

10/26/2021

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The discussion of Beethoven's alleged Blackness has taken yet another turn, with one artist calling for his body to be exhumed so that a DNA test can be administered. Garrett and Scott break this down, and bring a few other ghoulish themes to this year's Halloween edition of TRILLOQUY. Bill Doggett returns as special guest to highlight what he sees as one of the biggest missteps in orchestral DEI following the murder of George Floyd, and the guys speak to the importance of platforming local perspectives when arts institutions attempt to speak to local issues. 
Playlist:

Peter Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 1, mov. 3
Blu Cantrell - "Make Me Wanna Scream"
perf. George Palousis - "Dark Baroque Church Music"
Michael Abels - "Anthem" from "Us" Soundtrack 
Charles Mingus - String Quartet
Glen Campbell - "Wichita Lineman" Live
Brian Raphael Nabors - "Nuclear Winter" 
James B. Wilson - "Remnants" for Poet and Orchestra
perf. Richard Elliot - Halloween Organ Solo"
More:

Bill Doggett Soundcloud
Downbeat (The Best of Uncle Phil)
Brandon Keith Brown Leads Chineke!
"Thoughts of a Colored Man" on Broadway
German Pop Singer Calls for Beethoven's Body To Be Exhumed
The Art Music Lounge
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Opus 121

10/19/2021

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The ensemble, TONALITY, is best known for creating choral concerts that focus on issues rarely presented in choral music, including gun violence, homelessness, refugees, climate change, mental health, women’s rights, and exercising democratic rights. Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake joins Garrett to talk about founding TONALITY, queerness in Black spaces, and becoming an artist activist. Scott shines a light on Black Americana, Garrett offers his response to "Fire Shut Up In My Bones", and the guys draw comparisons between law enforcement and arts institutions. 

TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by a generous grant from Springboard for the Arts
Playlist:

Solo Made - "Freedom for Michael" 
Astor Piazzolla - "Oblivion" (perf. Colour of Music Festival)
Valerie Coleman - "Umoja" 
Lyles Music - "Worship Music" 
perf. Angel Blue - "Natural Woman" 
Buffalo Nichols - Lost & Lonesome 
Flutronix - "Life Lines" 
Alexander Lloyd Blake - "1232 Lyfe"
Alexander Lloyd Blake - "America Will Be" 
Philippe Hersant - Pavane for Solo Viola
More:

TONALITY
Downbeat (Sis. Karon Phillips Testimony)
Christopher Columbus Statue Sledgehammered in the Bahamas
Colour of Music Festival to Perform in Sacramento
Ryan McQueen Visual Art
The Bible: Jeremiah 20
Terence Blanchard Interview
State Trooper Fired for Speaking Out Against Police Violence
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Opus 120

10/12/2021

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Daniel Kumapayi doesn't just want to create pathways toward his own artistic success - he's founded an organization called Àkójọpọ̀, which was built to support musicians in Nigeria who, despite lacking essential resources, are still committed to their own artistic successes. He chats with Garrett about the challenges of international arts philanthropy, the ways that people can support Àkójọpọ̀, and a little about his favorite (and not-so-favorite) Nigerian foods. Scott highlights the many sounds of music created by Indigenous artists, Garrett celebrates a fashion shift in orchestral performance spaces, and more. The guys close with a discussion on gun violence, the over-commodification of cannabis, and the problem of a continue reverence of Christopher Columbus. ​
Playlist:

Percy Grainger - "Colonial Song" (perf. UMich Symphony Band)
Ludwig van Beethoven - "Scherzo" from Symphony No. 9
perf. London Symphony Orchestra - "Paint It Black"
J25 - "Land Back"
John Murphy - "In the House - In a Heartbeat" 
Louis Ballard - "Katcina Dances" 
Tiwa Savage - "Koroba" 
Àkójọpọ̀ Virtual Concert
More:

Follow Àkójọpọ̀
Support Àkójọpọ̀
Downbeat (Common speaks to the Breakfast Club)
A Composer Speaks Up In Defense of Bright Sheng
Orchestras Ditch the Tailcoats
First Indigenous Woman To Judge Grammys
Biden restores Utah’s monuments
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Opus 119

10/5/2021

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​Nu Deco Ensemble’s mission is to create compelling and transformative genre-bending musical experiences that inspire, enrich and connect new and diverse audiences and artists. Garrett chats with the group's Artistic Director and CEO, Sam Hyken about his journey as a musician, the work of Nu Deco and his perspective on the future of orchestral performance. Scott highlights Bach with a Latin twist, Garrett shares the music of Twin Cities-based duo, The Muatas, and the guys address a case of blackface in the classroom. 
Playlist:

Nino Rota - "Orchestra Rehearsal" Suite 
JIMEK - Hip Hop History Orchestrated
Mary J. Blige - "Real Love" (perf. Daniel D.)
Johann Sebastian Bach - Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, BWV 964
Tiempo Libre - Fuga (Cha-cha-chá)
The Muatas - "Sandman" 
Nu Deco Ensemble - "Outkast Suite"
Nu Deco feat. Larkin Poe - "Mad As A Hatter"
Lizzo - Grammy Performance 2020
More:

Sam Hyken/Nu Deco
RIZE Orchestra

Downbeat (Lizzo on the history of twerking)
New Music Decolonization in Eight Difficult Steps
Super Bowl 2022 Halftime Show Headliners Announced
The Muatas
Blackface in the classroom
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Opus 118

9/28/2021

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The Chicago Philharmonic is pushing forward in its continued season of change. The organization appointed its new Executive Director, Terell Johnson earlier this year and has recently featured the violin concerto, "Glory" by Marcus Norris. They both join Garrett to talk about their collaboration, their respective approaches to orchestral equity, and what it means not to leave Black communities behind. Scott honors Paula Cole's "Autumn Leaves" and asks the question, "Is a 10th symphony from Beethoven necessary?". The guys spend the weekly TRILLOQUY unpacking claims of "racial anxiety" as it pertains to the firing of a clarinetist from the Nashville Symphony. 
Playlist:

Jean "Rudy" Perrault - "Hope" from Exodus String Quartet (perf. Philadelphia Orchestra Quartet)
Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No 10, finale 
Queen - "I Want It All" 
Paula Cole - "Autumn Leaves" 
Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" 
Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (perf. Aston)
Marcus Norris - "Glory" 
Eric B & Rakim - "Don't Sweat the Technique" 
More:

Chicago Philharmonic
Marcus Norris
Downbeat (Shaq is done with fame)
Art Change Us
Anti-Blackness at the Border
Creating Beethoven's 10th
James Zimmerman Responds to Nashville Symphony Termination
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Opus 117

9/21/2021

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Twin Cities-based artist Pavielle French first joined Garrett and Scott in season one as her career was beginning to bloom. She returns to TRILLOQUY this week to talk about her new album, SOVEREIGN, which explores Black rejection of white supremacy, a renewed view of "classic" music and a message: "You cannot give me my rights". She also speaks with Garrett about her collaborations with local orchestras, and its context in the fight for racial equity in arts spaces. Scott highlights #GayCarmen, and Garrett addresses the rejection of a Jimi Hendrix composition in an English orchestral space. The guys close by affirming the humanity of Haitian immigrants and urging arts programmers to do what they can, artistically. 
Playlist:

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 1, finale (perf. Minnesota Orchestra, William Eddings)
Georges Bizet - Habanera from "Carmen" 
Howard Ashman/Alan Menken - "Poor Unfortunate Soul" (feat. Tituss Burgess)
Jimi Hendrix - "Little Wing" (perf. Nigel Kennedy)
Drake - "Summer Games"
D.D. Dumbo - Improvisation
PaviElle French - "RIGHTS"
PaviElle French - "ANCESTORS SAID IT"
Nobuo Uematsu - "Vamo' alla Flamenco" ​
More:

PaviElle French on Bandcamp
Downbeat (Lil Nas X speaks with The Breakfast Club)
St. Paul Brewery to Fund Music Education
"Gender-bending" Carmen performance
Nigel Kennedy Cancels Engagement Over Jimi Hendrix
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Opus 116

9/14/2021

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When Katy Henriksen was featured on Op. 9 of TRILLOQUY back in 2019, she was a local radio host working to take western classical music out of the "old, white guy realm". Today, Katy is an entrepreneur who works as a promoter, journalist, writer and podcaster creating content that challenges the status quo. She returns to TRILLOQUY to chat with Garrett about the self-employed life, the challenges that COVID puts on concert promotion, and her podcast, "Sound Off". Scott honors the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Ireland, and speaks to an oratorio by Courtney Bryan. And Garrett spends the final movement exploring the concept of "music-ing".  

Playlist:

Phil Lynott - "CATHLEEN (A Beautiful Irish Girl)"
Kaija Saariaho - "Circle Map"
Johann Strauss - "Mein Herr Marquis" (perf. Sumi Jo)
Courtney Bryan - "Yet Unheard" (perf. La Jolla Symphony & Chorus)
Leonard Bernstein - Symphonic Suite from "On the Waterfront" 
Qasim Naqvi - "Brutal Moderna"
Black Monument Ensemble - "Stay Beautiful"
Project Trio - "Blue Rondo a la Turk" 
More:

Katy Henriksen
Sound Off Podcast
Downbeat (R.I.P. Michael K. Williams)
The Big Brother Cookout Alliance
First Black Woman Crowned Miss Ireland
NFL "Lift Ev'ry Voice" Backlash
Women Conductors Take the Podium
English Ensemble "Forced" Into Equity
ACF Equity Summit
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Opus 115

9/7/2021

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As more musicians navigate an increasingly unstable arts ecosystem, working in both the performance and administrative spheres has become more popular. Garrett chats with Jaime Sharp, a mezzo-soprano whose artistry, administration, and activism is rooted in accessibility and change. The guys explore DEI in "period instrument" spaces, challenge the notion of #BlackExcellence, and offer words for the good (and not so good) people of Texas. 
Playlist:

Davóne Tines and Igée Dieudonné - "VIGIL"
Jessie Montgomery - "Banner" 
D-Composed String Quartet - "Beyoncé Homecoming Medley" 
Tom Waits - "Little Trip to Heaven" 
Mason Bates - "Mothership"
Beyoncé - "Daddy Lessons" 
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - "Parents Just Don't Understand"
Drake feat. Project Pat & 21 Savage - "Knife Talk" 
Drake feat. Jay-Z - "Love All" 
More:

More on Jaime Sharp
Downbeat (Beyoncé offers advice)
Davóne Tines' Seat at the Table
The Changing American Canon Sounds like Jessie Montgomery
Our Obsession with Black Excellence is Harming Black People
​TikTok Users and Coders Flood Texas Abortion Site With Fake Tips
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Opus 114

8/31/2021

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W.E.B. Du Bois has inspired countless Black thinkers, but he also left behind an appreciation for western classical music. Joe LaRocca and Dominque Hoskin of the Du Bois Orchestra chat with Garrett about making change in concert halls through more "traditional" musical aesthetics. Scott honors the classical music of England's Black composers with a shout out to Kalena Bovell, and Garrett makes a case for Kanye West's latest body of work. The weekly TRILLOQUY includes an indictment of current arts funding practices and structures. 
Playlist:

Fela Sowande - "Onipe" from 'African Suite' 
Giuseppe Verdi - "Dies Irae" from Requiem 
Kanye West - "God Breathed" 
Steve Reich - "Different Trains" 
Kanye West - "Moon" 
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - Hiawatha Overture
Samuel Coleridge Taylor - Petite Suite de Concert 
Florence Price - Piano Concerto in One Movement ​
More:

Support the Du Bois Orchestra
Downbeat (R.I.P. Ed Asner)
When Europe Offered Black Composers an Ear
Chineke!, Kalena Bovell and Jeneba Kanneh-Mason Proms review
Met Opera Reaches Deal With Orchestra, Paving Way for Reopening
Apple buys classical music streaming service Primephonic
The Met Casts Anna Netrebko as ‘Aida’ Despite Her Past Controversy in the Role
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Opus 113

8/24/2021

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Maestro Michael Morgan believed that the purpose of a performing arts institution is to make its entire community better. As the world mourns the recent loss of this pivotal figure in American music, Garrett and Scott honor him with anecdotes, stories and recordings from his vastly trailblazing career. Garrett chats with Dr. Antonio Cuyler about the importance of access in DEI spaces, his entrance into arts administration and the cost of living an artistic life on one's own terms. The guys spend the final movement discussing the continued battle for COVID safety and the quick rise and fall of Jeopardy's Executive Producer. 
Playlist:
  • DJ Shadow - "What Does Your Soul Look Like" (pt. 4)
  • Sergei Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2 (perf. Stewart Goodyear/Gateways Festival Orchestra)
  • Gheorghe Zamfir - "The Lonely Shepherd" 
  • perf. Yu-Ching Fei - "Yu Jan Mei" 
  • 費玉清 -- 一剪梅(鋼琴)
  • perf. David Russell - "Cantigas de Santiago" 
  • Robert Schumann - Cello Concerto in a minor (perf. Laura Andrade/Sphinx Symphony Orchestra)
  • Riziero Ortolani - "I Giorni Dell'ira"
  • Bernard Hermann - "Twisted Nerve" 
More:
  • The Shuttleworth Foundation
  • Urban Roots Minnesota 
  • Dr. Antonio Cuyler
  • Downbeat (from "For the Love of Music" Documentary)
  • "The Roar of the Crowd" (Michael Morgan Tedx Talk)
  • Arts Commission Approves New Grant Formula; Ford’s Theatre Director Not Happy
  • David Russell
  • Calls Grow for Mike Richards To Step Down As 'Jeopardy!' Executive Producer
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Opus 112

8/17/2021

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In celebration of the 48th birthday of hip hop, Garrett and Scott honor a few of the artists and sounds that have helped the genre maintain its status as America's most popular classic style of music. The guys also discuss the recent tragedy in Haiti, political challenges in Afghanistan and introduce anti-capitalist thought to TRILLOQUY. Brittani McNeill returns to talk more about her journey to and through opera, the idea of "hard work" not being enough and what it means for Black musicians to consider (or not to consider) divesting from white-centered structures. 
Playlist:

اجرای آهنگ , بمقابل دو چشمم با دمبوره [ مهدی فولاد
Nokutula Ngwenyama - "Sonoran Storm" 
Wu-Tang Clan - "C.R.E.A.M."
The Winstons - "Amen Break" 
N.W.A. - "Straight Outta Compton"
The Prodigy - "Mind Fields"
The Prodigy - "Firestarter"
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Things Done Changed"
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Big Poppa" 
Nicki Minaj feat. Skylar Grey - "Bed of Lies" 
Lil Kim - "Queen Bitch" 
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Gimme the Loot"
More:

Brittani McNeill
Grant Williams Exonerated On Murder Charges
New Music Gathering
Contribute to Haitian Relief Efforts
Fear Spreads in Kabul as Taliban Take Charge
Madison Conservatory deliberately deemphasizes classical music’s largely white history
Colleges and Universities Need More Rappers
​
Federal agents have seized over 3,000 fake COVID-19 vaccine cards
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Opus 111

8/10/2021

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Brittani McNeill is a singer and journalist whose views on liberation and equity are unapologetically Black-centric. Garrett shares part 1 of their most recent conversation, where they explore the ideas complete systems change, what it means to let harmful rhetoric go unchecked and the ways in which complicity stunts the growth of meaningful impact-fueled dialogue. Scott gives insights on how one of his favorite bands can be considered an example of musical innovation through process innovation, and Garrett responds to a pair of controversial essays by Heather Mac Donald. 
Playlist:

Jimmy López Bellido - "Techno" (from 'Fiesta') 
Steely Dan - "Black Cow" 
Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz - "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" 
Steely Dan - "Peg"
Sparks, Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard - "So May We Start"
Alarm Will Sound - "Logan Witch" 
Alarm Will Sound - "Fingerbib" 
Nas feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill - "Nobody" 
Adia Victoria - "Magnolia Blues"
Adia Victoria - "South Gotta Change" 
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - "O Zittre Nicht" ​
More:

Brittani McNeill on Medium
"Fat Shaming in Opera" by Britanni McNeill
Downbeat (Alfredo Rivera recounts detaining a flight passenger)
In Defense of Steely Dan
The Making of Peg
"Annette" Review
Minnesota's Gable Steveson wins 2020 Olympic wrestling gold
Classical Music's Suicide Pact Part 1
Classical Music's Suicide Pact Part 2
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Opus 110

8/2/2021

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Richard Wagner's anti-semitism has been at the center of the conversation of classical "cancellation" for a generation, but writer, filmmaker, and violinist Paul Festa is challenging the tradition of Wagner-adjacent cancel culture with a new essay: "Cancellation of the Gods". He talks with Garrett about his journey with Wagner's music, the conversations that brought him to his continued appreciation of it, and a cannabis strategy that he believes can create more fans of Wagnerian opera. Garrett and Scott share music from their most recent road trips, and Garrett offers a TRILLOQUY aimed at musicians who he sees as complicit in continued inequitable orchestral programming. 
Playlist:

Beyoncé - "MOOD 4 EVA"
Turghun Alimatov/Alisher Alimatov - "Holimni So'ramaysan" (You Don't Ask How I Am)
perf. John Oeth - "Descendant of Shinobi"
perf. Kai Schumacher - "Black Hole Sun"
Neil Young - "Old Man" 
Terence Trent D'Arby - "If You Let Me Stay"
Richard Wagner - "Gotterdammerung" Finale 
Richard Wagner - "Lohengrin" Prelude 
Percy Grainger - "Children's March, Over the Hill and Far Away" 
More: 

Downbeat (DaBaby at Rolling Loud)
Paul Festa
Cancellation of the Gods
Beyoncé’s “Formation” named Rolling Stone’s Best Music Video of All Time
Simone Biles’ decision to prioritize her mental health a sign of American culture shift
Olympic committee reviews US athlete's gesture supporting 'oppressed' people as a potential violation of protest ban
46-year-old gymnast Oksana Chusovitina gets standing ovation after competing in her eighth Olympic Games
NYC Gay Men’s Chorus Shrouded in Accusations of Racism
Every Time Arts Leaders Cave To Racial Pressure, They Deal Creativity Another Blow
Black Theater Artists Are Helping Shakespeare Speak To More Diverse Audiences
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Opus 109

7/26/2021

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Have you ever heard of slave orchestras? What does a post-colonial 'classical' music ecosystem look like? Cellist, composer, multi-instrumentalist and writer Jon Silpayamanant joins Garrett to talk about how the intersection of colonialism and music have impacted the world, and ideas on how musicians can help inspire mental decolonization. Garrett and Scott highlight the story of a Black man who managed to make friends with members of the Ku Klux Klan, share music performed by Turkish and Armenian musicians, and more. And Garrett puts the trill in TRILLOQUY in a final movement admonishing a headline and article with extremely triggering and historically racist overtones. 
Playlist: 

Julia Adolphe - "Veil of Leaves" 
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson - Sinfonietta No. 1, Mvt. III
Black Violin - "Stereotypes" 
Daryl Davis - "Leave Me Alone"
perf. Bilal Göregen - "Ievan Polkka"
perf. Loituma - "Ievan Polkka"
Narek Hakhnazaryan - Sollima, Lamentatio
arr. Cristián Tamblay - Bartok, String Quartet No. 4 
ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน ขุนอิน ระนาดบางกอก
Xavier Dubois Foley - "Shelter Island" 
More:

Downbeat (Anthony Fauci vs. Rand Paul)
2022 Sphinx Medals of Excellence Awardees
Grammy-nominated duo Black Violin will blend classical and hip-hop in Jimmy Dean Theater
Texas Senate Passes Controversial Education Bill
How One Man Convinced 200 Ku Klux Klan Members To Give Up Their Robes
A Mixed Start For Decca’s New Violin Poster Boy Randall Goosby
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Opus 108

7/20/2021

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Tarik 'Konshens The MC' Davis is a hip-hop artist, songwriter, educator and youth advocate from Washington D.C who, in search of hip-hop driven chamber music, created the "Classically Dope" ensemble. He and Classically Dope's horn player, Derek Maseloff, join Garrett to talk about the development of this ensemble, the public response the ensemble has gained and the ways in which "classical" training can be improved through this type of fusion. Scott and Garrett honor the late Biz Markie, highlight two performances of music by Sergei Prokofiev and offer a "vague-booked" TRILLOQUY directed at content professionals who view podcasts as a secondary form of media. 

TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by the Shuttleworth Foundation
Playlist:

Biz Markie - "Just A Friend"
Biz Markie - "Vapors"
Freddie Scott - "(You) Got What I Need"
Gilbert O'Sullivan - "Alone Again" 
Romeo and Juliet (1996) - Party Scene
perf. Rachel Barton Pine - Violin Concerto No. 1, Sergei Prokofiev
Alan Theisen - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Remi Wolf - "Woo!" (Panda Bear Remix)
Thee Phantom - "Jackin' for Keys" 
Chuck Brown - "Wind Me Up"
Classically Dope - "My Pih Poh"
Sergei Prokofiev - Flute Sonata No. 1
More:

Konshens the MC
Downbeat (Eagle's Nest Bar Sells Homophobic T-Shirts)
Stoned, Classically Trained Actors Perform "Much Ado About Nothing"
Rachel Barton Pine Fills in for Midori at Ravinia on 3 1/2 Hrs Notice
Cornel West Rips Harvard In Letter Of Resignation
Howard University Professor Warns Nikole Hannah-Jones About School's 'Poor Practices'
Music & Academia (In or Out) Interview with Alan Theisen
24 Songs That Will Make You Love Go-Go
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Opus 107

7/13/2021

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Years ago, a recording of the United States Marine Band inspired a boy from East Tennessee. Today, Dr. Brandon Houghtalen teaches the next generation of band directors while challenging the traditional notions and narratives that place concert band and wind ensemble music in the back seat to orchestral music. He chats with Garrett about this, a few of concert band's women/BOPIC composers and an initiative known as the "On the List Project". Garrett and Scott honor the band tradition with works by Joel Puckett, Tolga Zafer Özdemir and others alongside the week in "accidentals" and a tenure-themed TRILLOQUY. Also this week, Garrett learns the word, "sloughing". 

TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by a generous grant from the Shuttleworth Foundation.
Playlist:

Andy Akiho - "Ricochet" 
John Adams - "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" 
Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne - "Back That Azz Up" 
Florence Price - "On a Quiet Lake" 
Joel Puckett - "That Secret from the River" 
Tolga Zafer Özdemir - "Karpathia" 
Steven Bryant - "Ecstatic Waters" 
James Reese Europe - "Castle House Rag" ​
More:

Downbeat (Vlad Duthiers Explores Haitian History)
Dr. Brandon Houghtalen/On the List Project
New Music in the Twin Cities
Marin Alsop in Chicago
Johathan Rush in Chicago
Al Sharpton and Ben Crump Take On Case of White Teen Killed by Police
Nikole Hannah-Jones Issues Statement on Decision to Decline Tenure Offer at UNC
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Opus 106

7/6/2021

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(Recorded 7/3/21) The age-old stories of Native communities continue to have an important place in contemporary culture, including in contemporary Western classical music! Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate joins Garrett to talk about how he's done that with his new composition, "Lowak Shoppala'". Garrett and Scott acknowledge the 4th of July with a look back at under-told American history and discuss Grammophone's annual orchestra awards. The guys advocate for an Olympian who uses cannabis in the weekly TRILLOQUY and contextualize some of her unearthed, problematic tweets. 
Playlist:

Guster - "Doin' It By Myself" (feat. Omaha Symphony)
Stu Gardner - "Kiss Me" 
Tomas Adès - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (mov. 3)
Vinx - "There I Go Again" 
Issam Rafea and Gao Hong - "Walking the Distance" 
Jerod Tate - "Lowak Shoppala'" 
Jerod Tate - Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra 
More:

Jerod Tate
Downbeat (Life as a Colonial Slave)
Deanna Tham Named Asst. Conductor of the Omaha Symphony
Howard Students Call For Phylicia Rashad to Step Down
Grammophone Annual Classical Music Awards
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Opus 105

6/29/2021

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On July 9th the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival will present the world premiere of "Twin Stars: Diamond Variations for Dae’Anna", written in honor of the girlfriend and stepdaughter of the late Philando Castile by Daniel Bernard Roumain. He joins Garrett, alongside pianist Melvin Chen, to talk about the upcoming premiere and continued activism in concert hall spaces. Scott honors the voice of singer Jimmy Scott, and the guys celebrate Queen Latifah, Randall Goosby and several other Black artists. Garrett speaks to avoiding the trivialization of Indigenous land acknowledgments in the final movement.
Playlist:

Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson - "Blue/s Forms" 
Queen Latifah - "Simply Beautiful"
BLKBOK - "George Floyd and the Struggle for Equality"
Rick and Morty - "Human Music"
Deniece Williams - "Free"
Breland (feat. Keith Urban) - "Throw It Back" 
Jimmy Scott - "Sycamore Trees" 
Daniel Bernard Roumain - "Black Man Singing in Echo Mountain" ​
More:

Norfolk Chamber Music Festival Presents 'Music From Troubled Times'
Downbeat (Diamond Reynolds and Dae'Anna)
Ensemble Evolution, presented by International Contemporary Ensemble
Meg Quigley Repertoire Sessions, feat. Garrett McQueen and Titus Underwood
Randall Goosby Solo Album Debut
Nashville Honors Bianca Paige
BLKBOK Inspiring Classical Musicians
Pinchas Zukerman Apologizes
Four Catholic churches burned down on native land in Canada in last week amid residential school uproar​
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Opus 104

6/22/2021

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It's not easy to "go viral" in today's social media ecosystem, but operatic baritone Babatunde Akinboboye managed to do it by fusing Kendrick Lamar and Rossini! He talks with Garrett about this, life between Nigeria and the US, his aspirations for the opera industry, and the people who are standing in the way of progress for Black operatic professionals. Scott highlights a violin concerto by Wynton Marsalis, and helps Garrett unpack news from the Baltimore Symphony, the Juneteenth weekend, and shifting the rules surrounding philanthropic giving. 
Playlist:

Trevor Weston - "Ashes" 
William Grant Still - Suite for Violin and Piano, "African Dancer" (feat. Randall Goosby)
Ma Rainey/Branford Marsalis - "Deep Moaning Blues" 
Nina Simone - "Baltimore" 
Kendrick Lamar - "Freedom" 
Wynton Marsalis - Violin Concerto in D, "Hootenanny" 
Babatunde Akinboboye - Kendrick Lamar/Rossini Fusion
Robert Townsend/Michael Elliot - "Carmen, A Hip Hopera" (Seduction Scene) ​
More:

Downbeat (from "Trick Baby" 1974)
Babatunde Akinboboye, Baritone 
Schubert Club "Music Museum Mini" feat. Garrett McQueen
Adrian Dunn & the RIZE Orchestra, "Redemption"
Emerging Black Composers Project Names Its First Winner
Spotify Clinches $60M-Plus Deal With Alex Cooper
Marin Alsop Exits With Pride
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Opus 103

6/15/2021

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As Juneteenth becomes a more wide-spread celebration, musicians and content creators of all types are jumping in to honor the holiday. Garrett goes into why he chose not to offer anything this year in an emotional final movement. Scott shines a light on the continued struggle for equity across the pond, and helps unpack a think piece written to demean the work of composer Daniel Bernard Roumain. Violinist Rachel Barton Pine talks about her decades-long work supporting and promoting Black composers, and asks Garrett a few questions, herself. 
Playlist: 

Gladys Knight & the Pips - "I've Got to Use My Imagination" 
Jimi Hendrix - "Freedom" (Live at the Atlanta Pop Festival 1970)
Daniel Bernard Roumain - String Quartet No. 5 "Rosa Parks"
J. Cole - "Be Free" (Live from David Letterman) 
Wayne Shorter - "Terra Incognita" 
David Baker - "Blues (Deliver My Soul)" 
Traditional - "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" ​
More:

Rachel Barton Pine Foundation
Classical Music From Africa and the African Diaspora
Downbeat (Nina Simone interview excerpt)
Tom Hanks Is A Non-Racist. It's Time For Him To Be Anti-Racist
Barbican Centre described as 'inherently racist' by current and former staff
Resisting Racial Demagoguery
Deontay Wilder Blasts Radio Rahim
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