Music

The Wordless Music Series on WNYC

Four 1-Hour Specials Hosted by Radio Lab’s Jad Abumrad

The Wordless Music Series pairs rock and electronic musicians with more traditional chamber and new music performers, to create an entirely new concert experience. As Wordless Music opens on a new season, WNYC presents four one-hour specials that highlight and underscore the ground-breaking '07-'08 season, hosted by Radio Lab's Jad Abumrad.

Listen to the entire series

The Wordless Music Series on WNYC was written and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Support for this program comes, in part, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Visit the Wordless Music website
Listen to full Wordless Music concerts from the '07-'08 season

Episode One
Mihailova/Electrik Company/Do Make Say Think/Greenwood

Kyrgyzstani pianist Katya Mihailova takes on Chopin; Rock quartet Electric Kompany performs music by Jacob TV; Toronto-based indie band Do Make Say Think bring their own brand of eclectic music to the stage, and we hear the US premiere of Radiohead lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood's "Popcorn Superhet Receiver for String Orchestra." Jad Abumrad hosts, joined by composer David Lang, winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in Music.

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Episode Two
Jacobsen & Mihailova/Fischer/Perri

Violin/Piano duo Colin Jacobsen and Katya Mihailova perform Arvo Pärt's "Fratres"; vocalist Abby Fischer premieres Nico Muhly's "Mothertongue," and Toronto-based songwriter/producer Sandro Perri (a.k.a. "Polmo Polpo") performs his own set. Jad Abumrad hosts, joined by composer/performer Meredith Monk — whose latest album Impermanence was recently released on the ECM label.

Related Link: Meredith Monk: Of Posterity and 'Impermanence'

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Episode Three
Hauschka/Beruit/Fifth Veil

German pianist/composer Volker Bertelmann (a.k.a. "Hauschka") plays the prepared piano; indie rock band Beirut performs their own gypsy-inspired set, and Bard College quartet Fifth Veil perform Osvaldo Golijov's "The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind." Jad Abumrad hosts this program, which also features conversations with Hauschka and Beirut's Zach Condon.

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Episode Four
Lubman and the Wordless Music Orchestra/Torngat

Conductor Brad Lubman leads the Wordless Music Orchestra in John Adams' "Christian Zeal and Activity"; Montreal band Torngat perform their own set, and the Wordless Music Orchestra returns for Gavin Bryars' "The Sinking of the Titanic." Jad Abumrad hosts this program, which also features a conversation with conductor Brad Lubman.

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Wordless Music: The Radiolab Podcast

In this podcast from Radiolab, Jad waxes googly-eyed fan when he gets to talk about one of his favorite bands, Stars of the Lid.

Wordless Music Videos on YouTube
Do Make Say Think	Hauschka
Electric Kompany	Electric Kompany II

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