#3675: New Music for Banjo and Mandolin

Generally associated with traditional American string band and bluegrass music, the banjo and mandolin can actually be very versatile and progressive. We'll hear tracks from the Punch Brothers' brand new Phosphorescent Blues album, where they take on 2 classical works by Claude Debussy and Alexander Scriabin and also feature their own original songs. Tony Trischka digs into the African roots of the banjo and Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital takes on a traditional Bulgarian tune. Husband and wife banjo duo Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn play the old folk tune "Pretty Polly."

Jake Schepps does something unusual by commissioning classical music composers for his traditional bluegrass ensemble. We'll feature works for this group written by Marc Mellits and Matt McBane. Also crossing to the dark side from the classical world is cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a bluegrass band with mandolinist Chris Thile (also featured with the Punch Brothers in this episode), fiddler Stuart Duncan, and bassist Edgar Meyer with The Goat Rodeo Sessions.

PROGRAM #3675 New music for Banjo and Mandolin (First aired on 12/18/2014)