John McWhorter - Lover of Language

Columbia University Professor of Linguistics John McWhorter, chats with Manny about swear words, Broadway, and tackles the conundrums of musical etymology. McWhorter also makes the case for the brilliant first movement of Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet in B minor. The two then square off in a game about famous classical pieces that bombed at their premieres.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Music used in today’s episode includes:

Strike Up the Band: The Man I Love (Arr. For orchestra)
George Gershwin
Richard Hayman Symphony Orchestra & Richard Hayman
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115, I. Allegro
Brahms
József Balogh, clarinet and Danubius Quartet
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3 “The Hunt”
Beethoven
Joyce Yang, Piano
Live Recording at The Greene Space

Herzgewächse
Arnold Schoenberg
Alumni Musicians of the Bang on a Can Summer Festival
Live Recording

Symphony No. 5 in D Major, I. Preludio. Moderato. Allegro
Vaughan Williams
Kees Bakels and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178
Liszt
Juan Pérez Floristán, piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53, B. 108: I. Allegro ma non troppo
Dvorak
Ilya Kaler, violin and Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra & Camilla Kolchinsky
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

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Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

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