Music News : NPR

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Shares New Song, Album Details

Robin Hilton — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 14:00:20 -0500

"Fireproof," from the band's upcoming album The Tourist, is a crazy catchy, synth-heavy look at how naive people can be, and the trouble it can lead to. The Tourist is due out Feb. 24.

San Diego Is Now Hiring: Civic Organist

Claire Trageser — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 08:10:00 -0500

San Diego is one of two U.S. cities with a civic organist. The job requires some very unique musical skills, including playing the world's largest outdoor pipe organ.

NPR News Nuggets: Purple Lights, Christmas Cheer & Top Selling CD Of 2016

Wynne Davis — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:23:00 -0500

Here's a quick roundup of some of the mini-moments you may have missed on this week's Morning Edition.

Watch Jack White Perform 'The Rose With The Broken Neck'

Stephen Thompson — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 16:47:00 -0500

White originally co-wrote and sang the song for a 2011 album by Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi. Here, he plays a live acoustic version and discusses his role in its creation.

Remembering Greg Lake, The 'Lucky Man'

Bob Boilen — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 14:29:00 -0500

Emerson Lake & Palmer's singer and co-creator, who died Wednesday, was at the forefront of a movement that took rock in a new literate — and liberating — direction.

Bots-B-Gone? Congress Bans Ticket-Scalpers' Tool Blamed For Quick Sell-Outs

Bill Chappell — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 13:27:00 -0500

The ban applies to ticket sales for any public event that can be attended by 200 or more people.

Once The Stuff Of Jazz Legend, 1930s Recordings Are Finally Out

Tom Vitale — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 03:29:00 -0500

In 2010, the acquisition of William Savory's legendary collection of almost 1,000 live recordings had jazz fans salivating. Now, 40 restored tracks from the Savory archives are available on iTunes.

Indie Surprises Among Grammy Latin Nominees

Felix Contreras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 10:00:00 -0500

Alt.Latino takes a quick look at some unexpected Grammy nominees for Latin music.

Grammy Nominations Pit Beyoncé Against Adele

Stephen Thompson — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:29:00 -0500

The two will face off for Album Of The Year, along with Drake, Justin Bieber and Sturgill Simpson. Other top nominees include Rihanna, Kanye West and Chance The Rapper.

'Jackie' Shows A First Lady Behind Closed Doors — But The Music Is Front And Center

Tim Greiving — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 17:15:39 -0500

The score for the new film, which stars Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy grappling with the death of her husband, was written by 29-year old English composer Mica Levi (a.k.a. Micachu).

'Half Of Humanity Has Something To Say': Composer Kaija Saariaho On Her Met Debut

Jeff Lunden — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 08:39:35 -0500

Saariaho isn't the first woman composer to stage an opera at New York's Metropolitan Opera — just the first in more than a century. Her opera, L'Amour de Loin, has its New York premiere this week.

Bringing A Christmas Classic To Wonderful Life — On Stage

Jeff Lunden — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 17:34:00 -0500

Librettist Gene Scheer says the drama of George Bailey's life is "an operatic story." So he, along with composer Jake Heggie, turned It's a Wonderful Life into an opera.

Hear Strand Of Oaks' Anthemic New Song, 'Radio Kids'

Bruce Warren — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 10:30:15 -0500

"Radio was my freedom as a kid," Strand of Oaks' Tim Showalter says. "No internet, no scene, no way to find music except radio."

A Jazz Pianist Considers Fidel Castro's Music Education Legacy

Betto Arcos — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 18:33:00 -0500

Harold Lopez-Nussa was trained in the formidable classical music education system set up in Cuba after the revolution. He's among the first of his class to get a deal with a U.S. record label.

Andrew Norman Wins The Grawemeyer Award For Music

Tom Huizenga — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 22:01:00 -0500

The young California composer's expansive, boisterous Play pushes the orchestra to its limits in music both chaotic and serene.