Take Note

This week’s Take Note dives into the composers behind the US Armed Forces songs in honor of Memorial Day. As aired on KBACH on May 27.

May 20th is National Band Director’s Day, and we’re taking the time to honor band directors and the support they provide for young musicians. As aired on KBACH on May 20th.

In this episode we explore Jewish music and the impact it has had on American culture in honor of Jewish Heritage Month. As aired on KBACH on May 13th.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and here on Take Note, we’re celebrating by hearing from a few music teachers who tell us about their passion for music education. As aired on KBACH on May 6.

April is National Poetry Month, and this week on Take Note, we’re celebrating with two classical works that draw on poetry for their inspiration. As aired on KBACH on April 29.

This week on Take Note we’re celebrating Earth Day by acknowledging the beautiful red Italian spruce trees that have given us some of the world’s most famous violins. As aired on KBACH on April 22.

This week on Take Note: Jazz Appreciation Month, a time to celebrate the popular American genre that has influenced so much of today’s music. As aired on KBACH on April 15.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Ramadan by learning about adhan, the call to prayer. As aired on KBACH on April 8.

This week on Take Note, it’s the lesser-known April 1st holiday: National Trombone Player’s Day. As aired on KBACH on April 1.

March 25 is a day to honor the memories of those affected by the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and today on Take Note we’re taking the opportunity to recognize composer Joseph Boulogne Chevalier du Saint-Georges.

This week on Take Note we’re celebrating International Teach Music Week with the sounds of Tchaikovsky. As aired on KBACH on March 18th.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating the Blue Dragon Festival--known in Mandarin as Lóng Táitóu (龙抬头)--and celebrated each year on the second day of the second month of the Chinese calendar. As aired on KBACH on March 11.

March 4 is Dance the Waltz Day, and we’re celebrating with waltz music by “The Waltz King” himself: Johann Strauss II. As aired on KBACH on March 4.

It is National Friendship Month, and what better way to celebrate than to recognize a few iconic musical friendships throughout history. As aired on KBACH on February 25.

February is Black History Month, and today we’re learning about two remarkable composers: William Grant Still and Valerie Coleman. As aired on KBACH on February 18.

February 11 is National Guitar Day, and here on Take Note, we’re learning all about the history of the guitar. As aired on KBACH on February 11.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Chinese New Year, which took place on January 29th. We’ll hear traditional music that accompanies the dragon and lion dance as well as a symphony by Chinese-American composer Tan Dun. As aired on KBACH on February 4.

This week on Take Note, we’re learning about polka in honor of National Polka Music Month. As aired on KBACH on January 28th.

In this episode celebrate Mariachi Day by exploring the origins of mariachi music and what led it to become widely celebrated today. As aired on KBACH on January 21st.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti while learning about traditional Indian instruments. As aired on KBACH on January 14.

In this episode we celebrate International Creativity Month by recognizing the creative process and how it is important to musicians and composers. As aired on KBACH on January 7th

For our final episode of the year, we’re celebrating Omisoka, the Japanese New Year’s Eve tradition. As aired on KBACH on December 31.

This week on Take Note, we’re honoring the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah that begins on December 25th and lasts until January 2. We’ll hear a traditional blessing plus some rousing Klezmer tunes. As aired on KBACH on December 24.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating the Christian holiday tradition of Las Posadas with Spanish carols. As aired on KBACH on December 17.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Santa Lucia Day, a winter holiday observed in Sweden, Norway, and parts of Finland on December 13th. As aired on KBACH on December 10.

On this episode of Take Note, we’re celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities by learning about the ways in which music can be an inclusive space for everyone. As aired on KBACH on December 3.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving with Leonard Bernstein’s “Turkey Trot”! As aired on KBACH on November 26.

This month is Native American Heritage Month, and to honor this celebration, we’re learning about Native composers Louis W. Ballard and Dawn Avery. As aired on KBACH on November 19.

This week on Take Note, in honor of the Cambodian Water Festival, or Bon om Touk, we’re taking a dive into the music traditions of Cambodia. As aired on KBACH on November 12.

On this episode of Take Note, we’re honoring Japanese Culture Day, a holiday dedicated to celebrating the music, art, and academics of the Japanese people. As aired on KBACH on November 5.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Halloween with some spooky tunes by composers like Camille Saint-Saens and Hector Berlioz. As aired on KBACH on October 29.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Country Music Month by going back to the roots of this popular genre. As aired on KBACH on October 22.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating World Singing Day! On this episode, we’ll learn all about the human voice as an instrument. As aired on KBACH on October, 15th.

October is Filipino American History Month, and at Take Note, we’re recognizing three Filipino American composers and their contributions to music. As aired on KBACH on October 8.

This week on Take Note, we are honoring the Jewish holy days of Rosh Hashanah. In this episode we learn about the shofar and a traditional Rosh Hashanah prayer. As aired on KBACH on October 1.

This week on Take Note, we celebrate World Bollywood Day by learning about the Hindi music behind Bollywood films. As aired on KBACH on September 24.

In this episode, we’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating histories, cultures, and the contributions of individuals whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. As aired on KBACH on September 17.

In this episode of Take Note, we’re taking a moment to remember the tragedy of September 11 with music written by John Adams. As aired on KBACH on September 10.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating National Piano Month. We talk about the history of the piano, and the piano’s first superstar. As aired on KBACH on September 3.

In honor of Grief Awareness Day, we’re telling the stories of two composers who channeled their grief into their music. As aired on KBACH on August 27.

In this episode we celebrate National Radio Day by taking a look back at the history of classical music aired on radio. As aired on KBACH August 20th.

This week on Take Note, we learn about the Festival of Obon, a Japanese tradition dating back over 500 years. In this episode, we will dive into the folk music behind this special holiday. As aired on KBACH on August 13.

Celebrated every year on the first Sunday of August is National Friendship Day. Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life, and in this episode we’ll hear music inspired by friendship and learn about some musical friends. As aired on KBACH on August 6th.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating National Sisters Day with two sisters who made names for themselves in music history. As aired on KBACH on July 30th.

In this episode we recognize South Asian Heritage as it is celebrated from July 18th through August 17th, and learn about the musical traditions of the countries within the region. As aired on KBACH July 23rd.

This week on Take Note, we’re exploring La Paz Day, celebrated in Bolivia on July 16th to honor the country's uprising against the Spanish in 1809, featuring cultural festivities and reflections on the city's Andean heritage, alongside a rich tapestry of Bolivian music embodying indigenous rhythms, Spanish influences, and modern innovations, showcasing traditional dances and instruments like the charango, zampoña, quena, and reco-reco, all reflecting Bolivia's multicultural identity. As aired on KBACH on July 16.

In this episode we celebrate French American Heritage Month and honor the contributions and achievements of French Americans throughout history. As aired on KBACH on July 9th.

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Canada Day! Tune in to hear how this holiday is celebrated in Canada. As aired on KBACH on July 2.

This week on Take Note, we’re observing Pride Month with an episode dedicated to English composer Ethel Smyth. As aired on KBACH on June 25th.

In honor of Juneteenth, we’re taking the opportunity to examine the life of the newly rediscovered composer and fiddle player Sawney Freeman, who was perhaps the first Black composer to have his work published. As aired on KBACH on June 18th. Music edited and arranged by Anthony Pandolfe Jr., Recorded and mixed by Glenn Goettler. Performed on Saturday February 10, 2024 in New Canaan Conn., by violinists Ilmar Gavilan, Jonathan Frelix, Briana Almonte, flautist Jessica Valiente and cellist Paul Vanderwal.