Arts in the Renaissance: Palestrina

Bruce Heim, a University of Louisville music professor, discusses and demonstrates key characteristics of Renaissance music including counterpoint and homophony. The segment concludes with the Louisville Brass performing an arrangement of Renaissance composer Palestrina's "Sicut cervus."

African/African-American Culture: Hambone

Folk singer John McCutcheon demonstrates the hambone, an African-American rhythm technique that uses the whole body as a “drum set” to produce different sounds.

African/African-American Culture: Music of Mali

Yaya Diallo, a musician from Mali, talks about how he came to live in Kentucky, the healing properties of music, and his interest in new forms of African music that com¬bine the music of the elders with that of young people.

African/African-American Culture: Zudio

This African-American game song is sung to movements described in the lyrics and demonstrated by the children in the audience. Many African-American music and dance styles emphasize rhythm and self-expression, both evident here.

Ancestors Talk Through Drums

In this segment from EGG:the arts show, meet Camilo Gaetan who is becoming a master drummer.

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Collective Improvisation

In this video segment from Jazz at Lincoln Center, jazz musicians perform an example of collective improvisation.

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Early America: Cluck Old Hen/I Had a Rooster

Mike Seeger sings two folk songs about animals in traditional Southern style to maintain their distinct flavor. Both feature the banjo, a traditional gourd banjo on “Cluck Old Hen” and today’s steel-string banjo on “I Had a Rooster.”

Early America: Derby Ram

Folksinger Mike Seeger performs the English-American song “Derby Ram” for a group of students. Seeger explains, “Exaggeration is the core of this English-American song reputed to be one of George Washington’s favorites. I’ve been singing this version since I was about 12.” The guitar and harmonica are featured instruments.

Exploring Excellence: Kimani Griffin

In this From the Top at Carnegie Hall video segment, 17-year-old guitarist Kimani Griffin of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, plays the third movement Preludio e toccatina from "Aquarelle" by Sérgio Assad.

Found Sound: Joshua Jones

In this From the Top at Carnegie Hall video segment, 16-year-old Joshua Jones plays a breath-taking rendition of Paul Smadbeck's "Rhythm Song" on the marimba.

Frankie Quimby of Sapelo Island

In this video segment from EGG: the arts show, resident Frankie Quimby discusses the African slaves' history on Sapelo Island. Singers perform "Swing Low Sweet Chariot."

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Gullah Music

In this video segment from EGG: the arts show, visit Sapelo Island, an island in Georgia inhabited by descendants of African slaves.

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Gypsy Airs: Anna JiEun Lee

In this From the Top at Carnegie Hall video segment, 12-year-old Anna JiEun Lee plays a dazzling violin piece by Pablo de Sarasate called Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs).

Innovation through Experimentation: Kiyoe Wellington

In this From the Top at Carnegie Hall video segment, hear a young double bassist from Hawaii play a soulful contemporary piece.

Japanese Culture: Koto

Kazue Sawai, a well-known koto player and widow of Tadao Sawai, who is considered the greatest modern koto player, performs “Midare” (“Chaos”) on the traditional Japanese instrument. Used with permission of Films for the Humanities and Sciences, a division of Films Media Group, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Kentucky/Appalachian Culture: Shady Grove/Bandyrowe

Folksinger Jean Ritchie performs the Appalachian tune “Shady Grove,” a traditional song she learned from her family. Then she performs “Bandyrowe,” a song for which she made up verses to help get her two sons to sleep when they were very young. Ritchie accompanies herself on the lap dulcimer.

Listening with Your Eyes: Matthew Lipman

In this From the Top at Carnegie Hall video segment, 16-year-old violist Matthew Lipman plays "La Campanella" from the Second Violin Concerto by Niccolo Paganini.

Mad Hot Tango: Caeli Smith

In this From the Top at Carnegie Hall video segment, 15-year-old violinist Caeli Smith plays a wonderful movement from Astor Piazzolla's L'histoire du tango, called "Bordel 1900."

Marimba Beat: Jingchen Sun

In this From the Top at Carnegie Hall video segment, watch Jingchen Sun, a 17-year-old marimba player from China, as she plays a haunting piece by German composer and percussionist Nebojsa Zivkovic.

Musical Conversations

In this video segment from Jazz at Lincoln Center, musicians create two different musical conversations.

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