The New Criterion Podcast
1) Music for a While #108: Singing, playing, and shouting Christmas
“Chronological order is not the only order,” says Jay in this episode, but “it’s not a bad” one. The episode starts in the sixteenth century—“Gaudete, Christus est natus.” It stays there for a while a...Show More
2) Andrew Jones on “The London Club”
On October 22, Friends of The New Criterion gathered at a private New York club to hear Andrew Jones discuss his latest book, “The London Club: Architecture, Interiors, Art.”
3) Music for a While #107: Songs of the heart, etc.
This episode is about songs of the heart. There is one from Russia, performed two different ways. (That song is by a man named Tolstoy, although not the author of those great novels.) There is one fro...Show More
4) Music for a While #106: Souvenirs
This episode begins with a Tchaikovsky work, Souvenir de Florence, heard at the Salzburg Festival this summer. There are other “souvenirs” from the festival too—by Mozart, Scriabin, et al. And the var...Show More
5) Music for a While #105: A composer, in words and music
Jay offers a personal appreciation of Rodion Shchedrin (1932–2025). Bizet-Shchedrin, “Changing of the Guard,” from “Carmen Suite” Bizet-Shchedrin, “Bolero,” from “Carmen Suite” Rachmaninoff, Prelud...Show More
6) Music for a While #104: Vibrations (good)
In recent days, the music world—classical and popular—has lost Alfred Brendel and Brian Wilson. Jay pays due tribute. He has other selections as well—beginning with a summer song, refreshing on a hot ...Show More
7) Music for a While #103: Songs, arias, etc.
Ricky Ian Gordon has written a cycle of songs about flowers. In this episode, we hear one of them. Rachmaninoff wrote a song called “Lilacs.” We hear that, too. Bach opens his Goldberg Variations with...Show More
8) Music for a While #102: A contemplation, a cartoon, etc.
Have you ever heard Contemplazione, a piece for orchestra by Catalani, the composer of La Wally? Have you ever heard “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”—but arranged for piano? These are two of the of...Show More
9) Music for a While #101: A Frenchman’s birthday, etc.
This year marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s birth. So we have been hearing a lot of him. Jay plays two pieces by him—two of his best, and most typical. There are also S...Show More
10) Music for a While #100: Old Hundredth
This is Episode No. 100 of “Music for a While.” To mark the occasion, Jay presents music associated with that number: 100. So, we can consider this a centennial celebration. Bach, “Darum wir billig l...Show More