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Music

St. Cloud musician puts 'Pet Sounds' on stage

Jeff Engholm is a man obsessed. For the last year, he's been listening almost incessantly to the Beach Boys' 1966 concept album, "Pet Sounds." Now the St. Cloud area musician has turned his fascination into a live performance.

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Remembering Rondo with music

Some 45 years after the predominantly black St. Paul neighborhood of Rondo was bulldozed to make way for Interstate 94, the community's history is celebrated in a new composition, "The Rondo Oratorio."

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Louisiana musician finds temporary home with Minnesota Orchestra

The Minnesota Orchestra opens its new season this weekend. It's a special concert series for one musician in particular, double bass player David Anderson, who is a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Anderson was out of town. Now he's found a temporary home in Minnesota.
by Phil Picardi

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The return of Hugh Wolff

After living in Europe for the past five years, former St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Music Director Hugh Wolff returns to the Twin Cities, the place his family considers home.

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Mr. Smooth keeps on playing

West St. Paul jazz saxophonist Irv Williams is 86-years-old, and as busy as ever. In just over a year, Williams, who some say is a living legend, has released two cds. He also has a standing Friday afternoon gig at the Dakota in Minneapolis.

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Working for orchestral equality

Marin Alsop made history this summer when she became the first female music director of a major American orchestra. Her appointment reflects the changes in gender balance which have occurred in classical music over the past few decades, including in Minnesota.

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Collecting compilations

There's a lot of local music compilations out right now. The "compilation" is an increasingly popular and practical way for musicians to get their music out. Observers say they demonstrate the vitality of Minnesota's music scene.

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Miracle on 57th Street

On Nov. 13, 1943, 25 year-old Leonard Bernstein heard his song cycle "I Hate Music" premiered in New York. A fine title by a young man who, the very next day, would become the most famous musician in America. Open Air host Bill Morelock follows Leonard Bernstein on perhaps the most remarkable day in a remarkable life in music.

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Minnesota musicians play to save the European folk (music)

Minnesota musicians play to save the European folk (music)

A Minnesota dance band is preserving the folk music fast disappearing from Europe. Four women and a man make up Orkestar Bez Ime, pronounced, 'ore-kehstar bezz-EE-may'.
by Dan Olson

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Payola's prevalence in the music industry

How much does it cost to make a hit? The drummer of the former Minneapolis band Semisonic knows. He'll talk about that and give his perspective on payola.

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