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Music

Silent Night a part of Willmar man's family tree

Silent Night is one of the most popular Christmas carols ever written. It has special meaning for a Willmar man, who played the song for years before he discovered his family's connection to its music.

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A cure for the common carol

If you set foot in any store this week chances are you heard some Christmas music. Some of it's good, some of it's bad--and some of it is just plain ugly. Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham spoke to classical music host Bob Christiansen to get some meaningful music picks.

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Christmas hymn born out of anquish

A Christmas hymn created by a Minnesota composer years ago grew out of the life and death struggle of his three-year-old son. The good news is the child survived, and the hymn went on to become a big favorite. Earlier this month, 50 years after writing the hymn, composer Paul Manz was listening to a live radio broadcast and got an early Christmas present. He heard a world famous choral group sing the tune.

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King's College Choir reverberates throughout the Cathedral of St. Paul

The internationally renowned Choir of King's College, Cambridge, performed its first-ever Christmas concert in Minnesota Dec. 13, 2004, at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Their performance is captured in song, and in photos.

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A musical holiday wishlist

Santa is not the only one with his list checked twice. Classical host Julie Amacher shares holiday picks that might help you deck the halls.

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Musicians group fights racial stereotypes

Music primarily created by African-Americans -- jazz, blues, hip hop and rock and roll -- is enjoyed by many white Americans. But, generally, the door doesn't seem to swing the other way when it comes to forms of music dominated by white artists. But that trend is slowly changing.

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Hip-hop from the north woods

The guys in Crew Jones are rappers, and they rap about the usual stuff -- going swimming, getting caught in a snowstorm, watching ships on Lake Superior. They're north woods rappers from Duluth. But this is no novelty act. These guys mean business.

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The band life

Indie rock clubs in the Twin Cities are often populated with 20-something men and women who are musicians in bands. It's a lifestyle that revolves around the bar scene. St. Paul singer songwriter Martin Devaney is currently living "the band life," and the bar is the setting for many of the songs on his new CD, "La Mancha."

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Shaham siblings embark on seven-city tour

It has been seven years since violinist Gil Shaham and pianist Orli Shaham released their acclaimed CD "Dvořák for Two." Now their "sibling harmony" returns in a new album by this brother/sister duo, in music by Prokofiev. MPR's John Birge caught up with the siblings just before they set off on a seven-city tour which includes stops at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, Washington's Kennedy Center, and New York's Carnegie Hall.
by John Birge

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What's next for First Avenue?

Minnesota's most famed nightclub, First Avenue, went dark this week, after its owner filed for bankruptcy. Two former managers are planning to take control of the beleaguered club and hope to reopen it very soon. Meanwhile, 120 First Avenue employees are now without jobs.

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