The music of avant-garde composer Philip Glass is distinct and memorable. His span reaches across opera and symphonies to film scores and popular music. One cannot exaggerate the influence this world-renowned composer has had on modern classic music. And now, at 78, Philip Glass has given us one more work to ponder: his memoir, called “Words Without Music.”
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Brion Gysin is the most influential 20th century artist you’ve never heard of.
At the heart of many Americans' fear of black men is an ugly stereotype -- the stereotype of the black criminal. Historian Khalil Gibran Muhammad traces some of our current attitudes about race and crime to the late 19th century, when sociologists first began looking at crime statistics.
Steve Paulson spoke with Kurt Vonnegut just after his 83rd birthday, and Vonnegut recalled his experiences during the fire-bombing of Dresden.
Robert Bly has re-translated some of the work of a fifteenth century poet-saint from India named Kabir.
Linguist Mike Hammond talks about made-up language games with Jim Fleming. Going way beyond pig latin, we hear samples from “The Name Game,” as well as “ob” and “Geta.”
Classical pianist Leon Fleisher tells Jim Fleming about the neurological disorder that crippled his right hand for over thirty years and what it meant for his musicianship.
Karen Armstrong tried to be a nun, then left the convent and all but lost her faith. She talks with Anne Strainchamps about how she gradually found her way back to god.
Pages
