How Music Does That

Surprise Part 2 - The Rite of Spring 08.01.2019 18:45 ↓

Beethoven lit a fuse that burned for 89 years. This was the boom.

A Brief History of Surprise (I) 01.01.2019 20:05 ↓

Whether music surprises you depends on where your ears have been.

The Music That Broke My Heart 05.11.2018 25:29 ↓

Without lyrics or even a descriptive title -- nothing but vibrations in the air -- this piece brings people to tears. Here's how.

Every Note is a Chord 28.10.2018 14:00 ↓

It's a hidden key to music's emotional power. And it's not all that hidden.

The Moment I Surrendered to John Williams 21.10.2018 12:49 ↓

I had never felt so tangibly dropped into another world.

Shortcut: The Most Hopeful Music in the World 13.10.2018 8:46 ↓

Even starting this piece was an act of pure optimism. Now to finish it.

Cage Unlocked 07.10.2018 19:04 ↓

Silence is just the beginning.

The Masterpiece I Never Heard Of 29.09.2018 17:23 ↓

In which two little kids knew a big thing I didn't know. And I'm okay with that. No really.

Let's Get Sad with Galileo's Dad 22.09.2018 16:35 ↓

A gorgeous technique to unify emotion in music has been passed down from the Renaissance to Radiohead.

When Truman Touches the Wall 15.09.2018 13:11 ↓

From a Bach fugue to Diana's funeral to Truman's wall, this technique is the music of finality.

The Strange DNA of a Surf Song 08.09.2018 16:21 ↓

The edgy, powerful electric guitar tune that kicks off Pulp Fiction has a long and surprising history.

The Evolution of Cool 01.09.2018 14:26 ↓

The quality of "cool" in music has deep roots in the evolution of the brain.