Where is the Music

#49 In this episode I will finally talk about the artist who has been possibly the most influential figure in my (and i'm sure in many others) piano career. Keith Jarrett is a pianist, composer, Jazz legend, one of the most innovative and inspired artists of our time. I take one of his tunes, 'Prism' and present its most interesting features. ‎Prism – by Keith Jarrett Quartet – Apple Music ‎Prism...

#48 In this episode I open the floor to an important ingredient of great Music: the Mysterious. Music is often beautiful for reasons that we don't quite grasp, it is tricky to point at what makes a piece unique and profound. I invite you to stay open when listening to music that lets the element of Mystery take over. In this episode I will discuss and provide examples of three works by modern and...

#47 In today's episode I share with my listeners what happens on a normal day in a composer's life. I explore the creative potential of a simple musical idea, and turn it into a variety of possible trajectories for further development. Join me in this Composition Class 101. ‎String Quartet No. 21 in D, K. 575 - "Prussian No. 1": IV. Allegretto – by Mozart, Hagen Quartett – Apple Music String Quart...

#46 - The 2nd piano piece from the collection op. 118 by Johannes Brahms is an Intermezzo that displays the artistic genius of its composer: this short work for piano is a complex and thoroughly conceived architecture while being very gentle on the ear. In today's episode I show how harmony and melody are crafted to perfection. Op. 118: 2. Intermezzo in A – J. Brahms, Radu Lupu – Apple Music ‎Brah...

#45 In his Preludes for piano Chopin has expressed a vast range of emotions and dealt with a remarkable variety of musical ideas. The brevity of these compositions (24 Preludes op. 28) only enhances the depth of artistic achievement. In today's episode I introduce and discuss in details the Preludes from the romantic composer Frederic Chopin, with examples at the piano. ‎Prelude in G Major, Op. 28...

#44 Sometimes music is written in a way that invites us to play with its inner structure, its form. Musical form is the main character of today's episode. We will explore the way open musical forms such the 12-bar Blues work, and draw examples from Miles Davis, Bill Evans, and Chick Corea. ‎500 Miles High (Alternate Take) – Song by Chick Corea – Apple Music 500 Miles High - by Chick Corea, Return...

#43 Your musical instrument can play all the music you enjoy listening to: with a bit of creativity, a sense of adventure and playfulness, musicians use their instruments to bridge genres and styles. Be aware: lots of musical examples! Podcast Playlist #43 - playlist by albertoferro | Spotify Support Where is the Music Podcast : PATREON Where is the Music on Substack: https://albertoferro.substack...

#42 What's IN a Melody? How do melodies carry so much meaning, they travel through history from ear to ear, inspire our imagination? I dive into the topic focusing on what melodies technically are, and showing how they are used in music: the many examples will help understanding how melodies express human significance. ‎Gaspard de la nuit: Ondine – Ravel, Pogorelich – Apple Music Gaspard de la nui...

#41 - Part 2 - What stands in the way of becoming an artist? What are the challenges that every artist faces? What does it mean, in the end, to be an artist? The book 'Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking' by D. Bayles and T. Orland offers many thought-provoking ideas on the topic. In this two-part episode I will comment on the artist's most relevant creative dilemma...

#40 - Part 1 - What stands in the way of becoming an artist? What are the challenges that every artist faces? What does it mean, in the end, to be an artist? The book 'Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking' by D. Bayles and T. Orland offers many thought-provoking ideas on the topic. In this two-part episode I will comment on the artist's most relevant creative dilemma...

#39 Time is the essence of music. How does music portray time? It seems that music can draws us in its inner time flow, slow of fast, passionate or contemplative. Today's episode we'll listen and comment a number of pieces by some of the great composers of all time. Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Arvo Part. Schubert, Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat, D.960: 2. Andante sostenuto - Alfred Brendel | Spoti...

#38 Are musicians like artisans? How do artisans work? Starting from an existing composition (a Chopin Prelude) I guide you through the creative process of an entirely new - and unplanned - short musical work. An opportunity to look at the strategies, the choices, the stumbling-retrying, and the motivations that lead the way towards the creation of a final piece. Support Where is the Music Podcast...

#37 Rhythm is the spirit of Brazilian music, it has always been. In today's episode we dive into the origins of the most appreciated musical styles in Brazil (Choro, Bossa Nova, Samba) through the lenses of rhythm. The tune 'Carinhoso' by the master Choro composer Pixinguinha opens the floor for a journey into the vibrant, rhythmic spirit of Brazil. Luiza - by Antônio Carlos Jobim, Nova Banda | Sp...

#36 In today's episode (in depth seminar-series) we continue our journey through the Well Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach, looking this time at the Preludes. With particular focus on the 1st Book, I will introduce the main features of the Prelude as a musical form, investigating how Bach used it to generate a wide variety of styles and techniques. Previous episodes in the same series: #25 J.S.Bach,...

#35 What drives piano music today? What influences are inspiring and what trajectories are followed by the greatest pianists of now? Today’s musical journey involves the music of some of the most influential artists in piano music, including Brad Mehldau, Vijay Iyer, Tigran, Gerald Clayton. ‎Ecumenica – Song by Stefano Battaglia – Apple Music Ecumenica - by Stefano Battaglia | Spotify ‎Human Natur...

#34 In today’s episode we immerse ourselves in one of the most well-known compositions by the Jazz legend Wayne Shorter, saxophonist and reference artist for many generations of jazz musicians. The song “Infant Eyes”, from the album “Speak No Evil” is filled with sweetness and poetry: how is it written, how has he accomplished such a jewel? Infant Eyes - Lead Sheet | Musescore.com Infant Eyes - by...

#33 In this episode we will immerse ourselves in the fabric of sound, to discover how the rules governing music and harmony are emerging from sound itself. I take musical examples from Beethoven, Bach, and contemporary artists like S. Battaglia and G. Grisey to suggest how the inner architecture of sound informs music. Spectral music - Wikipedia Harmonic - Wikipedia ‎Partiels (1975) pour 18 Musici...

#32 – The relevance of Gershwin’s music is hard to overstate: drawing from all musical traditions of his recent past (the America of 19th century) and his contemporary world, Gershwin sets the standard for song composing for a century afterwards. Today we look into a song called ‘Do It Again’, from the musical show A French Doll (1922) as an example of Gershwin’s remarkable musical intuition and r...

#31 – Today we look into a song and uncover what it is that makes it special. Neither its melody nor its harmony or feel, by themselves are enough: only the combination of all its elements into one elegant artwork can raise a tune into a significant and memorable experience. The song ‘Calling You’ (1987) by the soul/gospel singer Jevetta Steele is a perfect example. "Calling You", piano solo cover...

#30 In today’s journey I will track the origins of a tune that has crossed continents and centuries, inspiring generations of artists and allowing us to wonder: where does music come from? Some songs, and "Black is the Colour of My True Love's Hair" is one of them, have a history that shows the powerful yet elusive nature of music, perhaps the reasons why we are so attached to it. ‎Black Is the Co...

#29 In today’s episode we discover a little piano masterpiece by the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt, called “Au Bord d’une Source” (Beside a Spring). It is a great opportunity for talking about water as a source of inspiration for artists and musicians, a multifaceted symbol of life and energy, an archetype of our human existence. Au Bord d'une Source, F. Liszt, video by Alberto L. Ferro Au Bord d...

#28 Opening the doors to my Piano Studio today, and welcoming the listeners to join me in discovering a piece by the Jazz Guitar legend Pat Metheny, ‘Midwestern Nights Dream’, from the album ‘Bright Size Life’ (1976). We will investigate the main characteristics of Metheny’s composition, highlighting the cultural influences and the symbolic ideas represented in the music, which ultimately offer a...

#27 In today’s episode I discuss the special place in history occupied by the Musical Offering (Bach 1747) which offers a perfect case study for the idea that music is not entirely dependent on sound, but rather on the cooperation that music establishes with its listeners. The orchestration that Anton Webern created of this composition demonstrates the role that interpretation has in music, which...

#26 In today’s episode I’ll reflect on the role of music as a vehicle to learn about, appreciate, and indeed travel the world. What can a foreign melody communicate to us? Why do certain songs cross their original cultural boundaries and become popular elsewhere? How come a tune stays in the ears and hearts for generations, travelling through time? Ep. 26 - PLAYLIST - Spotify As Time Goes By, from...

#25 Introduction, historical relevance and cosmology in Bach’s music and the Well-Tempered Clavier. (Fugue in C# Major BWV 848, WTC Book I) With today’s Episode I am inaugurating the first of possibly many Series of episodes united by a musical thread. The Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach is a work of art unique in its kind and a remarkable musical achievement. By looking at one of the Fugues from th...