Classical Sprouts

All about the celesta

It looks like a small upright piano, but is shaped like an organ and sounds like a glockenspiel... It’s the Celesta! We’re learning about and listening to music that feat

The art of listening with Evelyn Glennie

Scottish percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie has been a rockstar in the classical music world for decades. She’s performed at an Olympic opening ceremony, has traveled all

Partying With Respighi's 'The Birds'

Was that a bird or a violin? Fluttering wings, scratching feet, pecking beaks: Italian composer Ottorino Respighi captured these sounds and more in his piece for small or

Cécile Chaminade's Flute Concertino

Her music was played at Queen Victoria’s funeral, she composed an opera, multiple works for orchestra, was an accomplished pianist herself, and wrote a very famous concer

Yo-Yo Ma and that one Bach cello suite

Yo-Yo Ma has been playing the same Bach cello suite since he was only 4 years old, right as he started learning the cello. Now, he's using his fame (and performances of t

Amy Beach

Composer Amy Beach was a lot of "firsts" - the first woman to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra, one of the first composers to train exclusively in the Unite

Pachelbel's Canon

It's chord progression appears in countless pop songs, it's played at tons of weddings and repeats the same 8 notes over and over again… what is it? It’s Pachelbel’s Cano

Classical Sprouts: Saint-Saens 'The Swan'

It was the only movement of Camille Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals" that he allowed to be performed while he was still alive. "The Swan" depicts a majestic bird gl

Meet The Kanneh-Masons

This sibling septet of violinists, cellists and pianists ranging in age from 14 to 27 is known around the world for their impressive musicianship.

Vivaldi's "Spring"

Snow is melting, the air no longer feels sharp, and the sun has returned! How should we celebrate? With Antonio Vivialdi of course! We’re listening for the sounds of warm

What is a sonata?

It’s in the name of countless pieces of music… but what makes a sonata, a sonata? We’re going to figure out the building blocks of a sonata using Mozart’s Sonata No. 16 i

Season 7 is sprouting!

Spring is just around the corner, which means it's time for our newest season of Classical Sprouts - the Awesome Classical Music Podcast for Kids!

Linda Ronstadt and The Anatomy of a Musical Joke

American rock and pop singer Linda Ronstadt sang the role of Mabel in the 1983 movie version of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta, "The Pirates of Penzance." But she wasn't

Ravel's 'Boléro'

How did composer Maurice Ravel write a piece of music that lasts for 15 whole minutes and only has one rhythm and melody? What did audiences think?? Find out this week on

L'Elisir d'Amore

Love! Handsome soldiers! Quack doctors! Weddings! And love potions? Learn all about this romantic opera on Classical Sprouts!

Composers Of African Descent With William Chapman Nyaho

We're hanging out with this acclaimed Ghanaian-American pianist as we learn about some of his favorite composers of African descent!

QuinTango

What makes tango tango? Find out this week with the acclaimed tango ensemble QuinTango!

'Sleeping Beauty' and the Garland Waltz

Did you know the melody from Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" love duet "Once Upon a Dream" was actually written by Tchaikovsky? We're listening to the Garland Waltz this week

Holst's 'The Planets: Jupiter'

This week on Classical Sprouts, we're going to space with composer Gustav Holst, as we explore "Jupiter" from his suite, "The Planets."

'The Blue Danube'

It's played every year on New Year's Day, but what is Johann Strauss II's "By the Beautiful Blue Danube" about?