One Symphony with Devin Patrick Hughes

Rachel Barton Pine, Violin Virtuoso Bridging Boundaries

Conductor Devin Patrick Hughes is joined by the remarkable violin virtuoso Rachel Barton Pine on One Symphony. Dive into Rachel's intriguing blend of genres from her early beginnings with the violin and her Chicago Symphony debut, to her exploration of heavy metal and traditional fiddling styles. Rachel shares how experience with modern composers enhances her interpretation of historical pieces, and dishes about her exhilarating experience with premiering Earl Maneein's Dependent Arising. The talk also includes a deep dive into her latest album featuring Shostakovich's first violin concerto and the origin of her iconic Del Gesù violin. The interview concludes with her love for Chicago.
Violinist Rachel Barton Pine performs with the world's leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Vienna Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, and Camerata Salzburg. She has appeared on The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, PBS NewsHour, A Prairie Home Companion, and NPR’s Tiny Desk. During the pandemic, she performed the entire solo violin part of 24 different violin concertos for her live, weekly series “24 in 24: Concertos from the Inside.”
Her RBP Foundation assists young artists through its Instrument Loan Program and Grants for Education and Career, and runs the groundbreaking Music by Black Composers project which was launched in 2001.
She holds prizes from several of the world’s leading competitions, including a gold medal at the 1992 Bach International Violin Competition in Leipzig, Germany.

Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Rachel Barton Pine for sharing her talents and stories. You can find her music where ever you listen. Music selections performed by Rachel come from the Album Dependent Arising including Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no. 1 and Earl Maneein’s Dependent Arising, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Tito Munoz.  Malek Jandali’s Violin Concerto was performed by Rachel along with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and Marin Alsop conducting. 
Thanks to Cedille Records for making this episode possible.
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
00:00 Introduction and Early Musical Journey
00:17 Discovering Heavy Metal and Merging Genres
00:41 Exploring Musical Tastes and Influences
01:29 The Impact of a Chicago Bulls Playoff Game
02:55 Bridging Classical and Rock Genres
04:20 Exploring Different Fiddle Styles
05:03 Incorporating Metal into Classical Music
05:44 The Influence of Shostakovich and Metal Music
08:47 The Role of Music in Social Justice
11:04 The Connection Between Music and History
11:52 The Universality of Classical Music
12:22 Collaboration with Malik Jandali
34:07 The Role of Workshopping in Music
36:05 The Influence of Chicago on Musical Career
 
Rachel Barton: Blending Genres and Bridging Worlds Through Music
 
It's not every day that you encounter a musician who, at a young age, found a passion for both classical and heavy metal music. Rachel Barton's story is a testament to the power of music to transcend boundaries and genres.
 
A Musical Prodigy Meets Heavy Metal
 
Rachel started her journey with the violin at three and a half years old, debuting with the Chicago Symphony at age 10. Around this time, she discovered heavy metal music, which marked her first encounter with the music of Shostakovich. Rachel reflects on her early years, "I enjoyed a variety of music beyond classical. My parents played blues at home, and I was really drawn to heavy metal, especially thrash."
 
A Turning Point: Performing at a Chicago Bulls Game
 
A pivotal moment came when Rachel played the national anthem at a Chicago Bulls playoff game. Her unique rendition caught the public's attention, leading to a realization. "People started approaching me, amazed by the violin's versatility. It was then I realized my mission: to bring listeners to classical music using rock genres."
 
Cross-Genre Exploration: From Heavy Metal to Classical
 
Rachel's journey took an interesting turn as she started exploring heavy metal and other genres on her violin. "I didn't consider myself a crossover artist," she clarifies, "I'm all about performing classical music, but I use my interests in rock to bring new listeners to classical."
 
Intersecting with Bands and Musicians
 
Rachel discovered that many of her favorite bands listened to classical music. "It was enlightening to tell someone, 'Hey, your favorite band likes these composers.' It's a powerful message." This intersection led her to create arrangements of rock songs for chamber and orchestral performances, a unique approach to bridging musical worlds.
 
Educational Outreach: A Lifelong Passion
 
A crucial part of Rachel's journey has been her commitment to educational outreach. "I've always believed in going into schools and teaching children about music," she says. Rachel's efforts go beyond young audiences, as she strives to introduce classical music to adults who might not usually engage with the genre.
 
Shostakovich and Heavy Metal: An Unexpected Connection
 
Discussing her unique connection with Shostakovich, Rachel shares, "Heavy metal fans adore Shostakovich for his intensity and darkness. I love pairing his works with contemporary pieces to show the depth and range of classical music."
 
Working with Contemporary Composers
 
Rachel's work with living composers has given her a deeper understanding of interpretation. "Working with contemporary composers helps me interpret the works of classical composers more effectively. It's a fascinating process to bring their intentions to life."
 
The Vibrancy of Chicago's Music Scene
 
Reflecting on her roots, Rachel speaks passionately about Chicago's diverse music scene. "Chicago has everything - from blues to industrial, house to classical. The city's music scene is incredibly supportive and vibrant, making it an ideal place for musicians."
 
Conclusion: A Musician Without Boundaries
 
Rachel Barton's career defies conventional boundaries, proving that music can be a powerful tool for connection and understanding. Her journey from a classical violin prodigy to an artist who bridges genres is a remarkable story of passion, innovation, and dedication to music's universal appeal.
 
Below are some highlights from our interview. 
 
Rachel, it's great to have you on One Symphony today. Can you share your history with cross-genres?
 
I started playing the violin at three and a half, debuted with the Chicago Symphony at 10, and around that time, I discovered heavy metal. My journey into combining genres began at a Chicago Bulls game where I played the national anthem. People were amazed by the violin's versatility, which inspired me to bring classical music to new audiences through rock genres.
 
How did this realization affect your approach to music?
 
I realized most people's exposure to classical was limited. So, I began reaching out through rock radio stations, playing rock music on my violin, then transitioning to classical pieces. I discovered that many of my favorite bands listened to classical music, which helped me bridge these genres.
 
What about your work with contemporary composers?
 
Rachel Barton: Working with contemporary composers deepens my understanding of music interpretation. It helps me interpret classical works more effectively and brings a fresh perspective to music creation.
 
How do you view classical music's relevance today?
 
Rachel Barton: Classical music is intense, exciting, and universal. It transcends boundaries and is meaningful to people of all races and ethnicities. It's a way to understand each other even if we don't speak the same language.
 
Tell us about your collaboration with Malik Jandali and working with Marin Alsop.
 
I participated in recording a violin concerto by Malik Jandali, blending Middle Eastern and Western styles. Working with Marin Alsop was enlightening. The concerto has Middle Eastern elements, like the oud, but it remains a Western orchestra piece.
 
How has your approach to playing changed over the years?
 
I've learned to balance the composer's intentions and my interpretation. Working with living composers has made me a more effective interpreter of classical music.
 
Can you talk about your latest project, "Dependent Arising," and pairing it with Shostakovich's work?
 
This album includes a piece by Earl Maneein, inspired by Buddhism and the acceptance of death. We paired it with Shostakovich's work because of his popularity among metal fans and the emotional depth in his music.
 
What are your thoughts on workshopping in classical music?
 
Workshopping is essential, even for experienced musicians. It's a process of growing with a piece, trying new things, and evolving one's approach.
 
Lastly, what is your favorite Chicago staple, aside from the symphony?
 
For me, it's Chicago blues. My parents loved blues, and it has a special place in my heart. Chicago’s music scene is incredibly diverse and supportive, making it a fantastic place for musicians.
 
Thank you, Rachel, for joining us today.
 
Thank you, Devin. I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had, especially with Cedille Records, which has allowed me to explore various musical projects.
 
https://rachelbartonpine.com
https://www.soundespressivocompetition.com/services/devin-patrick-hughes
https://www.castlerockco.com/devin-patrick-hughes-music-director-conductor/
 
 
 

Trace Bundy Guitarist & Acoustic Ninja

Devin welcomes Internationally-acclaimed guitar virtuoso Trace Bundy, who's music is poetry in motion, using harmonics, looping, multiple capos, and his unique banter and stage presence to deliver an unforgettable live concert experience. Seeing the fan-dubbed "Acoustic Ninja" play live confounds even the most accomplished music lovers as to how one person can do all that with just two hands and ten fingers.
 
Bundy’s unique career has brought him across the world, with concerts in 28 countries and counting - from performance halls of South Korea and Italy, to remote villages in Zimbabwe and Guatemala. He has independently sold over 150,000 albums on his record label, Honest Ninja Music. His video clips circulate virally at astonishing speed, with over 45 million YouTube views to date.
 
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Trace Bundy for sharing his music and story. You can find his music where ever you listen. And he’s playing live in concert with Boulder Symphony this Friday night at Boulder Theatre. Works on the show today include music written and performed by Trace Bundy, U2, and Pachelbel from the albums Elephant King and Adapt. Thanks to Honest Ninja Music for making this episode possible.
 
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Thank you to Johnson & Stories, Suerte Tequila, & Chuck & Margit Porter for making this episode possible. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
https://tracebundy.com
https://www.johnsonandstories.com
https://drinksuerte.com
https://devinpatrickhughes.com
https://bouldersymphony.org
 

Dvorak’s New World Symphony in Context with Douglas Shadle

As an advocate of historically marginalized composers, musicologist Douglas Shadle is a leading voice in public discussions about the role of symphony orchestras and orchestral music in American life. On the latest episode of ONE SYMPHONY, we discuss his latest book, Antonin Dvorak's New World Symphony (Oxford, 2021), as well as his first book, Orchestrating the Nation: The Nineteenth-Century American Symphonic Enterprise (Oxford, 2016), which explores the volatile relationships between composers, performers, critics, and audiences throughout the 19th century and demonstrates why American composers rarely find a home on concert programs today. 
 
Shadle is also a highly-regarded expert on fellow Little Rock native Florence Price, the first African American woman to win international acclaim as a composer. His research on Price has been featured in The New Yorker, New York Times, and NewMusicBox. Shadle’s second book recontextualizes Antonín Dvořák’s iconic New World Symphony within the complex landscape of American culture at the end of the nineteenth century.
 
Shadle’s publications have won two ASCAP Deems/Taylor Virgil Thomson Awards, the Society for American Music Irving Lowens Article Award, the inaugural American Musicological Society H. Robert Cohen/RIPM Award, and the Vanderbilt Chancellor’s Award for Research. Shadle joined the Blair School faculty in 2014 and has served as the chair of the Department of Musicology and Ethnomusicology since 2019.
 
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Douglas Shadle for sharing his knowledge and insights, you can find Antonin Dvorak’s New World Symphony where you get your books. Works on the show today included Dvorak’s American String Quartet performed by the Prague Quartet and his Ninth Symphony with Charles Mackerras and the London Philharmonic, Myun-Wun Chung and the Vienna Philharmonic, and Paavo Jarvi and the Cincinnati Symphony.
 
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
https://www.pricefest.org/about/douglas-shadle
https://devinpatrickhughes.com
onesymphony.org
 
 

Jeffrey Nytch: Creating a Renaissance Musician

Jeffrey Nytch joins conductor Devin Patrick Hughes on One Symphony. Jeffrey has built a diverse career as a composer, educator, performer, and thought leader in arts entrepreneurship. His music has been performed at major venues throughout the U.S. and Europe, including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, MoMA, and many others.
His international reputation as an arts entrepreneurship educator includes numerous awards, including the Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Award from the U.S. Assn. of Small Business & Entrepreneurship and the Sharon Alpi Award for Innovative Pedagogy from the Society for Arts Entrepreneurship Education. His groundbreaking book, The Entrepreneurial Muse applies traditional entrepreneurial theory to the performing arts.
Since 2009, he has served on the faculty of The University of Colorado-Boulder, where he is an Associate Professor of Composition and serves as Director of The Entrepreneurship Center for Music, one of the leading programs of its kind.
 
Thank you for joining us for on One Symphony. Thanks to Jeffrey Nytch for sharing his music and insights, you can get more info at https://www.jeffreynytch.com. Works on the show today included Jeffrey’s For the Trees played by the Ivalas Quartet and Seize the Sun performed by Carpe Diem String Quartet.
Thank you to Kim at Johnson&Stories for editorial contributions!
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
https://www.jeffreynytch.com
https://devinpatrickhughes.com/
https://onesymphony.org/
https://www.johnsonandstories.com/
 
 

Eldbjørg Hemsing & Nature’s Violin

Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, who joins Devin Patrick Hughes on One Symphony, seeks to introduce classical music to new audiences all over the world. She has recorded three award-winning albums, premièred several highly acclaimed new compositions and appears in the world’s most celebrated concert halls, including Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. She has performed with orchestras around the world including the Oslo Philharmonic, the Vienna Symphony, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, the Shanghai and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestras and many more. She has appeared as Norway’s cultural ambassador at venues such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Expo, and has travelled the world with Norway’s royal family.
Some of her many roles to make music more assessable is as co-founder of the Hemsing Festival and the artistic director of SPIRE, an innovative annual mentoring program within the Nordland Music Festival in Bodø, which promotes and supports young artists in their personal and artistic development.
 
Thank you for joining us for on One Symphony. Thanks to Eldbjørg Hemsing for sharing her performances and insights, you can get more info https://www.eldbjorgmusic.com. Works on the show today included The Arctic Suite by Jacob Shea, The Return of the Sun and Under the Arctic Moon by Frode Fjellheim, Peer Gynt Suite and Last Spring by Edvard Grieg, and A Hidden Life by James Newton Howard.
 
Thank you to all amazing performers featured on today’s show including:
Eldbjørg Hemsing, the Arctic Philharmonic, Frode Fjellheim, and the New York Philharmonic & Leonard Bernstein. Thanks to Sony Music Entertainment for helping to make this episode possible. Thank you to Kim at Johnson&Stories for editing the episode!
 
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
 
https://www.eldbjorgmusic.com/
https://devinpatrickhughes.com/
https://www.johnsonandstories.com/
 

Peter Boyer: Carrying the Torch of American Music

PETER BOYER is one of the most frequently performed American orchestral composers of his generation, joins Devin Patrick Hughes on One Symphony. He’s conducted and been commissioned by ensembles around the world including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kennedy Center for the National Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, along with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Nashville Symphony, and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Boyer’s Grammy-nominated work Ellis Island: The Dream of America, has become one of the most performed American orchestral works of the last 15 years and was featured on PBS’ Great Performances in 2018. In 2019, Boyer received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which is officially recognized by both Houses of Congress as one of the most prestigious American awards.
Peter Boyer is active in the film and television music industry. He has contributed to more than 35 feature film scores from all the major movie studios and has composed scores for The History Channel and even arranged for the Academy Awards!
 
Thank you for joining us for on One Symphony. Thanks to Peter Boyer for sharing his music and insights, you can get more info at https://propulsivemusic.com. Works of his heard today include Fanfare, Hymn and Finale; Elegy, Balance of Power, and Ellis Island - the Dream of America.
Thank you to all amazing performers featured on today’s show including:
Peter Boyer, the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, the Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, & Peter Schreier.  Thanks to the record labels Naxos and Universal International Music for making this episode possible.
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show.  Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!

Michael Torke, Master of Musical Color

American composer Michael Torke joins conductor Devin Patrick Hughes on One Symphony. Michael Torke's music has been hailed as "some of the most optimistic, joyful and thoroughly uplifting music to appear in recent years" by Gramophone, and the composer has been commissioned by such orchestras as The Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the San Francisco Symphony; and  by ballet and opera companies around the world including the Met and the English National Opera.
He has been commissioned by Disney and Absolute Vodka, has written incidental music for The Old Globe Theater, and has been composer in residence with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Beginning his career with exclusive contracts with Boosey and Hawkes, and Decca Records, he now controls his own copyrights and masters through his publishing company, Adjustable Music, and record company, Ecstatic Records.
Hailed as a "vitally inventive composer" by the Financial Times and "a master orchestrator whose shimmering timbral palette makes him the Ravel of his generation" by the New York Times, Michael Torke’s recent work, SKY, written for violinist Tessa Lark, was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize, and was nominated for a Grammy for best classical instrument solo.
 
Thank you for joining us for on One Symphony. Thanks to Michael Torke for sharing his music and insights, you can get more info at https://www.michaeltorke.com. Works of his heard today include Ecstatic Orange, Time, Bright Blue Music, Being, Sky, and Four Proverbs.
Thank you to all amazing performers featured on today’s show including:
David Zinman & the Baltimore Symphony
Michael Torke and the Michael Torke Orchestra
American Modern Ensemble
David Alan Miller, Tessa Lark, & the Albany Symphony
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
Catherine Bott and the Argo Band
And thanks to Michael Torke, Ecstatic Records, Albany Records, Columbia Records, and Decca Music Group for making the show possible.
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show.  Thanks to Mary and Diane for making this episode possible! Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!

Vitaliy Katsenelson, Soul in the Game

Vitaliy Katsenelson joins Devin Patrick Hughes on One Symphony. He was born in Murmansk, USSR, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1991. Vitaliy became CEO of Investment Management Associates in 2012 and has written two books on investing and for publications including Financial Times, Barron’s, Institutional Investor and Foreign Policy. Vitaliy’s articles can also be found at ContrarianEdge.com and on the Intellectual Investor Podcast.
 
Soul in the Game is a book of inspiring stories and hard-won lessons on how to live a meaningful life.  Drawing from the lives of classical composers, ancient Stoics, and contemporary thinkers, Katsenelson weaves together a tapestry of practical wisdom that has helped him overcome his greatest challenges: in work, family, identity, health – and in dealing with success, failure, and more.
 
Part autobiography, part philosophy, part creativity manual, Soul in the Game is a unique and vulnerable exploration of what works, and what doesn’t, in the attempt to shape a fulfilling and happy life.
 
Thank you for joining us for on One Symphony.  Thanks to Vitaliy Katsenelson for sharing his wealth of knowledge, you can check out Soul in the Game where you get your books and myfavoriteclassical.com. Thank you to all amazing performers featured on today’s show: Valentina Lisitsa, Michael Francis and the London Symphony, Roger Norrington and the London Classical Players, Valery Gergiev and the Vienna Philharmonic, Yevgeny Mravinsky and the Leningrad Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, Lang Lang, Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony, Bernd Glemser, Antoni Wit, and the Polish National Radio Symphony.
 
You can learn more about Vitaliy at https://contrarianedge.com/. You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!

Cracking Tchaikovsky’s Nuts

Go behind the scenes with conductor Devin Patrick Hughes as we take a historical, musical, and cultural tour through one of the greatest works of art of the 19th century, the Nutcracker!
Who did Tchaikovsky collaborate with?
What were some of his inspirations to write the Nutcracker?
Did Tchaikovsky enjoy writing the Nutcracker?
How did he work with the choreographer?
Along with keeping most ballet companies alive by selling out houses for over a century, Tchaikovsky’s music and its ability to bring a story to life will forever ignite out imaginations and creativity during the holidays and beyond.
 
The Nutcracker becomes one of the sounds, smells and tastes of our holiday spirit and the solstice, along with the season of renewal, and the affirmation that life can be exactly what you create it to be. 
 
Thank you to all the incredible record labels and performers who made this episode possible.
 
Ensembles:
Orchestra of the Kirov Opera, Apotheosis Orchestra, Ensemble Musica Nigella, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Oslo Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic
 
Conductors:
Valery Gergiev, Korneel Bernolet, Takénori Némoto, Jan Koetsier, Gustavo Dudamel, Mariss Jansons
 
Soloists: Éléonore Pancrazi, Rita Streich, Melitta Muszely, Raimund Grumbach, (singers);
Philippe Bianconi, pianist
 
Labels: Philips, Apotheosis, Klarthe, La Dolce Volta, Classical Moments, Deutsche Grammophon, Chandos, Decca
 
Thank you to all our listeners and supporters for joining us on One Symphony in 2022. You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org. Please feel free to rate review or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
 
https://devinpatrickhughes.com
https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/10/19/nightmares-severed-heads-and-shrieks-of-agony-colorado-chamber-players-and-arapahoe-phil-embrace-the-macabre-for-weekend-concerts/
https://www.cpr.org/2022/11/16/boulder-symphony-pianist-shangru-du/
 

Classic Holiday Film Music

The holidays are a great time to catch up on all our favorite movies, and many of these films wouldn’t enjoy the popularity they do without their amazing soundtracks! Today on One Symphony, we want to share with you some of our Holiday Film Score favorites! Join conductor Devin Patrick Hughes as he explores some classical films scores including Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from Meet Me in St. Louis, Gremlins by Jerry Goldsmith, Home Alone by John Williams, and Danny Elfman's Nightmare Before Christmas. Along the way we explore how these mammoth scores were influences by composers and works like Aaron Copland, Hector Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Kurt Weill, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Franz Schubert, and many more! 
Thank you to all the amazing performers and record labels who made this episode possible including Danny Elfman, Disney, Judy Garland, UMG Recordings, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Geffen Records, the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Silva Screen Records, Warner Brothers, Orchestra of the Marinsky Theatre and Valery Gergiev, Universal Music, Atlanta Symphony and Louis Lane, Alessio Randon and Naxos, the Boston Symphony and Charles Munch, Valentina Lisitsa, Michael Francis and the London Symphony, Ute Lemper, Jeff Cohen and the RIAS Sinfonietta Berlin, with John Mauceri on Decca, Everest Records, Katherine O’Hara, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Daniel Barenboim, and Mel Torme.
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to lend your support to the podcast. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!