Francis Spufford, writer

Francis Spufford, writer

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Dietmar Mueller-Elmau, entrepreneur

Dietmar Mueller-Elmau is the owner of Schloss Elmau, a resort hotel in the Bavarian Alps, 60 miles from Munich. It was set up in 1916 by his grandfather, the philosopher and writer Johannes Müller. He wanted people to take “a holiday from the ego” and to enjoy classical concerts. ...  Show more

Rachel Eliza Griffiths, poet and novelist

The American writer Rachel Eliza Griffiths creates poetry that resonates with music: she writes about her mother cleaning the house while ‘Pavarotti trembled across the terse sunlight of every room.’As well as poetry, she’s written a novel, and her most recent book is a memoir ca ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

David Sulzer, "Music, Math, and Mind: The Physics and Neuroscience of Music" (Columbia UP, 2021)
New Books in Music

Why does a clarinet play at lower pitches than a flute? What does it mean for sounds to be in or out of tune? How are emotions carried by music? Do other animals perceive sound like we do? How might a musician use math to come up with new ideas? This book offers a lively explorat ...  Show more

Music and Critical Illness
Critical Matters

This episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses music and critical illness and explores the topic through the lens of his guest – Andrew Schulman. Andrew is the first musician to be accepted as a professional Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) member. He is a member of the SCCM ...  Show more

David Byrne on How Music Connects Us
The Science of Happiness

Music helped former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne come out of his shell and connect with others—and research shows he's not alone. We explore the science behind how music shapes our social lives.

Summary: Musician and artist David Byrne reflects on how music opened ...

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Are we losing the ability to form our own musical taste?
Nights

Thanks to music streaming, many people now have millions of tunes at their fingertips. But are platforms like Spotify leading us to choose convenience over cultivating our own distinct musical taste? The ability to effortlessly skip a song by clicking 'next' onscreen devalues the ...  Show more