A Conversation with Composer Caroline Shaw

A Conversation with Composer Caroline Shaw

Author: Joshua Weilerstein October 18, 2024 Duration: 47:32

Caroline Shaw is one of the most fascinating, innovative, and brilliant composers of our time. Since winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2013, she rocketed onto the scene and has stayed there ever since, writing music that has captivated audiences around the world. In this conversation, which dates back to 2020(so there is a bit of pandemic talk at the beginning), we talked about her musical upbringing, the shock and surprise of her Pulitzer win, her compositional process, and much much more. This was a really fun and edifying conversation and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 


There’s a particular kind of curiosity that draws people to classical music, but the sheer scale of the repertoire can feel overwhelming. Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast, hosted by conductor Joshua Weilerstein, meets that curiosity right where it is. Think of it as a series of open conversations about the music itself, designed to be equally engaging for someone hearing a symphony for the first time and for a lifelong devotee. Episodes might feature a thoughtful interview with a performing artist, offering a glimpse behind the curtain, or they could focus entirely on a single piece, peeling back its layers to explore why it resonates. Weilerstein guides these explorations with clarity and enthusiasm, moving seamlessly from foundational concepts to more nuanced details about different musical eras. The entire premise of this podcast is built on a genuine belief that this music belongs to all of us. It’s about replacing any sense of intimidation with connection and understanding. While past seasons are gradually being re-released, each episode stands as its own invitation to listen more deeply.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 284

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Copland "Appalachian Spring" (Re-Upload) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:58
For this Thanksgiving week we're doing another re-upload from the archive! Today we'll look at Copland's Appalachian Spring, a ballet that has captured the imagination of listeners worldwide and seems to be the marker of…
Mahler Symphony No. 3, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:43
Mahler on his third symphony: "Just imagine a work of such magnitude that it actually mirrors the whole world—one is, so to speak, only an instrument, played on by the universe. . . . My symphony will be something the li…
A Conversation with Composer and Violinist Jesse Montgomery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:03
Jessie Montgomery is an acclaimed composer, violinist, and educator. Her works are performed frequently around the world by leading musicians and ensembles. Her music interweaves classical music with elements of vernacul…
Politics in Classical Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:33
First of all, if you're American, I hope you're listening to this while standing in line to vote! Western Classical Music does not have the reputation for political activism that other kinds of music have, but that doesn…
Mozart Symphony No. 40 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:43
This week continues my project of reuploading seasons 1-5 in new and improved sound quality! The opening of Mozart's 40th symphony is one of the most recognizable tunes in the whole repertoire, but to this day we don't k…
"Wagnerism" with Alex Ross [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:29
This week I got to cross off a Sticky Notes bucket list item by interviewing the best-selling author and critic Alex Ross. We talked about his incredible new book Wagnerism, discussing Wagner's influence on just about ev…
Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann: A Love Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:29
Today is the beginning of a new project to re-upload older episodes in new and improved sound quality! First up is a story I can't believe Hollywood hasn't told in decades - the story of Johannes Brahms and Clara Schuman…
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:35
In one of the most famous reviews in this history of Western Classical Music, Eduard Hanslick torched the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, saying that the violin was "beaten black and blue." This review wounded Tchaikovsky t…
Bruckner Symphony No. 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:53
Bruckner's symphonies are a world unto their own. They are epic works that are also full of a trademark humility that is present in the work of no other composer. Bruckner's 4th Symphony, the "Romantic," has remained one…