Playlist 2026-05-17

May 17, 2026 Duration: 0:00
There are so many interesting and obscure holidays … did you know that May 16 is the annual celebration of “love a tree” day! Even better -- would you believe that there’s a famous baroque era aria by George Frideric Handel that is a love song … to a tree? OMBRA MAI FU is from Handel’s opera XERXES, and it’s one of the highlights on Sunday Baroque this weekend.

Settle into a comfortable chair with your favorite beverage, and let the intricate melodies of the Baroque era transform your weekend. Sunday Baroque offers a thoughtfully curated selection of music from composers like Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel, alongside lesser-known gems from the period. Each episode feels like a personal concert, blending lively concertos, graceful dance suites, and profound sacred works. The host provides just enough context to enrich the listening experience, sharing stories behind the compositions and the musicians who bring them to life, without ever interrupting the flow of the music. It’s a weekly auditory retreat designed to complement a slower pace, whether you’re preparing a leisurely breakfast, enjoying a quiet afternoon, or simply seeking a moment of refined beauty. This podcast has become an essential ritual for many, a dedicated space where the elegance and mathematical precision of seventeenth and eighteenth-century music provide a perfect counterbalance to modern noise. Tune in to discover why this collection of fresh and essential recordings has earned its place as the soundtrack for a Sunday state of mind.
Language: en-us Episodes: 15

Podcast Episodes
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The roots of our celebration of Mother’s Day go back to two pivotal people and events: West Virginia mom Ann Reeves Jarvis, who helped establish “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to help women learn to care for their children. A…
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The largest chamber music competition in the world is based in South Bend, Indiana and was founded by a music loving furniture salesman in 1973. The Fischoff National Chamber Music Association is a comprehensive organiza…
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During the baroque era there was a rich musical scene in many places around the world, including in what we now call Mexico. It included composers born in so-called “New Spain” and others born in Europe who made the leap…
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Did you know that April is Poetry Month? Sunday Baroque will celebrate with poetic music by a variety of composers, including a leading 14th c. French musician and poet who combined his skills by setting many of his own…
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Composers have long looked to nature for inspiration—from birds and flowers to the changing seasons and the ancient elements. This Earth Week edition of Sunday Baroque takes listeners on a musical nature walk with a Nigh…
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April is National Garden Month, and you can stop and smell the MUSICAL flowers as you stroll through a magnificent harmonic garden cultivated by musicians with particularly fertile imaginations and creativity – including…
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On this Easter weekend, you’ll get to hear a joyful, extroverted Suite for two trumpets … a contemplative violin sonata for Easter … and charming Italian dances by a composer who worked for the Gonzaga family by day, and…
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Music is often said to have healing powers, and music by Johann Sebastian Bach seems to be a particularly effective medicine. Whether we are listening to Bach’s music, or performing it, Bach’s music is good for what ails…
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Edward Klorman is a violist and Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Mead Witter School of Music. In 2025 he published his book, BACH: THE CELLO SUITES, exploring what makes these seemingly humbl…
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Johann Sebastian Bach was born in March 1685 into a family of accomplished musicians. Bach had full-time jobs in music from his teenage years to the end of his life. He was one of the hardest-working musicians of his day…