Minnesota has claim to a wealth of creativity; music is no exception. Almost every genre can be heard within our state’s borders. The results range from a simple act of joy, to an influence that reverberates far beyond (the “Minneapolis Sound” is a prime example). The collection below is an introduction to the diverse and talented artists who have called Minnesota home, and the art they share with all of us.
May 20, 1999 - A farm in southwest Minnesota probably is not the first place you'd expect a professional mezzo soprano to call home, but that is exactly what MPR’s Mark Steil found when talking with Gary Overgaard, a farmer, and his wife Emily Lodine, an opera singer.
May 31, 1999 - A PRI presentation of "The Mississippi River: A River of Song" by Smithsonian Productions. This program in series is titled “Land of Lakes and Immigrant Songs.”
June 2, 1999 - Mainstreet Radio’s Marisa Helms reports on the Brainerd High School Choir and their year-end performance of Sarah Hopkin’s “Past Life Melodies.” All year long, the choir's been working on the unique piece featuring aboriginal sounds from Australia. The decidedly NOT-WESTERN music has been educational in all sorts of ways.
July 2, 1999 - MPR’s John Bischoff visits carillonneur David Johnson at House of Hope church along Summit Avenue in St. Paul, as he prepares for July 4th concert. Johnson discusses the instrument and how to play it.
September 7, 1999 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reviews the Mill City Music Festival, which for the first time, had an “all local” line-up. Wareham discusses perfomance highlights, including Prince, Sugar, Jack McDuff, and Slim Dunlap.
March 17, 2000 - On this Word of Mouth program, MPR’s Chris Roberts brings together Lou Bellamy, Penumbra Theatre artistic director; and Dominic Papatola, Pioneer Press critic, to discuss viewpoints on poet Rita Dove’s "The Darker Face Of The Earth" play that was performed at the theatre.
June 27, 2000 - On this Voices of Minnesota program, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles two Minnesota musicians - Ann Heymann, gaelic harpist; and Jerry Mayeron, big band leader.
August 15, 2000 - MPR’s Lorna Benson talks with Ryan Olcott, founder of the rock band 12 Rods, about the group’s album “Separation Anxieties.”
December 12, 2000 - On this Word of Mouth report, Chris Roberts interviews Stan Hill, the artistic director of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus. In a region brimming over with choral groups, choirs, chorales and oratorial societies, the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus has been a relatively well-kept secret, but the group is determined to raise its profile as it celebrates a 20-year anniversary.
January 25, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with Minnesota guitarist Sharon Isbin about her album "Dreams of a World: Folk-Inspired Music for Guitar," which is Grammy-nominated in the best solo instrumentalist category.