Because Episode 348 of the ASCAP Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award winning program Between the Keys falls on February 22nd this year (meaning “2/22/22") The Classical Network’s Artist-in-Residence Jed Distler decided to do some musical free-association inspired by the numbers 2, 22 and 222.
For example, Jed pairs two recordings of Glenn Gould playing Variation No. Two from Bach’s Goldberg Variations. He compares two recordings of a movement from Schumann’s Piano Sonata No. Two Op. 22. He showcases the Naughton twins in a Mendelssohn duet, and serves up his own madcap rendition of “Tea for Two.”
Jed sneaks in a creative avant-garde improvisation by vibraphonist Walt Dickerson and the legendary American bandleader and outer-space ambassador Sun Ra at the piano. And if that’s not enough, Jed even found a delightful Sonata bearing the opus number 222, the Sonata Tropicale for double bass and piano by Franco Mannino.
“Sometimes you just have to liberate your programming discipline,” Jed says. “I admit that I’ll be sliding down the proverbial rabbit hole this week, but I think that listeners will enjoy joining me for a wild ride. And don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you next week with an all-Beethoven episode, just to reassure you that I haven’t flipped my lid!”
Tune into Between the Keys this Tuesday February 22nd at 10:00 PM, with a rebroadcast Wednesday February 23rd at noon, exclusively on The Classical Network and WWFM.org
