About Exploring Music
Weekdays at 9pm
Bill McGlaughlin and Peter Van de Graaff guide listeners through a new musical theme each week, devoting five nights to a single topic. Bill McGlaughlin’s in-depth knowledge of and deep passion for classical music gives the series enthusiasm, imagination, and spontaneity. Before he passed away, Bill was a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster, conductor, and composer. Peter van de Graaff has enjoyed a distinguished four-decade radio career, including 38 years as host of WFMT’s nationally syndicated Beethoven Network. A native of the Chicago area, Peter began his radio career in 1984 at Brigham Young University, shortly before graduating with a degree in vocal performance. Over time, Peter will become the sole host of Exploring Music. For next little while, though, one week per month will be hosted by Peter.
Program Schedule
A Guitar Fest
Week of September 28th, 2026
This week’s show was inspired by a listener who suggested we dedicate some time to Andrés Segovia. He wrote, “Of all musicians I have known, no one dominated the field as he did. Almost single-handedly, he converted the guitar from a plaything to a concert instrument. Several composers dedicated their works to him. An amazing artist and an unforgettable man.” So, this week, we’ll hear Andrés Segovia and his colleagues perform guitar pieces by Bach, Villa-Lobos, Albéniz, and Brouwer.
MONDAY, September 28
Bach, JS: Suite for Lute in C Minor, BWV 997
Gigue
Andrés Segovia, guitar
1927-1939 Recordings – Volume 1
EMI 61048
2:48
Sor, Fernando: Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 9
Andrés Segovia, guitar
Segovia – 1950s American Recordings Volume 2
Naxos 8111090
7:10
Albéniz, Isaac: "Granada"
Andrés Segovia, guitar
The Segovia Collection Vol. 3
MCA 42069
5:17
Albéniz: "Sevilla"
Andrés Segovia, guitar
The Segovia Collection Vol. 3
MCA 42069
4:04
Turina, Joaquín: "Sevillana"
Andrés Segovia, guitar
The Segovia Collection Vol. 3
MCA 42069
5:54
Rodrigo, Joaquín: Fantasía para un gentilhombre:
I. Villano y Ricercare II. Españoleta – Toques de la Caballería de Napoles
III. Danza de las Hachas IV. Canario
Symphony of the Air/Enrique Jorda, Andrés Segovia, guitar
The Segovia Collection
DG 471430
21:26
Bach:
Partita for Violin Solo No. 3 in E, BWV 1006
"Gavotte," "Rondeau"
Andrés Segovia, guitar
The Segovia Collection
DG 471430
2:56
TUESDAY, September 29
Vivaldi, Antonio: Lute Concerto in D, RV 93
I. Allegro Giusto II. Largo II. Allegro
English Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim; John Williams, guitar
The Great Guitar Concertos
CBS 44791
10:02
Giuliani, Mauro: Guitar Concerto No. I. in A, Op. 30
II. Andantino III. Rondo Alla Polacca
English Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim; John Williams, guitar
The Great Guitar Concertos
CBS 44791
12:55
Castelnuovo Tedesco, Mario: Guitar Concerto No. 1 in D, Op. 99
II. Andantino Alla Romanza
English Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim; John Williams, guitar
The Great Guitar Concertos
CBS 44791
7:16
Villa-Lobos, Heitor: Guitar Concerto, A 501, II. Andantino e Andante
English Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim; John Williams, guitar
The Great Guitar Concertos
CBS 44791
5:20
Ponce, Manuel: Concierto Del Sur, I. Allegretto
London Symphony Orchestra/Previn; John Williams, guitar
The Great Guitar Concertos
CBS 44791
12:22
Bach, Johann Sebastian: French Suite No. 4 in E-flat, BWV 815
Murray Perahia, piano
DG 4796 565
2:11
WEDNESDAY, September 30
Dowland, John: "Mignarda"
Julian Bream, lute
Bream Collection, Vol. 1 – Golden Age English Lute Music
RCA 61584
4:17
Johnson, Robert: "Carman’s Whistle"
Julian Bream, lute
Bream Collection, Vol. 1 – Golden Age English Lute Music
RCA 61584
2:38
Britten, Benjamin: The Second Lute Song of
the Earl of Essex (Gloriana, 1953)
Julian Bream, guitar; Peter Pears, tenor
Music for Voice and Guitar
RCA 61601
4:48
Britten, Benjamin: Folk Song Arrangements
"I Will Give My Love an Apple"
Julian Bream, guitar; Peter Pears, tenor
Music for Voice and Guitar
RCA 61601
1:54
Britten, Benjamin: "Sailor-Boy"
Julian Bream, guitar; Peter Pears, tenor
Music for Voice and Guitar
RCA 61601
1:20
Bennett, Richard Rodney: Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Ensemble
I. Lento e rubato; vivo III. Con brio
Melos Ensemble/David Atherton/Julian Bream
Guitar Concertos
RCA 61598
10:29
Walton, William: Five Bagatelles
Sempre espressivo
Julian Bream, guitar
Dedication
RCA 25419
2:25
Britten, Benjamin: Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70
Julian Bream, guitar
Music for Voice & Guitar
RCA 61601
18:34
Dowland, John: "Lady Clifton’s Spirit"
Julian Bream, guitar
Music for Voice & Guitar
RCA 61601
1:35
Bach, Johann Sebastian: French Suite No. 4 In E-flat, BWV 815
Murray Perahia, piano
DG 4796 565
2:12
THURSDAY, October 1
Couperin, François: "Les Baricades Mistérieuses"
Eliot Fisk, guitar
Eliot Fisk Plays Guitar Fantasies
Musicmasters 7008 2
1:44
Dowland, John: "Forlorne Hope"
Eliot Fisk, guitar
Eliot Fisk Plays Guitar Fantasies
Musicmasters 7008 2
3:11
Barrios, Agustin: "Sueño En La Floresta"
Eliot Fisk, guitar
Eliot Fisk Plays Guitar Fantasies
Musicmasters 7008 2
7:01
Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Capriccio Diabolico, Op. 85
“Omaggio A Paganini”
Eliot Fisk, guitar
Bell’ Italia: Four Centuries of Italian Music
Music Masters 67079
9:00
Paganini, Niccolo: Sonata No. 4 in D Major
Menuetto – Rondoncino
Eliot Fisk, guitar
Bell’Italia: Four Centuries of Italian Music
Music Masters 67079
3:46
Villa-Lobos, Heitor: Prelude No. 2 in E Major
Pepe Romero, guitar
The Art of Pepe Romero – Guitar Favourites
Philips 420245
3:07
Villa-Lobos, Heitor: Chôro No. 1
Pepe Romero, guitar
The Art of Pepe Romero – Guitar Favourites
Philips 420245
4:54
Yepes, Narciso: Jeux interdits, “Romance”
Pepe Romero, guitar
The Art of Pepe Romero – Guitar Favourites
Philips 420245
1:50
Albéniz, Isaac: Tango, Op. 165, No. 2
Pepe Romero and Celin Romero, guitars
The Art of Pepe Romero – Guitar Favourites
Philips 420245
2:16
Romero, Celedonio: "Noche in Malaga"
Los Romeros
Los Romeros – Golden Jubilee Celebration
London 478 0192
4:04
Rodrigo, Joaquín: Concierto Madrigal
II. Madrigal
Academy of St. Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner;
Pepe Romero, Angel Romero, guitars
Los Romeros – Golden Jubilee Celebration
London 478 0192
2:52
Tárrega, Francisco: "Recuerdos de la Alhambra"
Pepe Romero, guitar
Recuerdos De La Alhambra – Jeux Interdits – Asturias
Philips 6514 381
4:40
FRIDAY, October 2
Villa-Lobo, Heitor: Preludes, W.419 (1940)
No. 4 in E Minor, Lento; No.3 in A Minor Andante
Ernesto Bitetti, guitar
The Most Relaxing Guitar Album in The World…ever!
EMI 46809
8:47
Ponce, Manuel: "Scherzino Mexicano"
Ernesto Bitetti, guitar
The Most Relaxing Guitar Album in The World…ever!
EMI 46809
2:23
Brouwer, Leo: “Canción de cuna”
Ernesto Bitetti, guitar
The Most Relaxing Guitar Album in The World…ever!
EMI 46809
3:38
Ramírez, Ariel: “Alfonsina y el mar”
Ernesto Bitetti, guitar
The Most Relaxing Guitar Album in The World…ever!
EMI 46809
4:39
Abril, Antón García: “Habanera”
Ernesto Bitetti, guitar
The Most Relaxing Guitar Album in The World…ever!
EMI 46809
3:51
Traditional/arr. Barbosa Lima: “Wayfaring Strangers”
Joan Baez, Sharon Isbin, guitars
Journey to The New World
Sony 45456
5:02
Traditional/Mark O’Connor: “Road to Appalachia,” “Shine on”
Mark O’Connor, violin; Sharon Isbin, guitar
Journey to The New World
Sony 45456
5:32
Almeida, Laurindo: Historia do Luar – Choro
Sharon Isbin annd Thiago De Mello
Journey to The Amazon
Teldec 6301 9899
2:11
Lauro, Antonio: “Seis por Derecho”
Sharon Isbin, Paul Winter, Thiago de Mello
Journey to The Amazon
Teldec 6301 9899
3:35
Thiago de Mello Gaudencio: “A Hug for Pixingha”
Sharon Isbin, Paul Winter, Thiago de Mello
Journey to The Amazon
Teldec 6301 9899
3:57
Thiago de Mello Gaudencio: Chants for the Chief, No.2
"Uirapurú do Amazonas"
Sharon Isbin, Paul Winter, Thiago de Mello
Journey to The Amazon
Teldec 6301 9899
5:31
Les Cinq Plus
Week of October 5th, 2026
This week’s theme: French composers from the generation before Les Six (Poulenc, Milhaud, Honegger, et al), and we are fondly calling our composers Les Cinq Plus. Like Les Six, our composers did not have a great deal in common, and the way they have been grouped is a historical accident — artists who happened to inhabit a particular locale at a given time. Unlike Les Six, Les Cinq Plus grew up listening to the art songs of the 1800s, and each in their way carried this romantic torch forward: Chabrier, Massenet, Duparc, Chausson, Dukas, and perhaps Satie as “L’Autre.”
Gustav Mahler, Part 1 (1860-1911)
Week of October 12th, 2026
An Austrian composer who thought, “A symphony should be like the world: it must embrace
everything.” With his ten-plus symphonies, Mahler’s world extended horizons beyond anything known to concert audiences. His vision stretched the boundaries of the orchestra, of the symphonic form, and even this radio show! Join us for two full weeks on the symphonies of Gustav Mahler.
Gustav Mahler, Part 2 (1860-1911)
Week of October 19th, 2026
For a second week, we continue with the life and works of Gustav Mahler. This week features Kindertotenlieder sung by Kathleen Ferrier; Symphony of a Thousand; and tenor Fritz Wunderlich singing “The Drinking Song of the Earth’s Sorrow” from Das Lied von der Erde. This is to name just a few highlights- you don’t want to miss this week!
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