On December 13, WFMT premieres Whole Notes: Music of Healing and Peace, a special program hosted by Kerry Frumkin that looks at the gun violence epidemic in America through the lens of classical music.
This response to violence in our world – notably, gun violence – will include performances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, a look at the Notes for Peace songwriting project, and excerpts from two recent vocal compositions on the theme of violence: Future Perfect and The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed.
Stories related to Whole Notes
Creating a Space for Empathy: Composer Joel Thompson speaks about The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed
Thompson's 2015 piece prompts conversation about race and social injustice.
Alexandria Hoffman shares her experience performing on a gunbarrel flute with Yo-Yo Ma
This is no normal flute. Civic Orchestra's Alexandria Hoffman explains how the gunbarrel flute was made, and how she came to play it with Yo-Yo Ma.
Peace Pieces — Pacifism in Classical Music [Playlist]
Listening to classical music can provide a general sense of peace and tranquility, but many great works promote pacifism as their central theme.
Benjamin Britten, composer, pacifist, remembered by the star of his antiwar opera, Owen Wingrave
A lifelong pacifist, Benjamin Britten used his music to advocate for peace. Here, Benjamin Luxon, who created the title role of the composer's pacifist opera Owen Wingrave, reflects on Britten's legacy of music and pacifism.
Partner Organizations
WFMT would like to extend many thanks to the organizations who helped create this program:
Bellissima Opera
The Negaunee Music Institute of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Notes for Peace
Purpose Over Pain
Seven Last Words of the Unarmed
Strides for Peace
This program was created in conjunction with FIRSTHAND: Gun Violence, a digital documentary series produced by our sister station WTTW — Chicago PBS. To learn more about FIRSTHAND and the gun violence epidemic in Chicago, visit wttw.com/firsthand