Monday - Friday at 7:00 pm
An expedition through the world of classical music.
Exploring Music takes listeners on an adventure through the world of classical music. Each five-episode series explores a single theme, revealing surprising connections among composers, cultures, history, and great works – from Shakespeare and music to the lives of iconic composers, from musical capitals like Paris and Venice to festivals, genres, and traditions from around the globe. Whether you're a devoted classical music fan or just beginning to explore, Exploring Music offers a welcoming place to learn, listen, and be inspired – one week, one theme, and one musical adventure at a time.
Hosted by Peter van de Graaff, Exploring Music welcomes a new chapter while continuing to feature encore episodes from founding host Bill McGlaughlin in selected weeks.
Darius Milhaud (1892-1974)
September 21, 2026
Darius Milhaud stands among history’s most prolific composers. His boundless curiosity drew him to cultures and sounds from every corner of the globe. His music is alive with inspiration and imagination. Born in Southern France, he traveled to Brazil and later to California, where he taught young musicians including Burt Bacharach, Dave Brubeck, and William Bolcom. Host Peter van de ...
Vaughan Williams, Ralph
September 14, 2026
Composer of nine masterful symphonies, editor of the English Hymnal, an ambulance driver in WWI, and great-nephew to Charles Darwin, Ralph Vaughan Williams was a prolific and intriguing figure who was at the vanguard of English music in the early 20th century. This week, we’ll look at his life and enjoy his music.
Bill’s Keepers
September 7, 2026
Bill kept a big box at home filled with albums from friends around the world. He shared some of his favorites on a program he called “his keepers”, saying these CDs were just too good to give away. We’ll listen to Mendelssohn performed by Itzhak Perlman, as well as pieces from flutist Robert Stallman’s CD, The Nightingale in Love.
A Guitar Fest
September 28, 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.” ...
Les Cinq Plus
October 5, 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 ...
Gustav Mahler, Part 1 (1860-1911)
October 12, 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)
October 19, 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!
