Welcome to this month's edition of Big Blend Radio's American Jukebox on the Big Daily Blend show! In celebration of Classical Music Month and as part of our ongoing America 250 series, host Lisa D. Smith and co-host Johnny Schaefer dig into classical and orchestral music, tracing how these pieces have shaped American life, film, and the artists who create it.
From the first Black woman to have her music performed by a major American orchestra, to a film score written as a love letter to music teachers, to the choral, operatic, and vocal traditions that have influenced generations of American composers, this episode spans a wide range of styles while staying rooted in a shared thread: the deep, often invisible way classical music runs through American culture.
HOW TO LISTEN
With Full Music (Mixcloud): Play the embedded Mixcloud player below to listen to the full episode, complete with all seven featured pieces integrated into the show!
Full Expanded Playlist (Spotify): Want to hear all seven pieces plus extras? Stream our expanded Spotify playlist linked below!
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:
Featured Pieces & Episode Highlights
1. "Adoration" – Florence Price
Picked by: Johnny Schaefer
About the Piece: Florence Price was the first Black woman to have her music performed by a major American orchestra. Born in Little Rock, she moved to Chicago to escape racial violence in the South and built her career there as a pianist, organist, teacher, and composer. Her music blends African American folk melodies and rhythms with the lush orchestral tradition of Antonín Dvořák, one of her biggest influences. "Adoration," originally written for organ, has since been adapted for violin, cello, and piano soloists alike.
2. "American Symphony" (from Mr. Holland's Opus) – Michael Kamen
Picked by: Lisa D. Smith
About the Piece: Michael Kamen, known for scoring Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Band of Brothers, and Die Hard, wrote this piece as the emotional heart of Mr. Holland's Opus — a tribute to teachers whose greatest work is the students they shape. Kamen founded the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, which still provides instruments to underserved schools today. This pick carries extra resonance this episode: earlier in the show, Lisa and Johnny revisit their own episode on marching bands, where Johnny's mentors and music teachers from his years in Porterville, California first come up.
3. "Dirait-on" – Morten Lauridsen
Picked by: Johnny Schaefer
About the Piece: Morten Lauridsen is one of the most performed American choral composers of all time. "Dirait-on" comes from his song cycle Les Chansons des Roses, set to the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke. Known for his warm, tightly layered harmonies and gentle dissonance, Lauridsen's music has had a deep influence on generations of American choral composers who followed him.
4. "Pavane, Op. 50" (from Paper Music) – Bobby McFerrin
Picked by: Lisa D. Smith
About the Piece: Best known for "Don't Worry, Be Happy," Bobby McFerrin also recorded Paper Music, a crossover album with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. His take on Gabriel Fauré's Pavane weaves his voice through the orchestra like an instrument of its own — elegant, playful, and unmistakably his.
5. "Epilogue" (from Akhnaten) – Philip Glass
Picked by: Johnny Schaefer
About the Piece: Philip Glass is one of the most influential American composers of the 20th century, known for the hypnotic, repeating patterns of minimalism. His opera Akhnaten has been performed by singers close to Johnny, including his brother and sister-in-law, who've both sung the opera. It's a fitting pick for an episode that touches on the world of opera more than once — Big Blend Radio has explored that world further in our own episode on opera.
6. "Mars, the Bringer of War" (from The Planets) – Gustav Holst
Picked by: Lisa D. Smith
About the Piece: Though British, Holst's The Planets had an outsized influence on American film music. "Mars" is the direct musical ancestor of the Star Wars Imperial March, and its driving rhythms and brass writing shaped the sound of John Williams and generations of American composers who followed.
7. "Classical Gas" – Mason Williams
Picked by: Nancy J. Reid
About the Piece: One of the most iconic American instrumentals ever recorded, "Classical Gas" was written by Mason Williams while he worked as a comedy writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Released in 1968 and originally titled "Classical Gasoline," it won three Grammy Awards, including Best Instrumental Composition — a high-energy, guitar-driven finale to close the show.
Listen on Spotify
Couldn't get enough of these seven pieces? Check out our expanded Spotify Playlist featuring extra tracks from these composers and related works!
What's Coming Up Next Month?
Join us on the first Sunday of October for our next installment of Big Blend Radio's American Jukebox, where Johnny and Lisa will celebrate Global Diversity Month and LGBTQ History Month with a new mix of music!
Johnny Schaefer is an award-winning LA-based singer-songwriter and a vital voice in the Big Blend Radio and Magazines podcast family. A classically trained musician (BA in Voice and Composition) and a voting member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYS), Johnny's career spans from duets with Melissa Manchester to backing icons like Josh Groban and Billy Idol. With over 4 million views on his YouTube channel and a passion for storytelling, Johnny brings a sophisticated, eclectic perspective to our creative community. Visit HearJohnny.com or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.