Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is an interview with pianist/composer/arranger Brad Mehldau (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Mehldau) . Our conversation on May 12, 2020 spanned many diverse topics from what he is reading at the moment, what he keeps on his piano, when and how he practices, the connection between bebop and Bach, his favorite video game and more.
Bach's Table of Ornaments: pennuto.com/music/jsb_ornm.htm
Hear the music mentioned (in the order we mention it) here: open.spotify.com/playlist/5iP9EMbyCBoB6hEyK5waK4?si=ukZQ0wy2T62vjGImM_Okfw
Read the literature from our discussion here:
Book of Jeremiah: (New American Bible translation) http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PPE.HTM
The Upanishads: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishads
Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Faustus_(novel)
Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letters_to_a_Young_Poet
George Bernard Shaw music criticism: abebooks.com/Shaws-Music-Complete-Musical-Criticism-Bernard/30253564275/bd
Brad's favorite video game: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millipede_(video_game)
Musicians/Bands mentioned (Alphabetically):
Bach, Bartók, Beethoven, Brahms, Jon Brion, Wendy Carlos, Chopin, John Coltrane, Critters Buggin', Nick Drake, Fauré, Gershwin, Glenn Gould, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Haydn, Fred Hersch, Wynton Kelly, Jacques Loussier, Jerome Lowenthal, Lightning Bolt, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Willie Nelson, Phineas Newborn, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Charlie Parker, Murray Perahia, Oscar Peterson, András Schiff, Schubert, Schumann, Wayne Shorter, Nina Simone, Art Tatum, Tom Waits, Ween.
*Enjoying your contrapuntal journey? Here’s how you can help:*
We encourage our listeners to
*become a paid subscriber at*
wtfbach.substack.com
Free subscriptions (yes, you can subscribe for free!) are also beneficial for our numbers.
You can make a one-time donation here. We run a 501(c)3, so let us know if you want a tax deduction:
paypal.me/wtfbach
venmo.com/wtfbach
Supporting this show ensures its longevity. Thank you for your support!
This is an interview with pianist/composer/arranger Brad Mehldau (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Mehldau) . Our conversation on May 12, 2020 spanned many diverse topics from what he is reading at the moment, what he keeps on his piano, when and how he practices, the connection between bebop and Bach, his favorite video game and more.
Bach's Table of Ornaments: pennuto.com/music/jsb_ornm.htm
Hear the music mentioned (in the order we mention it) here: open.spotify.com/playlist/5iP9EMbyCBoB6hEyK5waK4?si=ukZQ0wy2T62vjGImM_Okfw
Read the literature from our discussion here:
Book of Jeremiah: (New American Bible translation) http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PPE.HTM
The Upanishads: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishads
Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Faustus_(novel)
Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letters_to_a_Young_Poet
George Bernard Shaw music criticism: abebooks.com/Shaws-Music-Complete-Musical-Criticism-Bernard/30253564275/bd
Brad's favorite video game: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millipede_(video_game)
Musicians/Bands mentioned (Alphabetically):
Bach, Bartók, Beethoven, Brahms, Jon Brion, Wendy Carlos, Chopin, John Coltrane, Critters Buggin', Nick Drake, Fauré, Gershwin, Glenn Gould, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Haydn, Fred Hersch, Wynton Kelly, Jacques Loussier, Jerome Lowenthal, Lightning Bolt, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Willie Nelson, Phineas Newborn, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Charlie Parker, Murray Perahia, Oscar Peterson, András Schiff, Schubert, Schumann, Wayne Shorter, Nina Simone, Art Tatum, Tom Waits, Ween.
*Enjoying your contrapuntal journey? Here’s how you can help:*
We encourage our listeners to
*become a paid subscriber at*
wtfbach.substack.com
Free subscriptions (yes, you can subscribe for free!) are also beneficial for our numbers.
You can make a one-time donation here. We run a 501(c)3, so let us know if you want a tax deduction:
paypal.me/wtfbach
venmo.com/wtfbach
Supporting this show ensures its longevity. Thank you for your support!
