Nicole Mitchell’s Mandorla Awakening II and the Sounds of Afrofuturist Theory - Audrey Slote

In this week's episode, Craig Peaslee reimagines formal music theory analysis and takes the listener to the arena of competitive music performance through the lens of a radio sportscast.This episode was produced by Zach Lloyd along with Team Lead Evan Ware. Special thanks to peer reviewers Nate Mitchell and John Heilig. Additional thanks to Indigo Knecht, Spencer Long, Megan Lyons and Jody Diamond.SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/

In this week's episode, Audrey Slote guides listeners through an analysis of “Mandorla Island” from Nicole Mitchell’s experimental jazz album Mandorla Awakening II from 2017. This episode centers Mitchell’s own Afrofuturist, feminist writings as its primary music-theoretical framework and illuminates how such theorizing productively challenges canonical academic ways of thinking about music and its relationship to society.This episode was produced by Jason Jedlička along with Team Lead Anna Rose Nelson. Special thanks to peer reviewers Jacob Cupps and Caitlin Martinkus. Additional thanks to Steven Rings, Nicole Mitchell, and Jennifer Iverson.SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/

In this episode, Mark Micchelli examines the relationship between music theory and creative practice via a firsthand exploration of the formal structure of Cecil Taylor’s solo piano improvisations.This episode was produced by Jason Jedlicka along with Team Lead Matthew Ferrandino. Special thanks to peer reviewers Chris Stover and John Heilig. SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/

In this week's episode, Daniel Ketter presents an essential voice analysis arrangement of J. S. Bach’s fugue for solo cello. It traces the composer’s solution to weaving a four-part fugal texture with nearly no chords or double stops through inventive combinations of a subject and countersubject.This episode was produced by Jason Jedlicka along with Team Lead Leah Frederick. Special thanks to peer reviewers Gilad Rabinovitch, Ed Klorman, and Joe Straus. Additional thanks to Jason Orr, Jessie Black, and Royce Diamond at Phosphor Studios.SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/

In this episode, Samantha Sasaki analyzes three bagpipe performances of “Auld Lang Syne” in Hong Kong in order to uncover why this instrument has retained cultural and political significance in the 27 years post-Handover.This episode was produced by Jose Garza along with Team Lead John Heilig. Special thanks to peer reviewers Larry Witzleben and Jennifer Weaver. Additional acknowledgements to Anna Yu Wang and Gavin Steingo. SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/

Brad Osborn talks about the emergence of the major III chord in post-millennial pop music, and how this chromatic chord forms loops that contain elements of both major and minor keys.This episode was produced by Amy Hatch along with Team Lead Caitlin Martinkus. Special thanks to peer reviewers Bryn Hughes and Evan Ware. Additional acknowledgements to Chris White, Charles Brockus, and John White.SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/

In this week's episode, Jason analyzes the second and third movements of Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No. 3, performing a close reading of the music from a broadened, newer perspective of voice.This episode was produced by Katrina Roush along with Team Lead Anna Rose Nelson. Special thanks to peer reviewers Kristen Wallentinsen and Evan Ware. SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/

In this week's episode, Lydia Bangura analyses her own performance choices in comparison to a professional recording using Jennifer Ronyak’s framework of co-performance.This episode was produced by Zach Lloyd along with Team Lead Megan Lyons. Special thanks to peer reviewers Shersten Johnson and Daniel Barolsky. Additional thanks to David Kjar, Marc Hannaford, Kim Loeffert, and John Peterson for early feedback. SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/

In this episode, Olivia Lucas and Mazbou Q discuss ways to use techniques from hip hop to build skills in the music theory and aural skills classroom. This episode was produced by Jose Garza along with Team Lead Jennifer Weaver. Special thanks to peer reviewers Leah Frederick and Danny Jenkins.SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/

In this week’s episode, Anna Stephan-Robinson examines Katherine Ruth Heyman's 1920 song, "Tortie-Tortue," considering how the unjustly neglected composer's subtle changes transform a simple poem into a brief but compelling musical drama. This episode was produced by Zach Lloyd along with Team Lead Leah Frederick. Special thanks to peer reviewers Hilary Poriss and Joseph Straus.SMT-Pod’s theme music was written by Maria Tartaglia, with closing music by Yike Zhang. For supplementary materials on this episode and more information on our authors and composers, check out our website: https://smt-pod.org/episodes/