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Now Hear This

Scott Yoo, violinist and conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic, returns to host the seventh season of the critically acclaimed miniseries Now Hear This from Great Performances to explore the lives and works of Johannes Brahms and Scott Joplin, two celebrated composers whose careers did not go as planned; alongside the music scene of two major musical epicenters: Istanbul and Iceland.

Premieres Fridays April 10-May 1 at 9/8c

Now Hear This – “The Iceland Sound” -- Now Hear This – “The Iceland Sound” Preview WATCH: 53:55
Now Hear This – “The Iceland Sound”
Scott Yoo crosses this sunlit, rainy, volcanic land of extremes to meet Icelandic composers.
Now Hear This – “The Iceland Sound” -- An Icelandic Musical Instrument Made from Driftwood CLIP: 4:57
An Icelandic Musical Instrument Made from Driftwood
Scott Yoo learns how driftwood can be made into an iconic Icelandic instrument.
Now Hear This – “The Iceland Sound” -- Icelandic Percussion Instruments in "Helka" by Jón Leifs CLIP: 3:19
Icelandic Percussion Instruments in "Helka" by Jón Leifs
Scott Yoo hears "Helka" by the Icelandic composer Jón Leifs.
Now Hear This – “The Call of Istanbul” -- Turkish Court Music and the Kanun CLIP: 2:18
Turkish Court Music and the Kanun
Scott Yoo learns about the kanun and Turkish court music.
Now Hear This – “The Call of Istanbul” -- How Does a Turkish Ney Get Created? CLIP: 2:28
How Does a Turkish Ney Get Created?
Alice Dade learns from Rifat Varo about how the Turkish reed flute gets made.
Now Hear This – “The Call of Istanbul” -- Now Hear This – “The Call of Istanbul” Preview WATCH: 53:55
Now Hear This – “The Call of Istanbul”
With a host of Turkish musicians, Scott Yoo explores the city.
Now Hear This – “Everyone Loves Joplin” -- Now Hear This – “Everyone Loves Joplin” Preview WATCH: 53:55
Now Hear This – “Everyone Loves Joplin”
Scott Joplin was the king of ragtime, a new kind music for the turn of the 20th century.
Now Hear This – “Everyone Loves Joplin” -- The First Recording of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" CLIP: 4:20
The First Recording of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer"
Chris Ware and Scott Yoo discuss the first recording of "The Entertainer."
Now Hear This – “Everyone Loves Joplin” -- West African Instruments in "Treemonisha" CLIP: 3:09
West African Instruments in "Treemonisha"
In this reimagining of "Treemonisha," the West African kora take center stage.
Now Hear This – “Brahms: Free But Alone” -- Now Hear This – “Brahms: Free But Alone” Preview WATCH: 53:54
Now Hear This – “Brahms: Free But Alone”
Scott Yoo journeys across Germany to find a window into Brahms’ inner life.
Now Hear This – “Brahms: Free But Alone” -- The Story of Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms CLIP: 5:32
The Story of Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms
Elisabeth Brauss and Scott Yoo discuss the relationship between Schumann and Brahms.
Now Hear This – “Brahms: Free But Alone” -- Johannes Moser and Scott Yoo perform Brahms' Double Concerto, 1st mvt. CLIP: 2:42
Johannes Moser and Scott Yoo perform Brahms' Double Concerto, 1st mvt.
Johannes Moser and Scott Yoo perform Brahms' Double Concerto, 1st movement.
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Written Features

Playlist: Brahms Listening Journey
5 Facts About Agustín Barrios
5 Facts About Rachmaninoff
Scott Yoo’s 4 Tips for First-Time Composers
5 Facts About Yo-Yo Ma 
5 Facts About Violinist Augustin Hadelich
5 Facts About Violinist Chloe Chua 
Inside Now Hear This Season 5
The Soundtrack to Alice Dade’s Meals
About the Composers of Now Hear This, Series 4: Piazzolla, Schumann, Akiho and Albéniz
4 Questions about Composing with Now Hear This Featured Composers Reena Esmail and Sergio Assad
5 Audition Tips from Scott Yoo, to You the Student
Vino and Violin: Music Paired with Wine by Flutist Alice Dade
Scott Yoo’s Tunes – Favorites from Season 3 of Great Performances: Now Hear This
Great Performances Spotlights American Composers in Third Season of Now Hear This
Scott Yoo’s Schubert Listening Journey
Scott Yoo’s Haydn Listening Journey
Now Hear This Streaming Binge
About the Series
Join Scott Yoo, renowned violinist and conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic, in Now Hear...
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Now Hear This: Scott Yoo’s Recommended Listening for a Classical European Music Tour