The barbarians are at the gates in this electric Laurie Anderson performance
Video by All Arts
Music
How to get hooked on opera
Aspects of opera can seem strange. But give it a try and you’ll soon find yourself absorbed in a truly magical experience
by Alexandra Wilson
Why did bloody knights write love songs about spring blossoms?
The masculinity of medieval knighthood was expansive enough for both graphic violence and the joys of a flower meadow
by Jennifer Saltzstein
Courtly love songs are a window into medieval sex lives
Song lyrics acted as a sexual script for aristocrats, revealing some edgy practices that ignited their imaginations
by Elizabeth Eva Leach
Humanoid animals sing through their existential angst in this madcap short
Directed by Niki Lindroth Von Bahr
I learned to hear the music of Earth’s underwater musicians
If we consider the sounds of whales and other organisms with an open mind, we find a strange beauty – and can even join in
by David Rothenberg
Ancient Greek ideas of attunement can breathe new life into music
In Athenian philosophy, attunement is important not only in music, but also for moods, attitudes and states of mind
by John Bagby
Six minutes with a pan-African gospel choir is a shot of joy for the weary soul
Directed by Samuel Bradley
Repairing instruments for children is its own art in this Oscar-nominated short
Directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
How to discover new music
In a musical rut? Whatever your age or existing tastes, you can find surprise and enjoyment beyond the streaming algorithms
by James Hadfield
Endearingly weird wax figures inhabit a musical journey of self-discovery
Directed by Daniel Quirke
The songs of Bob Dylan suffuse a poignant story of dementia and music
Directed by Harry Shaw
How to listen to, and enjoy, classical music
Whether you’re a newbie or an aficionado, these ways to navigate and approach the genre will enrich your experience
by Lawrence Kramer
What is it about musical hooks that makes them so catchy?
From hummable riffs to striking lyrics, the catchiest hooks tell us something about the limits of human attention and memory
by Tim Byron & Jadey O’Regan
Witness the cool musical game played by Inuit women for centuries
Directed by Eva Kaukai and Manon Chamberland
Exquisite subaquatic choreography stretches the limits of mind and body
Directed by Julie Gautier