This unique CD series pairs a superb complete performance with conductor, composer and NPR commentator Rob Kapilow’s exhilarating journey of discovery called What Makes It Great?®

Kapilow takes you inside the music: he unravels, slows down, and recomposes key passages and helps you to hear what makes this music so extraordinary. Through engaging commentary and with the help of carefully chosen musical examples performed by the What Makes It Great Players, Kapilow provides a perspective to bring to the rest of the piece when you listen to it here in its entirety. Great music rewards great listeners, and these CDs are about great listening. Experience the music with a new pair of ears, and it becomes deeper and richer every time you hear it.

 

From Summer Sun, Winter Moon

for St. Louis Symphony, a Citypiece written to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Journey.

Listen to Man is Arriving

The People Began

Many of the words are in the Blackfoot language and the recurring phrase "Man is arriving" is how native americans referred to all white men . "Man is arriving" is one of the main themes of the piece. The tenor solo represents Raven, a traditional Native American storyteller.

 

DC Monuments for the Kennedy Center

Listen to an excerpt from a movement setting Stephen Spender's poem "The Truly Great"

An instrumental version of the Washington Monument rising higher and higher to its tip

 

Composer Rob Kapilow’s music is published by G. Schirmer, Inc. His complete catalog of opera, orchestra, chamber, keyboard, vocal and choral compositions is available at Schirmer.com.

View complete catalog of Rob Kapilow's compositions

 

 

What Makes It Great?® BEETHOVEN'S APPASSIONATA SONATA

What Makes It Great?®
BEETHOVEN'S APPASSIONATA SONATA

Released: April, 2015
Label: Roven Records

Listen to intro

Listen to Appassionata Movement 1

Listen on Audible.com

Read more about this CD on Roven Records

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POLAR EXPRESS/ GERTRUDE McFUZZ CD

POLAR EXPRESS/ GERTRUDE McFUZZ
Released: November 18, 2014
Label: GPR Records

EPK

Read more about this CD on Roven Records

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MOZART’S “EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK” CD

What Makes It Great?®
MOZART’S “EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK”
(Nice Tunes, Built To Last)
Released: 7/27/04
Label: Vanguard Everyman Classics
Catalog: ATM CD 1542
UPC: 699675154226

Rob Kapilow with the What Makes It Great Players Plus complete performance of “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” 
Solisti di Zagreb
Antonio Janigro, conductor

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Read “Five Star Review” on Amazon.com

GREEN EGGS AND HAMADEUS CD

GREEN EGGS AND HAMADEUS
Released: June 14th, 2005
Label: Vanguard Everyman Classics
Catalog: ATM CD 1575
UPC: 699675157524

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What Makes It Great?® MOZART’S “JUPITER” SYMPHONY

What Makes It Great?®
MOZART’S “JUPITER” SYMPHONY
(Things Are Not as Simple as They Seem)
Released: 7/27/04
Label: Vanguard Everyman Classics
Catalog: ATM CD 1541
UPC: 699675154127

Rob Kapilow with the What Makes It Great?® Players Plus complete performance of the “Jupiter” Symphony
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Felix Prohaska, conductor

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