Take Note

byArizona PBS

EducationHistoryMusicSocietyCulture

Take Note is a ninety-second weekly dive into music history where we choose topics based on music’s intersection with national and international cultural celebrations. Highlighting diverse topics within the history of music, Take Note aims to promote inclusivity in the world of classical music. Each Take Note episode has its own focus whether fun or educational so that listeners from all backgrounds will find something to enjoy from week to week. From holidays like Cinco de Mayo and the 4th of July to World Day of Social Justice and National Eisteddfod, Take Note covers a breadth of topics displaying th...

Episodes(40 episodes)

Season 4 - Episode 156

Happy Organ Day! This week on Take Note, celebrate this glorious and versatile instrument with Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 in C Minor and Larsen’s Aspects of Glory.

Published: Apr 22, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 155

The Thai New Year Songkran brings many celebrations and water related festivities. Listen to this episode to hear the song Ram Wong Wan Songkran by innovative composer Eua Sunthornsanan.

Published: Apr 15, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 154

This week on Take Note, we're honoring the Jewish holiday of Passover that begins on April 1st and lasts until the 9th. We'll hear Erich Wolfgang Korngold's poignant work, A Passover Psalm.

Published: Apr 8, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 153

Celebrate the movable feast of Easter with some orchestral music and hot cross buns here at Take Note!

Published: Apr 1, 2026Duration: 1m 30s

Season 4 - Episode 152

Greek American Heritage Month

Happy Greek American Heritage Month! This week on Take Note, we learn about one iconic Greek American diva of the stage, Maria Callas.

Published: Mar 25, 2026Duration: 1m 30s

Season 4 - Episode 151

In this episode, celebrate Eid Al-Fitr by exploring the Arabic song that came to be associated with the holiday.

Published: Mar 18, 2026Duration: 1m 30s

Season 4 - Episode 150

Women's History Month 2026

Happy Women’s History Month from us here at Take Note! In this episode we hear about two compositions that align with this year’s Women’s History Month theme: “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”

Published: Mar 11, 2026Duration: 1m 30s

Season 4 - Episode 149

Holi (Festival of Color)

Holi, or the Festival of Color, takes place on March 4th this year, celebrating the start of spring, new beginnings, and the triumph of good over evil. This week’s episode features the music of Red Baraat.

Published: Mar 4, 2026Duration: 1m 30s

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and today we're learning about two remarkable composers: William Grant Still and Valerie Coleman.

Published: Feb 24, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 148

Celebrated this year between February 12th and 17th, Carnival is one of the most widely varied holidays in the Christian tradition; and this week on Take Note, we’re learning about music inspired by the holiday.

Published: Feb 18, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 147

Valentine's Day

What is more romantic than Shakespeare? This week on Take Note, it’s Romeo and Juliet in honor of Valentine's Day.

Published: Feb 11, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 146

National Ukulele Day

February 2nd is Ukulele Day, and this episode is all about the small but mighty instrument most commonly associated with Hawaii.

Published: Feb 4, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 145

Join us in celebrating Up Helly Aa, a time marking the end of the Yule season. In this episode, we learn about Scottish folk music.

Published: Jan 28, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Mariachi Day - Re-Air!

In this episode, celebrate Mariachi Day by exploring the origins of mariachi music and what led it to becoming widely celebrated today.

Published: Jan 21, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 144

Korean American Day

January 13 is Korean American day! On this episode we listen to Juri Seo’s Toy Store, a work that draws inspiration from her Korean and American musical and cultural influences.

Published: Jan 14, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 143

Muslim American Heritage Month

January is Music American Heritage Month. On this episode of Take Note we take a closer look at the often overlooked contributions that Muslim Americans have made to America’s quintessential genre of music, jazz!

Published: Jan 7, 2026Duration: 1m 29s

This week on Take Note, we’re celebrating Kwanzaa and the music that plays an important role as one of the binding forces bringing African and African American cultures together.

Published: Dec 30, 2025Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 142

This holiday season, explore rarely-heard contributions to the Christmas playlist from Franz Liszt and Arnold Schoenberg.

Published: Dec 23, 2025Duration: 1m 29s

Season 4 - Episode 141

This week we’re learning about the ancient Roman winter festival Saturnalia, a time of feasting, merriment, gift-giving, and more.

Published: Dec 17, 2025Duration: 1m 29s

This week on Take Note, we’re honoring the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah that begins on December 14th and lasts until the 22nd. We’ll hear a traditional blessing plus some rousing Klezmer tunes.

Published: Dec 10, 2025Duration: 1m 29s