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Editor’s Note: Dennis James Bartel’s four decades of work as a classical music DJ at four major market radio stations included writing and speaking for many music publications and venues. He appeared often at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, the Kennedy Center, George Mason University, as well as venues in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and abroad in Vienna and Prague. He wrote articles and program notes for the major symphony orchestras of Baltimore, St. Louis and San Francisco. His work appeared in Stagebill. He wrote a national column for Chamber Music Magazine and served as writer/host for several Classical Grammy Awards broadcasts produced by Westwood One. During the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Dennis produced the nightly worldwide radio coverage of the Olympic Arts Festival, and later DJB was called upon to analyze the music performed at Princess Diana’s Royal Funeral, as co-commentator for ABCNews.com’s groundbreaking coverage.

Presented here are selected interviews, program notes, and other writings and speeches on music.

10 Works of Classical Music to Live By

Vladimir Ashkenazy interviewed by James Bartel

Johann Sebastian Bach – Concerto for Two Violins

Samuel Barber – Quartet in B Minor, “Adagio for Strings,” Op.11

Ludwig van Beethoven – String Quartet in C-sharp Minor, Op.131

Ludwig van Beethoven – String Quartet in A Minor, Op.132

Ludwig van Beethoven – Trio in G Major on Wenzel Müller’s “Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu,” Op.121a

Benjamin Britten – Quartet No.2 in C Major

Antonin Dvořák – Trio in E Minor, “Dumky”

Henryk Górecki – Symphony No.3, “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”

Grammys, Spammys

Matt Haimovitz – The Peoples’ Cellist

George Frederic Handel – Water Music

Franz Joseph Haydn – String Quartet in D, Op.64 No.5

Gustav Holst – St. Paul’s Suite

Knabe Piano . . . for Genteel People of Means

Le Duel! A Free Transcription

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Concerto for Flute & Harp

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – String Quartet No.2 in D, K.155

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – The Magic Flute Without Myths

Maurice Ravel – Quartet in F Major

 Gioacchino Rossini – Overture to The Barber of Seville

Franz Schubert – String Quartet in D Minor, “Death and the Maiden,” D.810

Franz Schubert – String Quartet in G Minor, Op.Posth.

Dmitri Shostakovich – String Quartet No.4 in D, Op.83 

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Suite No.4, “Mozartiana” Op.61

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker: Dark Spirits in the Christmas Lights