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A Minute with Miles

How did the piano get its name? Why can’t you “reach” a crescendo? Who invented opera—and why—and how do you pronounce “Handel”? These and countless other classical music questions are answered on South Carolina Public Radio’s A Minute with Miles.

Hosted by longtime NPR commentator Miles Hoffman, the segments inform and entertain as they provide illuminating 60-second flights through the world of classical music. (Photo: Mary Noble Ours)

PHOTO CREDITS: 123rf.com (purchased) and Pixabay.com

Resource Type
Francis Poulenc | A Minute with Miles Oboe | A Minute with Miles

Audio

Grades

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Oboe | A Minute with Miles
The modern oboe most likely originated in France in the 1600's. The word oboe, which is the instrument’s name in both English and Italian, comes from the French name, hautbois, meaning “high wood,” or...
Seymour Barab | A Minute with Miles Women's Voices | A Minute with Miles

Audio

Grades

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Women's Voices | A Minute with Miles
In operatic singing, there are three principal voice types for women. From high to low, they are soprano, mezzo-soprano—mezzo meaning “middle” in Italian—and contralto. The ranges of these voices...
Francis Poulenc | A Minute with Miles Violin Family II | A Minute with Miles

Audio

Grades

  • 3
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Violin Family II | A Minute with Miles
Episode 2
The members of the modern violin family are the violin, viola, cello, and double bass. These instruments are descendants of various kinds of medieval fiddles—fiddle, by the way, being an older word...