Vladimir Horowitz, one of the great pianists of the 20th cenÂtuÂry, left RusÂsia to setÂtle in the UnitÂed States in 1939. But, once the Cold War thawed, he famousÂly returned home and played before rapt audiÂences. What we have here, I believe, is Horowitz playÂing Mozart’s Sonata in C Major durÂing a 1986 recital Moscow. A beauÂtiÂful piece. For good meaÂsure, I’ve also added Horowitz playÂing Chopin’s 2nd Piano Sonata at the White House. Both clips have been added to our YouTube favorites.
Here we have Daniel BarenÂboim, the ArgenÂtinÂian conÂducÂtor, leadÂing the Berlin PhilÂharÂmonÂic at WaldÂbuhne in Berlin, 1998. The clip is already pushÂing 1,000,000 views on YouTube. You can find a released recordÂing on AmaÂzon as well.
A litÂtle someÂthing for Neil Young fans. Right now, you can stream online (click and scroll down) his new album, Dreamin’ Man Live ’92. It’s a live perÂforÂmance of Young’s 1992 album HarÂvest Moon, which itself returned to the sounds of HarÂvest, Young’s clasÂsic 1972 recordÂing. A good find by About.com.

Image by Roy KerÂwood, via WikiÂmeÂdia ComÂmons
The anniverÂsary of John Lennon’s death jogged my memÂoÂry, remindÂing me of this lengthy 1970 interÂview. ConÂductÂed by Jann WenÂner, the founder of Rolling Stone magÂaÂzine, this imporÂtant conÂverÂsaÂtion was recordÂed shortÂly after The BeaÂtÂles’ bitÂter breakup.
RunÂning over 3 hours, it is one of Lennon’s most extenÂsive interÂviews, touchÂing not just on the breakup, but also on art and polÂiÂtics, drugs, Yoko, priÂmal therÂaÂpy and more. It’s not always flatÂterÂing, but it gives you a good feel for the man and the great artist.
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The UniÂverÂsiÂty of MichiÂgan now offers a course designed to help stuÂdents turn their iPhones into musiÂcal instruÂments. The video above shows footage from one of their pracÂtice sesÂsions held in NovemÂber. A final conÂcert will be held on DecemÂber 9. You can read more about this project here. Also see StanÂford stuÂdents playÂing the iPhone here.
A quick freeÂbie menÂtion: Amazon.com is curÂrentÂly givÂing away $3 worth of MP3’s until NovemÂber 30th. That amounts essenÂtialÂly to three free songs. Just click to this page, folÂlow a few easy steps (includÂing using the code code MP34FREE), and you’ll be on your way.
We take you back to 1967, to the three-day MonÂterey Pop FesÂtiÂval in CalÂiÂforÂnia, which was kind of a preÂcurÂsor to the WoodÂstock FesÂtiÂval held in 1969. MonÂterey marked, among othÂer things, the first major AmerÂiÂcan appearÂances by Jimi HenÂdrix and The Who. Above, we give you HenÂdrix covÂerÂing Bob Dylan’s anthem Like a Rolling Stone. And here, we have Wild Thing, which ends famousÂly in HenÂdrix adding fire to his best imiÂtaÂtion of Pete TownÂshend. Great vinÂtage clips which you’ll find in our YouTube favorites.