Schedule
HostsWays to Give
HomeHow to Listen
Visit Help CenterContact UsWays to Give Events

Find Us on Social Media:

Logo image

Find Us on Social Media:

Download Our Mobile App:

google play icon

About

HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsOn DemandOur StoryOur Team

Community

EventsWays to Give Become a SponsorPressDiversity StatementCareersKUSC EEO ReportKDFC EEO ReportDigital Accessibility

Help

Visit Help CenterContact UsHow to Listen

©2026 Classical California

Sweepstakes RulesFCC ComplianceAnnual EEO ReportLocal Public FilesPrivacy PolicyCode of Integrity

Chapman Challenge

Chapman Challenge: The History of Handbells

Chapman Challenge: The History of Handbells

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains the history of handbells, their transition from bell tower practice tools to melody instruments, and how melodies are divided among ringers in a handbell choir.

12/30/2025
Chapman Challenge: The Story Behind Handel’s “Messiah”

Chapman Challenge: The Story Behind Handel’s “Messiah”

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses Handel's journey with oratorios, from his first encounter in Italy to his profitable English oratorios, culminating in the creation of Messiah.

12/15/2025
Did Anybody Ever Finish Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony?

Did Anybody Ever Finish Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses attempts to complete Schubert's Unfinished Symphony, including a 1928 competition that ultimately awarded an original symphony.

09/16/2025
What Makes a Christmas Concerto a Christmas Concerto?

What Makes a Christmas Concerto a Christmas Concerto?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains that a Christmas concerto is a type of concerto grosso from the Baroque period, characterized by a Pastorale movement.

12/13/2024
Chapman Challenge: What’s the Spookiest Instrument?

Chapman Challenge: What’s the Spookiest Instrument?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses the spookiest instruments in honor of Halloween, highlighting the eerie sounds of the theremin and the scary potential of violins.

10/31/2024
How Do You Loan a Stradivarius?

How Do You Loan a Stradivarius?

Explore how rare Stradivarius violins, often owned by foundations or wealthy individuals, are loaned to musicians through intermediaries like the Stradivari Society of Chicago.

03/03/2020
What is the Most Common Key for a Symphony and Why?

What is the Most Common Key for a Symphony and Why?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains why D major is the most common key for a symphony, highlighting its popularity among 18th-century composers like Haydn and Mozart.

03/01/2020

RELATED TOPICS

Pop CultureArts Alive BlogMusic HistoryFundamentalsMusic Theory

MORE TO DISCOVER

The World’s Top 5 Classical Music Destinations to Add to Your Bucket List

The World’s Top 5 Classical Music Destinations to Add to Your Bucket List

Explore the rich musical history of Vienna, Salzburg, Milan, Leipzig, and London. Discover iconic venues, museums, and homes of legendary composers in these classical music cities.

03/12/2026
At the Movies: Alexandre Desplat's Frankenstein Score

At the Movies: Alexandre Desplat's Frankenstein Score

Composer Alexandre Desplat, speaks with Brian Lauritzen about his Oscar nominated work on 'Frankenstein'.

02/21/2026
How Does One of the Most Famous Composers of the Late 1700s Just Disappear from History?

How Does One of the Most Famous Composers of the Late 1700s Just Disappear from History?

Explore the life of Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a prominent 18th-century musician, fencer, and revolutionary, whose legacy was nearly lost to history.

02/18/2026
Open Ears: Eva Jessye and the Harlem Renaissance

Open Ears: Eva Jessye and the Harlem Renaissance

This article explores the life of Eva Jessye, a key figure in American music and the Harlem Renaissance, who made significant contributions to civil rights and classical music.

02/08/2026
The Many Lives of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

The Many Lives of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

01/25/2026
The Secret Story Behind Tchaikovsky’s Mysterious Celesta in “The Nutcracker”

The Secret Story Behind Tchaikovsky’s Mysterious Celesta in “The Nutcracker”

Explore the history of the celesta, a unique instrument used in Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker and Harry Potter's theme. Discover how it went from obscurity to symphony staple.

12/29/2025