1.6.15: Classical Music Needs A Revolution & The Danger Of A Condiment Monoculture

Bankrupt orchestras, aging audiences, skyrocketing tuition at conservatories; the death knell for classical music in America is sounding again. On today’s show, a concert cellist offers some tough love for the classical music world.

Then we’ll investigate the condiment that brought down an empire. Among the disturbing parallels between America and the fall of Rome: over reliance on one condiment!

Plus: we’ll sample some of history’s craziest hangover cures. From fried canary to raw eel.

Listen to the full show and click Read more for individual segments.

The Classical Music Crisis

• Will Roseliep is a cellist, media director for the Cambridge Philharmonic, and author of the Classical Dark Arts blog. In his book The Libertine’s Guide to the Classical Music Revolution, he outlines why the industry is in crisis, and what can be done to save it.

Music at Sea

• From the earliest passenger steamers, to the to the lavish Queen Mary II, music at sea has always been a necessary luxury. Amber Edwards brings us this story.
• You can listen to this story again at PRX.org.

Did a Condiment Cause The Fall of the Roman Empire?

• Tom Nealon collects, sells and writes about rare cookbooks. He writes a series called “Stuffed” for Hilo Brow. His research into the once ubiquitous condiment: fish sauce might spell doom for those singularly fascinated with sriracha.
• Do you feel passionately about condiments? Take our questionnaire and see how some of NHPR's condiment aficionados answered: Word of Mouth's Official Condiment Questionnaire.

Feasting on Roadkill

• Last spring, Montana passed a law allowing people to pick up dead animals on the side of the road and eat them. Producer Madelyn Beck finds out who's taking advantage of free road-killed food.
• You can listen to this story again at PRX.org.

Crazy Hangover Cures

• Justin Jones from The Daily Beast joined us to discuss hangover cures, from the historical: cabbage, fried eel, and milk mixed with Coca-Cola. To the contemporary: a nutrient rich patch and an IV bag administered by a doctor. You can read his article here: “History’s Craziest Hangover Cures”.