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Take Note

Arizona PBS

Take Note is a ninety-second weekly dive into music history where we choose topics based on music’s intersection with national and international cultural celebrations. Highlighting diverse topics within the history of music, Take Note aims to promote inclusivity in the world of classical music. Each Take Note episode has its own focus whether fun or educational so that listeners from all backgrounds will find something to enjoy from week to week. From holidays like Cinco de Mayo and the 4th of July to World Day of Social Justice and National Eisteddfod, Take Note covers a breadth of topics displaying the many roles music plays in our world.

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21 episodes
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English

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Wednesday · 1 min
Hispanic Heritage Month 2026
It is Hispanic Heritage Month! And on Take Note, we’re celebrating with a string quartet by Peruvian Jewish American composer Gabriela Lena Frank.
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September 9 · 1 min
Ge'ez New Year
On this episode, we ring in the Ethiopian and Eritrean New Year, which is marked by the end of the region’s rainy season. Ge’ez New Year is also called Enkutatash in Amharic and Kudus Yohannes in Ge’ez and Tigrinya. We’ll hear some celebratory music and learn about the traditional instruments of the region.
S4 · E169
September 2 · 1 min
Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. The celebration falls on Friday, September 4th and is celebrated with devotional chant and singing, which we’ll hear in a recording of the Hare Krishna Maha mantra.
August 26 · 1 min
Women's Equality Day
August 26th is Women’s Equality Day, and on Take Note, we’re celebrating an important composer in the fight for women’s equality: Amy Beach.
August 19 · 1 min
National Radio Day
In this episode we celebrate National Radio Day by taking a look back at the history of classical music aired on radio.
S4 · E168
August 12 · 1 min
National Hip-hop Day
This August 11th, marks the 3rd annual National Hip-hop Celebration Day! Listen to learn about this iconic American genre - its influences and its place in significant American music.
S4 · E167
August 5 · 1 min
Ker Puja
On this week’s Take Note, we’re honoring the Hindu holiday of Ker Puja, which occurs on August 7th. It’s a solemn celebration primarily observed in the Northeastern Indian state of Tripura. Listen to hear the sound of the bamboo flute sumui.
S4 · E166
July 29 · 1 min
Asalha Puja
This week on Take Note, we’re honoring the Theravada Buddhist festival Asalha Puja, which commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon. We’ll hear traditional Sri Lankan Buddhist music and learn about the instrument horanawa.
S4 · E165
July 22 · 1 min
Fiesta de Santiago
As we wrap up the month of July, let’s celebrate the Fiesta de Santiago, a day that honors Spain’s patron saint St. James the Apostle. We’ll observe this holiday with 12th century sacred polyphonic music as well as some traditional sounds of the Spanish-speaking Americas.
July 15 · 1 min
World Listening Day
This week on Take Note, we’re observing World Listening Day, a time to recognize the importance of sound in our lives and its role in shaping our understanding of the world around us.
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July 7 · 1 min
Star Festival
July 7th is Tanabata, or the Star Festival, in Japan. It is derived from the Chinese Qixi Festival. In this episode, we’ll hear the traditional Tanabata song.
S4 · E163
July 1 · 1 min
America 250: Sounds of the Revolution
In honor of America 250, let’s learn about the music and the instruments that created the soundscape of the Revolutionary War.
June 24 · 1 min
Pride Month 2026: Tchaikovsky
In this episode, we celebrate pride month with the story of Tchaikovsky, and we discuss why it’s important to acknowledge musicians’ sexuality.
June 17 · 1 min
Juneteenth: Blind Tom Wiggins
In this episode, in honor of Juneteenth, we learn about the life of Blind Tom Wiggins, who is sometimes referred to as the “last American slave.”
June 10 · 1 min
African American Music Appreciation Month
June is African American Music Appreciation Month, and in this episode we cover the various popular music genres with African American roots and take a look at three very different musicians.
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June 3 · 1 min
Gawai Dayak
Celebrated annually on June 1st and 2nd, Gawai Dayak is the Harvest Festival celebrated in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia on Borneo. This week, we learn about the dance Ngajat and the instruments that accompany it.
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May 27 · 1 min
Africa Day
May 25th is Africa Day! This week on Take Note learn about two of Africa's premiere musicologists, Akin Euba and J. H. Kwabena Nketia.
S4 · E160
May 20 · 1 min
Luilak
May 23rd is Luilak, a Dutch holiday designed to energize the lazy. Learn about this clangorous celebration this week on Take Note.
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May 13 · 1 min
San Isidro's Feast Day
This week on Take Note we celebrate San Isidro’s Feast Day, a Catholic celebration that originated in Seville. We learn about Mozarabs and the history of Mozarabic chant.
S4 · E158
May 6 · 1 min
Kodomo-no-hi
On May 5th we celebrate children with Kodomo-no-hi, a Japanese holiday. Learn about the koinobori and its musical companion this week on Take Note.

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