Paul Simon’s Curious Mind

Paul Simon has always been attracted to new kinds of sounds. From his early band Simon & Garfunkel in the 1960s through solo albums like Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints in the '80s and '90s, up through his recent albums So Beautiful or So What and Stranger to Stranger, Simon has made music that does what the very best art can do: it resonates with our experience, re-frames it, and introduces new timbres and ideas.

Recently, Simon’s curious mind has brought him into the world of contemporary classical music, mining the microtonal sound world of Harry Partch for his last record, and, just last month, collaborating with 10 composers and the ensemble yMusic on a set at the Eaux Claires music festival. On this episode of Meet the Composer – the final of Season Three – we hear Simon's perspective on his career and his most recent projects, as well as exclusive audio from the festival collaboration itself.

Heard a piece of music on this episode that you loved? Find out what it was here:

0:18—Andrew Norman: Music in Circles | Listen
2:23—Paul Simon: Insomniac’s Lullaby | Listen
5:04—Simon & Garfunkel: Mrs. Robinson | Listen
6:09—The Penguins: Earth Angel | Listen
7:05—Tom & Jerry: Hey Schoolgirl | Listen
7:48—Simon & Garfunkel: Sound of Silence | Listen
8:13—Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water | Listen
8:48—Paul Simon: Still Crazy After All These Years | Listen
9:09—Paul Simon: Hearts and Bones | Listen
10:00—Boyoyo Boys: Son Op | Listen
10:41—Paul Simon: Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes | Listen
11:03—Paul Simon: Boy in the Bubble | Listen
11:30—Paul Simon: Homeless | Listen
11:58—Paul Simon: Graceland | Listen
12:53—Ladysmith Black Mambazo: The Alphabet | Watch
13:22—Paul Simon: Under African Skies | Listen
14:50—Paul Simon: Crazy Love, Vol. II | Listen
15:38—Eddie Palmieri: Ay Que Rico | Listen
15:53—Various Artists: Hausa Street Music | Listen 
16:06—Various Artists: Oru Para Todos Los Santos | Listen
16:12—Various Artists: Songhay Gulu Drummers | Listen
16:24—Paul Simon: Further to Fly | Listen
17:08—Paul Simon: Obvious Child | Listen
18:58—Marcos Balter: Bladed Stance | Listen
20:56—Timo Andres: Safe Travels | Listen
23:40—Harry Partch: Cloud-Chamber Bowls | Listen
24:33—Harry Partch: The Bewitched, Scene One | Listen
25:14—Paul Simon: Insomniac’s Lullaby | Listen
26:27—Vincenzo Bellini: Casta Diva, from Norma | Listen
27:58—Sergei Prokofiev: Cello Sonata in C major, op. 119 | Listen
29:15—Paul Simon: Another Galaxy | Listen
31:44—Paul Simon: Kathy’s Song | Listen
32:14—Paul Simon: Train in the Distance | Listen
32:44—Paul Simon: Train in the Distance [acoustic demo] | Listen
35:08—Bob Dylan: The Ballad of a Thin Man | Listen
35:34—Gabriel Kahane: Veda (1 Pierce Dr.) | Listen
36:10—Paul Simon [arr. Gabriel Kahane]: Train in the Distance
37:32—Danny Brown: Ain’t It Funny | Listen
40:14—Paul Simon [arr. Robert Sirota]: America
42:32—Simon & Garfunkel: Sound of Silence | Listen
44:17—Simon & Garfunkel: America | Listen
46:15—Paul Simon [arr. Rob Moose]: Sound of Silence