Watch Keeping Score

Keeping Score is a television series that premiered on PBS in 2004 and ran until 2011. The show is hosted by renowned musical conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and features various symphonies and orchestras from around the world. The primary focus of Keeping Score is to explore specific composers and their works through in-depth analysis and commentary from Tilson Thomas himself. Each episode of the series showcases a particular classical composer and their most famous pieces, with Tilson Thomas providing background information on each composer's life, inspiration and creative process.

Throughout the course of the show, Tilson Thomas and his symphony orchestra travel to various locations around the world to perform and record the featured pieces. Viewers are given a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the performances, from rehearsals to final recordings. The show is also interspersed with interviews featuring experts from the world of classical music, who provide further insights into the featured composers and their works.

One of the major themes of Keeping Score is the idea of re-contextualizing classical music for modern audiences. Each episode aims to make classical music more accessible and engaging for contemporary viewers, by presenting it in a way that is both educational and entertaining. The show achieves this by incorporating a range of multimedia elements such as animations, graphics and archival footage, as well as integrating interviews with modern artists who have been influenced by classical music.

Another important aspect of the show is the way in which it showcases diversity within the world of classical music. Each episode features works from composers of different nationalities, genders and cultural backgrounds, with Tilson Thomas and his orchestra highlighting the unique qualities of each piece through their performances. In doing so, the show challenges the conventional stereotypes of classical music as an elitist genre only accessible to a certain demographic.

In addition to the core content of each episode, Keeping Score also includes supplemental materials such as lesson plans, discussion guides and interactive activities designed to engage audiences of all ages in further exploration of the featured composers and their works. These materials are designed to aid educators in teaching classical music in the classroom, and to encourage viewers to continue learning and engaging with classical music beyond the show.

Overall, Keeping Score is a unique and engaging television series that successfully re-contextualizes classical music for contemporary audiences. Through its focus on specific composers and works, the show provides insightful commentary and engaging performances that make classical music accessible to viewers of all ages and backgrounds. By showcasing diversity within the world of classical music, Keeping Score challenges stereotypes and encourages a more inclusive and vibrant appreciation of the genre.