Remembering a maestro through 'New World Symphony'

TED Radio Hour

NPR

Science, Society & Culture, Social Sciences, Technology

4.4 • 21.3K Ratings

🗓️ 10 December 2025

⏱️ 16 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Before his passing, conductor Robert Franz guided us through the first movement of Dvorák's "New World Symphony" using his four essential tools for listening—rhythm, melody, texture and visuals. As the year comes to a close, Manoush Zomorodi shares one of her favorite TED Radio Hour+ episodes.

Robert Franz was also featured in episode, "How we experience time."

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This message comes from Bayer.
0:02.3	Science is a rigorous process that requires questions, testing, transparency, and results that can be proven.
0:09.5	This approach is integral to every breakthrough Bayer brings forward.
0:13.0	Innovations that save lives and feed the world.
0:15.8	Science Delivers.com.
0:18.1	Hey, it's Manus here.
0:20.9	So as 2025 wraps up, we want to share a little something special with you.
0:28.3	Earlier this year, I interviewed the absolutely lovely Robert Franz.
0:33.9	He had served as the music director and maestro of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in Ontario, Canada.
0:41.1	Sadly, Robert passed away in September.
0:44.7	He loved classical music, and he loved helping other people gain a better appreciation and understanding of it.
0:53.2	He even came up with a set of tools.
0:55.3	He called them Bob's Four Tools that can help everyone listen better and enjoy music more.
1:02.0	So originally, we produced this bonus episode for TED Radio Hour Plus subscribers.
1:07.6	Those are people who get access to extra interviews with TED speakers, practical advice from our experts, and episodes like this one.
1:15.6	So if you enjoy it and want to support the show, please go to plus.npr.org to find out more.
1:22.9	But meanwhile, please enjoy this tribute to Robert Franz.
1:26.5	This is a really special episode where he walked us through his process, starting with focusing on rhythm.
1:36.3	Listen to the rhythm and decide if the rhythm is with your heartbeat or against your heartbeat.
1:43.1	Does the rhythm put you at ease or fill you with tension?
1:47.7	Next there's melody.
1:49.6	What a good melody does is it takes you from the beginning, it captures you, and then
	...

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