October 16, 1997 - If you're an experimental composer with classical roots, you'll probably face an uphill battle finding performance venues. The problem of getting your music heard may be compounded if you're a woman. Avant Fest, which opened last night at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis, pairs three female-led bands from Minneapolis with three from New York.
November 2, 1997 - Female vocal ensemble Anonymous 4 bring the music of Hildegard of Bingen to Saint Paul Sunday. Anonymous 4 perform the festal chants Hildegard composed to honor Ursula, a fifth-century saint who, along with the 11,000 women she inspired, chose martyrdom over forced pagan marriage.
November 5, 1997 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Philip Blackburn and Chris Strouth about the creative world of electronic music. Blackburn is with the American Composers Forum in St. Paul, which promotes the work of avant-garde, jazz, classical and new age composers. Strouth works for Twin/Tone records, the label associated with Minneapolis' most famous rock bands, like The Replacements and Soul Asylum. Strouth also runs his own experimental electronica label, called "Ultramodern."
November 7, 1997 - Midday offers another program in the continuing "Voices of Minnesota" interview series, featuring conversations with Andre Lewis of the Honeywell Foundation; Win Wallin of Medtronic; and Dominique Serrand of Theatre de la Jeune Lune.
November 10, 1997 - MPR’s Mary Stucky profiles The Minnesota Klezmer Band. Stucky interviews band members Joseph Vass and Jerry Gotler, who describe what’s behind the music of klezmer.
November 17, 1997 - Bestselling author and historian Stephen Ambrose is in the Midday studios to talk about his role in the PBS series Lewis and Clark and his book about World War II titled Citizen Soldiers: The US Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany. Program includes Listener call-in questions.
November 20, 1997 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles the Gay 90’s and the unanticipated consequences of non-gay crowd changing the scene at Minneapolis bar. Roberts interviews individuals about the reasons and its social impact to LGBTQ community.
November 28, 1997 - Midday presents an NPR recording of Norman Corwin's play The Secretariat. Performers include Hume Cronyn, William Shatner, and Tandy Cronyn (who is Hume's daughter).
December 2, 1997 - Leigh Kamman, long-time host of The Jazz Image, reflects on the artistry of the late great French violinist Stephane Grappelli. Listener also call-in with comments and questions.
December 5, 1997 - Midday presents a special Voices of Minnesota, with Minnesota writer Bill Holm reading from his book Faces of Christmas Past, a collection of essays and reminiscences about Christmas in Iceland and Minnesota.