Peformance Today MLK Day broadcast of Brooke Joyce composition

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, American Public Radio's most-listened-to classical music radio show, Performance Today, will feature a new work written and performed by Luther College music faculty. "He Hung His Head and Died (12 Variations for George Floyd)" was composed by Brooke Joyce, Luther College professor of music and composer in residence. The Unison Piano Duo, comprised of Luther professors of music Du Huang and Xiao Hu, premiered the piece on Dec. 16, 2020 from Luther's Jenson-Noble Hall of Music.

Fred Child, notable host of Performance Today since 2000, calls Joyce's composition an "evocative and moving new work."

"The MLK holiday has always been special for us on Performance Today, and it's an honor to have this wonderful new piece by Professor Joyce as part of our program," Child said.   

Performance Today is broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio Classical at 1 p.m. weekdays and on Iowa Public Radio at 5 p.m. weekdays. Listeners in the Luther College and Decorah area can catch the MLK Day broadcast on Monday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m. on the local MPR Classical station, KLCD 89.5. Performance Today can also be heard online at https://www.yourclassical.org/programs/performance-today.