Yolanda Bruno Celebrates Jeanne Lamon: The Story Behind Dear Jeanne

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

11/22/25

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71m

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Canadian violinist Yolanda Bruno spoke to me about her new album Dear Jeanne and her film The Immortal Serafin, which both honour the late Jeanne Lamon, the renowned baroque violinist, and Music Director of Tafelmusik for 34 years. Yolanda explains how she explores the story of Jeanne’s 1759 Santo Serafin baroque violin, which was generously loaned to Yolanda for one year. You’ll hear a few clips from the album, including Jeanne’s masterful string trio arrangement of Bach’s iconic Ciaccona, as well as a taste of a Leclair duo with Julia Wedman, another important mentor for Yolanda, and a work by Beth Silver honouring Jeanne’s Dutch-Jewish heritage.

Yolanda reflects on what it means to live more sustainably with her partner, the accordionist Michael Bridge, who was previously featured on this podcast. She shared how her her annual project Music for Your Blues has impacted her life, as well as a very memorable experience performing in a high-security penitentiary, which taught her about connection and dignity, and the value of live music. I also wanted to shine a light on Yolanda’s brilliant first ablum, The Wild Swans, featuring 11 women composers, recorded with pianist Isabelle David. You’ll hear short excerpts by Lera Auerbach and Kelly-Marie Murphy. We end the episode with Yolanda’s insights about avoiding burnout by achieving balance in her life using the idea of longer cycles of time, which I loved.

Complete Show Notes with All the Links!

Yolanda Bruno Website

photo: Curtis Perry

(00:00) Intro

(02:34) Dear Jeanne and her film The Immortal Serafin, Jeanne Lamon, Tafelmusik

(12:25) Jeanne’s arrangement of Bach Ciaconna with clip (Yolanda with Julia Wedman, Christina Mahler - J.S. Bach Ciaccona from Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004

(15:46) film The Immortal Serafin, living more sustainably and mindfully, Michael Bridge

(24:39) the process of buying the Serafin, Jaak Liivoya, Bill Monical

(30:56) how Yolanda started playing baroque violin, meeting Jeanne

(34:41) clip of Jean-Marie Leclair Sonata for Two Violins in D Major, Op. 3, No. 3, ii. Allegro, lessons with Julia Wedman

(38:00) other linked episodes and ways to support this series

(38:50) Leclair, Beth Silver, Jeanne Lamon’s Dutch-Jewish heritage

(44:16) musical family, The Wild Swans album, Lera Auerbach with clip Lera Auerbach - 24 Preludes for Violin and Piano, op. 46: No. 9 in E Major (Allegro)

(51:38) Kelly Marie-Murphy The Swan Parapraxis with clip Kelly-Marie Murphy - The Swan Parapraxis, Carmen Bruno cello The Wild Swans album, Katherine Dowling

(55:22) Music for Your Blues, reading, memorable concerts

(01:02:37) performing for incarcerated audience in a penitentiary, Jean Rohe, Diane Schoemperlen

(01:07:04) studying in England, balancing life in annual cycles

Previous Episode

How We Cancel the Noise: Mack Hagood on Sound, Tech, and Attention

November 15, 2025

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75m

I really enjoyed this opportunity to speak with Mack Hagood, author of Hush: Media and Sonic Self-Control, to explore how we use sound to manage our minds, moods, and modern lives. From white noise apps and noise-cancelling headphones to tinnitus and sound therapy, Mack helped me understand the complex relationship between media, technology, and the human need to tune in (or out). We discuss the surprising cultural history behind everyday sonic tools — from the 1964 Sleep-Mate sound conditioner to Irv Teibel’s visionary Environments recordings, to Dr. Amar Gopal Bose’s 1978 flight epiphany that led to noise-cancelling headphones. Mack reflected on teaching “The Smartphone in Society,” and concerns with both social media and streaming platforms. Towards the end of this conversation he explained why started his podcast Phantom Power and how his childhood in New Orleans eventually led him to the new field of sound scholarship.

Complete Show Notes with all the links!

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:34) life as a guitarist, Pinetop

(05:47) tinnitus

(15:32) first white noise machine Sleep Mate

(22:54) Hush: Sonic Media and Sonic Self-Control, Irv Teibel environments series

(30:36) Bose noise-cancelling headphones

(35:30) Edison Realism test, how our listening is culturally conditioned

(41:03) other linked episodes and ways to support this series

(41:47) soundscapes, R. Murray Schafer, field recordings

(45:14) podcast Phantom Power

(49:02) Walkmans, consumption of music, white noise apps

(52:14) The Smartphone in Society, social media

(59:08) why Mack got into podcasting as a sound scholar, Liz Pelley, problems with Spotify

(01:08:07) how he became a sound scholar

Next Episode

Ben Garnett: Crafting Acoustic Beauty on Kite's Keep

November 29, 2025

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67m

Guitarist Ben Garnett has released a beautiful new album, Kite’s Keep, and this episode features clips and insights from the project. The record includes collaborations with acoustic music greats familiar to listeners of this podcast, including Darol Anger and Brittany Haas. Ben’s mentor, Chris Eldridge of the Punch Brothers, also appears, and Ben discusses the wisdom he’s gained from other influential musicians in his life, among them his cousin, acclaimed rock guitarist Andy Timmons, the brilliant Julian Lage, and bandleader Missy Raines. He also talks about how playing tuba was helpful, and how he immersed himself in a range of musical styles—studying jazz in university before finding his way into Nashville’s acoustic bluegrass scene.

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on many podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript. It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you every week, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the show notes of this episode, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast! In the show notes I"ve also linked other episodes which I think may interest you: with Darol Anger, Brittany Haas, Marc van Vugt, Tal Yahalom and Alisa Rose

Complete Show Notes with ALL LINKS!

(00:00) Intro

(01:57) Kite’s Keep album, Brittany Haas, Darol Anger, clip Look Again

(06:59) Darol Anger, clip Tell Me About You

(10:07) album cover, photo by Emilio Mesa

(11:35) tuba, music education

(13:43) Andy Timmons

(19:11) Julian Lage

(24:25) Chris Eldridge, producing 1st album Imitation Fields, clip of Post Office Prodigies

(29:09) Julian Lage, Chris “Critter” Eldridge

(34:20) other linked episodes and ways to support this project

(35:09) jazz, Chris Eldridge, Paul Kowert, Ethan Jodziewicz, clip of The Clockmaker