Play It Forward – Aidan Bartlett
Meet Aidan Bartlett, one of All Classical Radio’s Summer/Fall 2026 interns. We asked Aidan to share some of his favorite pieces from over the years that have stuck with him and inspired him as he continues his music education.
Sergei Prokofiev – Cello Sonata in C Major: Movement I
I have a distinct memory of hearing Prokofiev’s Cello Sonata in C Major on the radio in my grandparents’ car and talking with them about it, as both of them were musicians and teachers themselves. I couldn’t quite place what I loved about it, and since I was far from skilled enough to play it on either cello or piano at the time, I eventually forgot about it. Years later, I found a version of the piece in a record store and fell in love with it all over again. The first movement of Cello Sonata in C Major shifts between sections that are almost percussive to some of the most lyrical cello lines I have ever heard. It has always reminded me of a gray and rainy morning in the best possible way. This is a piece I’ve always dreamed of performing, and it will always have a place on my morning playlist for the fall and winter months.
Joe Hisaishi – The Legend of Ashitaka (Ending)
While I learned about orchestral music through my family and my teachers, nothing pulled me into the genre quite like movies. I fell in love with Studio Ghibli movies early on for so many reasons, but nothing compares to Joe Hisaishi’s scores. This piece from Princess Mononoke might be my favorite piece of film music ever, and every time I revisit the movie, I do it with this soundtrack on my mind. It feels full, epic, mysterious, and will always be one of my favorites.
Django Reinhardt – Beyond The Sea (La Mer)
Stepping away from classical music a bit, this performance of Beyond The Sea has always been one of my favorite songs, period. Though a jazz piece, I still think that, despite the differences in style, anyone who loves classical music can appreciate this song, especially the performance of the violinist Stéphane Grappelli. He makes the violin sing beautifully, taking over the melody that would usually be performed by a singer. Along with Reinhardt’s one-of-a-kind guitar playing, the fusion of the two instruments being performed by masters of their craft makes for a beautiful combination that I keep coming back to.
Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto Grosso in d minor
While high school wasn’t the easiest time for me, orchestra was always my favorite part of the day. I had an amazing teacher who pushed us to be the best musicians we could be. In doing that, she had us playing pieces that quite a few of us weren’t very confident about, like this Vivaldi concerto. When we played a version of this piece as a full orchestra instead of the usual smaller ensemble, I had the opportunity to watch one of my cellist friends take more of a leading role in our section, and watching them at that moment when the cello first comes in about 30 seconds in was and still is one of the biggest moments of inspiration to me as a cellist. I have loved this piece since I first heard it, especially the harpsichord part, which provides a lovely twinkling sound behind the strings whether it’s matching the lower voices or off on its own.
Camille Saint-Saëns – Piano Concerto No. 2 in g minor
Another piece I was introduced to in high school, this Saint-Saëns piano concerto remains one of my favorite piano pieces of all time, and one of my favorite performances I have ever been a part of. There is so much to love about this piece, but my favorite part is the two big minor chords that the pianist and orchestra hit together about a minute and a half into the piece to bring the orchestra in. It’s such an amazingly dramatic moment that sounds to me like the big reveal in a mystery, and I love that it comes back in the final moments to finish the piece.
William Grant Still – “Seven Traceries” Suite: Mystic Pool
I didn’t discover William Grant Still until college when I learned about him in a music history class. This piece quickly became one of my favorites. As someone starting to learn more about jazz, I loved how dissonant (clashing) some moments in the piece were. It may not be the most exciting piece in the world, but I absolutely love the way it takes its time between each chord change. While I love Still’s bigger symphonic works, this solo piano piece has become one of my more recent favorites.
About Aidan
I am a senior year student at Reed College here in Portland, studying History and Music. I have had a deep love for music all my life, with classical being the main focus of my years as a pianist and cellist. As someone originally from upstate New York, I had not heard of All Classical Radio until moving to Portland, but since then, I have fallen in love with the station and in turn, fallen back in love with the world of classical music. Outside of work, I love taking any excuse to get out into the beauty of the PNW, going to the movies with my friends, and continuing my now three-year search for the best hot chocolate in Portland. I am incredibly excited to be joining the All Classical Radio team, to learn all I can, and to expand my love of classical music into the world of radio broadcasting.
