October is LGBT History Month, and Equality Forum is honoring 31 LGBT icons, one of which is Dutch cellist and conductor Frieda Belinfante. In this episode, we learn about her musical career and about her involvement in the Dutch resistance movement during WWII.

As we wrap up the month of July, let’s celebrate the Fiesta de Santiago, a day that honors Spain’s patron saint St. James the Apostle. We’ll observe this holiday with 12th century sacred polyphonic music as well as some traditional sounds of the Spanish-speaking Americas.

This week on Take Note, we’re honoring the Theravada Buddhist festival Asalha Puja, which commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon. We’ll hear traditional Sri Lankan Buddhist music and learn about the instrument horanawa.

On this week’s Take Note, we’re honoring the Hindu holiday of Ker Puja, which occurs on August 7th. It’s a solemn celebration primarily observed in the Northeastern Indian state of Tripura. Listen to hear the sound of the bamboo flute sumui.

This August 11th, marks the 3rd annual National Hip-hop Celebration Day! Listen to learn about this iconic American genre - its influences and its place in significant American music.

Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. The celebration falls on Friday, September 4th and is celebrated with devotional chant and singing, which we’ll hear in a recording of the Hare Krishna Maha mantra.

On this episode, we ring in the Ethiopian and Eritrean New Year, which is marked by the end of the region’s rainy season. Ge’ez New Year is also called Enkutatash in Amharic and Kudus Yohannes in Ge’ez and Tigrinya. We’ll hear some celebratory music and learn about the traditional instruments of the region.

In honor of Global Cat Day, we’re looking at a few classical composers who adored their feline companions and at one classical work that takes its inspiration from a cat’s piano improvisation.