Program 726: Orkney Vikings; Favorite American Cities; Chopin's Piano

On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we'll hear how you can encounter Viking culture from a thousand years ago, on Orkney, off the north coast of Scotland.

A frequent domestic traveler explains why he wants every American to visit every state of the Union, to help overcome political prejudice and feel like a United country again.

Plus, hear what Frederick Chopin had to endure with a clunky piano on an island in Spain, to compose pieces that changed how the world listens to music.

• Kinlay Francis, tour guide from Orkney, Scotland  
• Daniel Seddiqui, author of "Piecing Together America" (self-published)  
• Paul Kildea, author of "Chopin's Piano" (W.W. Norton)

• Kinlay Francis and his wife operate Orkney Uncovered to provide custom tours in the Orkney archipelago.
• Rick revisits a Viking historical site on the Scottish island of Iona, and writes about the Viking history of York, England.   
• Daniel Seddiqui writes about the local crafts and foods he found in 50 cities across the United States in "Piecing Together America."  
• Paul Kildea is the author of "Chopin's Piano: In Search of the Instrument That Transformed Music."
• Paul Kildea plays the same piano manufactured by Pleyel that Chopin himself once played, at Hatchlands Park in Surrey, England.  He's featured at the close of this week's program, and on the BBC Radio 4 discussion program "Start the Week" from July 2018.  Paul plays Chopin's Prelude No. 13, starting at 38:21 into the BBC podcast.
• Salons of Chopin piano concerts are held nightly at the Chopin Boutique Bed and Breakfast in Warsaw.

• Lights & Motion, "Fireflies," Chronicle / Deep Elm Digital LLC
• Garrick Ohlsson, "Prelude No. 15, op. 28, 'Raindrop' (Chopin)," Essential Chopin, disc 1 (collection) / EMI Classics
• Rune Alver, "Klaversonate in e-moll (Piano Sonata in E Minor, op. 7: Finale-molto allegro (Grieg)," Mountain Dance: Visionary Masterpieces by the Young Edvard Grieg / Edvard Grieg Museum, Troldhaugvn
• Old Blind Dogs, "The Salmon Leap," The Collection / KRL
• London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult, cond., "Die Walkure (Wagner)," The Keys to the Classics: Wagner (collection) / Angel
• Martyn Bennett, "Rye," Bothy Culture / Rykodisc
• Edmonton Symphony, Uri Mayer, cond., "'Tordion' from 'Capriol Suite' (Peter Warlock)," Orchestral Suites of the British Isles / CBC Records
• Helene Hoye and Mari Eggen, "Ferdavals (Voyage Waltz)," Wizard Women of the North (sampler) / Northside
• * Krystian Zimerman, Polish Festival Orchestra, "Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Opus 11, II: Romance-Larghetto (Chopin)," Chopin: Piano Concertos No. 1 and 2 / Deutsche Grammophon
• Jem, "Save Me," Finally Woken / ATO-RCA
• Nina Simone, "Mood Indigo," The Very Best of Nina Simone, disc 1 / Disconforme
• Chet Atkins, "Wheels," Travelin' / RLG-Legacy
• Washed Out, "Feel It All Around," Life of Leisure / Mexican Summer
• Bill Monroe, "Bluegrass Special," The Early Years / Vanguard
• SON_SCD_0179_00701_Put_it_in_The_Pocket_A_APM
• Caroline Goulding, "Souvenir d'Amerique (variations on 'Yankee Doodle'), op. 17 (Henri Vieuxtemps)," Caroline Goulding / Telarc
• Washed Out, "Feel It All Around," Life of Leisure / Mexican Summer
• * Ingrid Filter, "Waltz No. 7 in C-sharp minor, op. 64 no. 2 (Chopin)," Essential Chopin, disc 1 (collection) / EMI Classics
• Garrick Ohlsson, "Prelude No. 7 in A (Chopin)," Essential Chopin, disc 1 (collection) / EMI Classics
• Elisabeth Leonskaja, "Nocture for piano, No. 1 in B-flat minor, op. 9 (Chopin)," Sensual Classics, Too (collection) / Elektra-WEA
• Garrick Ohlsson, "Prelude No. 15, op. 28, 'Raindrop' (Chopin)," Essential Chopin, disc 1 (collection) / EMI Classics
• Dimitri Alexeev, "Waltz No. 9 in A-flat, op. 69 no. 1 (Chopin)," Essential Chopin, disc 2 (collection) / EMI Classics
• Guiomar Novaes, "Waltz for piano No. 6 in D-flat major ('Dog Waltz'), op. 64-1, B 164-1 (Chopin)," Chopin Favorites / Vox Allegretto
• Wanda Landowska, harpsichord, "Mazurka op. 56, no. 2 (Chopin)," (1951 performance via You Tube - source not documented)
• Jean Goverts, "24 Préludes, op. 28 no. 1 in C Major (Chopin)," J.S. Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier (excerpts); Chopin: Preludes (excerpts) / DiVox Antiqua
• Darron Flagg, "C Major Prelude No. 1 from 'The Well-Tempered Clavier' (J.S. Bach)," Bagdad Café (soundtrack) / Great Jones-Island Records
• Excerpt of Paul Kildea playing Chopin's Prelude No. 13 in F-sharp major, on the "Chopin" Pleyel piano at Hatchlands Park, Surry, UK, was provided by the BBC Radio Four "Start the Week" broadcast of July 2, 2018.

• In the billboard, and in the segment B interview, Daniel Seddequi says he did not encounter  divisive people causing problems for him, in his journeys across America.
• In the segment A open, Rick refers to a recent vote among political leaders in Orkney to pursue becoming a part of Norway.
• At 30:28, Rick refers to a big political divide in the United States between conservatives in smaller towns and rural areas and city-based liberals. 
• Daniel mentions at 34:28 that he noticed mostly locally-based stores and clothing insignia in Appalachia, where he had just attended an apple festival.
• Rick notes that a Warsaw guest house owner re-creates the Chopin salon experience for his guests, at 57:04.
• At 57:54, Rick notes that the Pleyel piano Chopin used, which Paul Kildea is playing on, is displayed at Hatchlands Park in Surry, UK.