Improv in Classical Music

Normally, I read Andrew Sullivan's blogs for politics, pictures of windows, and interesting videos, but Jonah Lehrer decided to post an article about the history of musical improvisation. An excerpt:

When most people think about musical improvisation, they imagine Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, inventing melodies in smoky jazz clubs. But the act of musical improv isn't a 20th century invention. As Alex Ross notes in this fascinating article, "classical" music has long reserved a spot for improvisation by the performer. The cadenza, a spot at the end of the piece reserved for a display of virtuosity, was designed to encourage improvisation, as soloists figured out, on the fly, how to finish off a Mozart concerto:

More after the jump.

Also, someone decided to make an opera out of Alberto Gonzalez's congressional hearings. Umm, lol.