Contemporary Classical Music Podcast
The symphonies of Gloria Coates have been hailed as "the spirit of an expressionistic-apocalyptic-mystical world view" by German musicologist Ludwig Finscher. Over sixteen symphonies, Coates has created an indelible, absolutely unique and highly personal sound world. We talk with her and feature movements from symphonies 1, 4, 7 and 14.
Begun by composer Stephen Lias in 2012 Composing in the Wilderness is a "shared wilderness experience for adventurous composers at all levels." Participants spend two weeks in the wilds of Alaska drawing from that inspiration to write a new piece that will be performed at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. Applications for 2021 close on … Continue reading #281 Composing in the Wilderness
Clarice Assad is a highly acclaimed composer, pianist, singer and arranger renowned for her musical scope and versatility. A prolific Grammy nominated composer, Clarice Assad’s numerous commissions include works for Carnegie Hall, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Orquestra Sinfônica de São Paulo, Chicago Sinfonietta, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, the Boston Youth Orchestra, the … Continue reading #280 Clarice Assad
There are a variety of reasons that people decide to leave home for good and settle in another country. But according to the U.S. State Department there has been a veritable exodus lately with a 47% spike in expatriation in 2019 over 2014. We talk with four composers living abroad about their lives and music.
This is a pivotal moment for Hong Kong as it fights for political autonomy and searches for a national identity. Hong Kong has long been a global hub for artists and musicians but the future is uncertain. We talk with Antony Dapiran, author of City on Fire: the Fight for Hong Kong, about the protest … Continue reading #278 Music of Hong Kong
The great Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges has had an enormous influence on artists, writers, philosophers and thinkers of all kinds, and composers are no exception. We spoke with renowned Borges scholar Daniel Balderston about the life and times of Borges and with composers Carla Kihlstedt, Diego Vega and Gheorghi Arnaoudov about how his work … Continue reading #277 Musical Legacies: Jorge Luis Borges
New music releases have slowed to a trickle, it's true, but they haven't stopped entirely! Seth chats with four creative musicians and ensembles who have recently released wildly inventive new music including saxophone quartet Nois, Third Coast Percussion, Sunny Knable and Amy Wurtz. Music:Vaisseau Fantôme by Nikki HarlaftiApertures by Matthew Arrellin - Performed by NoisSongs … Continue reading #276 Is This Nois?
Access Contemporary Music's popular Sound of Silent Film Festival features newly commissioned scores performed live to modern silent films. 2020 marks the 15th anniversary and they're celebrating with two ambitious programs presented virtually. Seth talks with several of the filmmakers and composers about their inspiration and process and plays selections of the scores. Find out … Continue reading #275 Sound of Silent Film
Composers and performers are finding incredibly creative ways to continue connecting and making great music in the midst of a global pandemic. Seth talks with composers Suzanne Farrin, Gene Pritsker, Carlos Simon, Liza Sobel and Greg Bartholomew as well as countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo and American Composers Orchestra's Artistic Director Derek Bermel. MUSICNacht (excerpt) by … Continue reading #274 Pandemic Dances
Narrative is an important aspect of both music and storytelling. Seth will talk with composers Nathalie Joachim and David T. Little and writer J. Robert Lennon about how they structure their music and stories. We'll hear music performed by cellist Nicholas Photinos and pianist Yasuko Oura and chat with them about their perspectives on narrative … Continue reading #273 What’s the Narrative?