Contemporary Classical Music Podcast
In 1949 a 23-year old composer named Daphne Oram wrote a pioneering new work for two orchestras, live electronics and turntables that was subsequently lost for decades. Only vague references survived until composer and archivist James Bulley rediscovered the complete score in 2015. He enlisted composer and turntable artist Shiva Feshareki to help him realize … Continue reading #309 Daphne Oram’s Still Point
ACM's Thirsty Ears Festival is Chicago's only classical music street festival combining stellar performances with great craft beer from Empirical Brewing. We did an intimate live broadcast the night before from the ACM School of Music featuring performances by Michael Hall, the Wurtz-Berger Duo and the Quijote Duo. MUSIC Neal and Jack and me by … Continue reading #308 Thirsty Ears Live
Composer inti figgis-vizueta writes "magically real musics through the lens of personal identities, braiding a childhood of overlapping immigrant communities and Black-founded Freedom schools—in Chocolate City (DC)—with direct Andean & Irish heritage and a deep connection to the land." Stephen Rawson talks with her about music, poetry, magical realism and more. MUSIC Openwork/Knotted Object/Trellis in … Continue reading #307 inti figgis-vizueta
We feature three works that recast age-old myths from a woman's perspective. Milica Paranosic's Penelope and the Geese reimagines the Odyssey from Penelope's point of view. We talk with her about the opera and feature three key scenes. And Marisa Michelson's Naama's Ark tells the flood myth from the perspective of Noah's wife and Salvatore … Continue reading #306 Feminist Retellings of Myth
A palimpsest is a manuscript whose original text has been scraped or washed away and overwritten with a new one, often many times over. The original text is still present but visible only in fragments. This concept has inspired composers to overlay music in similar ways to fascinating effect. We feature a small sample of … Continue reading #305 Palimpsests
Texu Kim writes music that's fun, often humorous yet sophisticated, detailed and connected to his South Korean heritage in fascinating ways. He's also the only composer we know to offer "major-league cuteness” (Broadway World) while also demonstrating “surprising scope.” (San Diego Story) MUSIC Bounce!! - performed by Alarm Will Sound Sonata Amabile - performed by … Continue reading #304 Texu Kim
Access Contemporary Music's Sonic Walkabout is a fun way to explore a neighborhood and see and hear it as never before. ACM commissioned composers to write music inspired by historic and cultural sites in Chicago's Wicker Park and Lakeview neighborhoods and combined their musical creations with narrative storytelling. MUSIC Fountain by Amy Wurtz Polish Triangle … Continue reading #303 Sonic Walkabout 2021
Trailblazing composer Louis Andriessen was one of the most influential composers of his generation. Sadly Andriessen passed away on July 1st of this year. We talked to him in 2014 about his life in music and featured some of his best-known pieces. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters Louis Andriessen: Life, Part I- Wind … Continue reading Tribute to Louis Andriessen (repeat)
They're on 60 Minutes, they're in the New York Times, they're the subject of an eagerly awaited report to Congress. UFOs haven't been this hot since the '90's. We feature music inspired by these celestial mysteries. MUSIC UFO by Michael Daugherty Inside UFO 53-32 by Katherine Young Spaceship by Philip Glass
In honor of Children's Day in the US we feature music written for and by kids of all ages. Concept and research by Stephen Anthony Rawson, hosted by Seth Boustead. MUSIC Children of Light by Karen Tanaka mvmts 3,5 and 7 performed by Signe Bakke Three Heavens and Hells by Meredith Monk mvmt 3, Things … Continue reading #301 Songs for Children