Contemporary Classical Music Podcast
Since their founding in 2007 New Music Detroit has produced an annual marathon of new music called Strange Beautiful Music, commissioned new works, presented concerts in major institutions and off-the-beaten path venues alike and generally been an all-around force in adventurous music. Seth Boustead talks with pianist and Creative Director Justin Snyder, co-founder and saxophonist … Continue reading #373 New Music detroit
We commemorate the 135th anniversary of the death of great poet Emily Dickinson by featuring some of our favorite musical settings of her poems as well as music inspired by her. MUSIC Six Dickinson Poems by Emily Lau - Performed by: Maren Montalbano, mezzo-soprano, Elizabeth Huston, harp and Rebecca Harris, violin Harmonium mvmt II As … Continue reading #299 Homage to Emily Dickinson
There’s a subsection of contemporary music called ‘Musical Historicism;’ a genre of music that uses historical elements and revives them in modern works. From Minimalism to Totalism, Modernism to Post-Modernism to Neomodernism; we’re taking a look at pieces that influence contemporary compositions, either to mimic the past or to be the antithesis. Hosted by Seth … Continue reading #268 Antecedents
Throughout history, composers who have been known for championing a particular musical style have shocked their fans by radically and suddenly changing their aesthetic. Why does this happen, and who’s changing their style in the modern era? Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters George Rochberg: String Quartet No. 3 (excerpt) Concord String Quartet New … Continue reading #159 A Change of Opinion
We all know the Pastoral Symphony of Beethoven, Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture inspired by Fingal’s Cave, and the music by Vaughan Williams inspired by the English countryside. But in the modern era, the urban environment is inspiring many composers to capture its sounds in music. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters David Sampson: Chicago Moves, … Continue reading #158 Cityscapes
Large-scale sacred works might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of contemporary music, but a number of important composers are creating expansive works inspired by their concept of a higher power. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters John Adams: When Herod Heard fr. El Niño Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Nagano; … Continue reading #127 Modern Oratorio
Founded in 1981 by enterprising guitarist and tireless contemporary music promoter David Starobin, Bridge Records was one of the first-ever contemporary music labels and is still going strong today. Their adventurous spirit and admirable devotion to sonic clarity has garnered them no fewer than 20 Grammy nominations over the years. Tune in to hear why. … Continue reading #107 Finding the Bridge
The story of the Nativity, infused by John Adams and Peter Sellars with texts new and old celebrating the miracle of birth and renewal. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters Adams: El Niño (excerpts) Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Nagano; Theatre of Voices; London Voices; Upshaw, s.; Lieberson, ms.; White, bar.
Today we leave the world of equal-temperament behind and explore various contemporary pieces written for instruments in just intonation. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters Terry Riley: The Harp of New Albion- Premonition Rag (excerpt), Terry Riley, p.Michael Harrison: Just Ancient Loops, II, Maya Beiser, vc.Terry Riley: The Harp of New Albion- Cadence on … Continue reading #29 Just Intonation