#422 National Haiku Poetry Day

National Haiku Poetry Day is April 17 and we celebrate it early with a selection of music by composers inspired by this transcendent poetic tradition. Hosted and curated by Stephen Anthony Rawson and Seth Boustead MUSIC Bagatelles (Twice Seven Haiku) by Paul Chihara Butterfly Dreams by John Tavener mvmts 2, 3 & 4 Three Basho Haiku … Continue reading #422 National Haiku Poetry Day

#312 Useless Machines

The opening night of the Relevant Tones Tenth Anniversary Festival featured an exciting multi-media concert of music inspired by Rube Goldberg machines. We were joined by Rube's granddaughter Jennifer George who is also the director of the Rube Goldberg Institute, and an all-star roster of musicians for an unforgettable evening. MUSIC Rube G. by Frank … Continue reading #312 Useless Machines

#74 Phyllis Chen

This week we’ll talk with pianist, toy pianist and composer Phyllis Chen, who is celebrating the release of her third album, Little Things. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters Stephen Montague: Mirabella a Tarentella for Toy Piano John Cage: Suite for Toy Piano, II Phyllis Chen: Cobwebbed Carousel Angelica Nagron: The Little Things Fabian Svensson: Toy … Continue reading #74 Phyllis Chen

#65 Stravinsky and Schoenberg: 100 Years Part III

In our final exploration of the past 100 years of musical modernism, we take a look at composers who fit in neither the uptown nor the downtown traditions of composition. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters Aaron Copland – Connotations Igor Stravinsky – In memoriam Dylan Thomas Elliott Carter – Cello Sonata George Rochberg – … Continue reading #65 Stravinsky and Schoenberg: 100 Years Part III

#28 Fall Season Preview

Seth previews some of the fantastic upcoming performances from Chicago new music groups, including CUBE, Access Contemporary Music, Dal Niente, and more. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters Chinary Ung: Laughter Passes Over the Earth & Flying Mirrors fr. Seven Mirrors – Ensemble Dal NienteSebastian Currier: Ethereal & Charged from StaticAccess Contemporary MusicJimmy López: Avec … Continue reading #28 Fall Season Preview

#13 Speedy Delivery

This week we dive into our mailbag to listen to some recent new music releases sent to Relevant Tones. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters Sunbin Kim: Whirlwind, Palisades VirtuosiJames MacMillan: Seraph, I BBC Scottish Symphony OrchestraJason Wright Wingate: Symphony No. 2Movement of the Vaulted ChambersThe Twittering MachineHermitage Orchestra de l’invisible/Wingateabout Jason Wright WingateMichael Nyman: Songs … Continue reading #13 Speedy Delivery

#2 Modern Piano

Most pianos have 88 keys, but the notes that they produce are just the beginning of the sonic possibilities available to the keyboardist. This week we’ll listen to how boundary-shattering composers from John Cage to Conlon Nancarrow unlocked and exploited keyboard instruments’ aural potential. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters Playlist ◦ Cage: The … Continue reading #2 Modern Piano