Contemporary Classical Music Podcast
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
Adam Marks is a gifted, sensitive pianist with far-ranging interests and an insatiable appetite for new music. We talk with him about several recent projects including One Page Pieces, a new album of piano music by Alex Shapiro and a virtual program for the Omaha Under the Radar festival. MUSIC Drift Motes by Jamie Evans … Continue reading #292 Adam Marks
During the LA Philharmonic’s 2018/19 season, they commissioned 50 new works from artists including Louis Andriessen, Unsuk Chin, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich, just to name a few. Composer and curator of the first of the LA Phil’s new music series, entitled Green Umbrella, Andrew Norman talks about the Southern Californian composers that he’s presenting. … Continue reading #266 Green Umbrella
Production company Access Contemporary Music has partnered with the esteemed Manhattan venue, LPR - (Le) Poisson Rouge a multimedia art cabaret founded by musicians on the site of the historic Village Gate. Pianist Jenny Lin is taking the stage for the first in this exciting new series. This concert is celebrating Philip Glass's 81st birthday … Continue reading #247 Live at LPR: Philip Glass 81st Birthday Bash
The ultimate instrumental showcase, the concerto has inspired composers to torture performers for hundreds of years, relentlessly pushing their physical capabilities. Now that performers have virtually no limits on their technique, how are composers innovating this storied form? Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Jesse McQuarters Kimmo Hakola: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, I (excerpt), IV … Continue reading #115 Modern Concerto
A big trend in the 2000’s saw contemporary music ensembles commissioning composers not to write new pieces for them but to arrange music by pop artists. We’ll listen to music from two such collaborations: Alarm Will Sound performing arrangements of electronic musician Aphex Twin and Osso Quartet’s arrangements of indie pop superstar Sufjan Stevens. Hosted … Continue reading #114 Crossing Barriers
Since its first performance in 1977, the American Composers Orchestra (ACO) has been the only orchestra in the world dedicated solely to commissioning and performing music written by American composers. We spoke with new Artistic Director, Derek Bermel about his vision for the group, and took a look back at a few interesting and groundbreaking … Continue reading #61 American Composers Orchestra
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