On Demand
Evening Music Archive
September 2007
Gavin Bryars
Sunday, September 30, 2007
English composer Gavin Bryars' roots are in improvisational jazz; although he has long since moved on to much more complicated forms of music, he still brings an unpredictable quality to his works. Tonight we feature such a piece for clarinet choir, "Three Elegies for Nine Clarinets."
Ear to Ear: Anat Fort
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Village Voice writes that Anat Fort "has a charming way of dispensing pastoralism and an insightful way of lining that pastoralism with depth." The Israeli-born jazz pianist/composer joins David Garland to share her music and talk about her upcoming performance at the Cornelia Street Cafe.
John's Book of Alleged Dances
Friday, September 28, 2007
The Kronos Quartet has commissioned new works from many important composers, not the least of which is John Adams. Tonight we hear them perform selections from Adams' tongue-in-cheek work from 1994, "John's Book of Alleged Dances."
100 Greatest Dance Hits
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Composer Aaron Jay Kernis draws on everything from rap to impressionism to create his vivid, mercurial music. We hear a sample of his salsa-inspired set for Guitar and String Quartet, "100 Greatest Dance Hits."
A Place for Us
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
West Side Story turns 50 years old this week, and we mark the occasion with an intimate portrait of this iconic American musical, featuring lots of music, rare commentary from the creative team and insights from original cast members.
Indie Percussion
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The Brooklyn-based percussion duo Loop 2.4.3 has perfected the fine art of making unusual music out of hitting things. We sample their debut CD release, Batterie, with the industrial-inspired track "Almglocken Melodien."
The Chairman Dances
Monday, September 24, 2007
As John Adams was preparing to embark on his groundbreaking opera Nixon in China in 1985, he decided to write a warmup piece first. The result was tonight's featured foxtrot for orchestra, "The Chairman Dances."
Ear to Ear: Rudresh Mahanthappa
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Jazz artist Rudresh Mahanthappa fuses the culture of his Indian ancestry with myriad other influences to create a unique artistic vision. The composer/saxophonist joins David in the studio to talk about his work in festivals and clubs worldwide, his recent CD release, and upcoming projects.
Music on the Floor
Friday, September 21, 2007
Michael Torke has been called "the Ravel of his generation" for the "shimmering timbral palette" he employs in his orchestrations (The New York Times). Tonight we hear a suiteably luminous example, in his chamber piece "Music on the Floor."
Electric Acoustic
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Composer/performer Steven Mackey has brought the electric guitar into the classical realm with his progressive brand of music. Tonight we feature his "Fusion Tune," which pairs the instrument with a slightly more traditional (and acoustic) one, the cello.
Fred Ho and the Monkey Orchestra
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Brooklyn-based saxophonist/composer Fred Ho has created his own startling brand of progressive jazz by combining traditional Asian and African musics. Tonight we hear some of his early work with the eclectic group he founded in 1990, the Monkey Orchestra.
Salome Dances for Peace
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The genesis of Terry Riley's large-scale works can be found in his improvised "all-night concerts" from the late 60s, inspired by Indian classical music. Tonight we hear part of an ambitious work written nearly 20 years later, the two hour long string quartet "Salome Dances for Peace."
Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Monday, September 17, 2007
To quote composer John Adams, "You know how it is when someone asks you to ride in a terrific sports car, and then you wish you hadn't?" Tonight we get things off to a rousing start with one of Adams' iconic works, "Short Ride in a Fast Machine."
Old School
Sunday, September 16, 2007
12th century composer, seer, teacher and abbess Hildegard von Bingen's many interests included natural science, the healing arts, theology, and politics — much of which is evident in her music. Tonight we hear a collection of her inspired works, in the "Canticles of Ecstasy."
Spotlight on: Richard Danielpour
Saturday, September 15, 2007
One of the most successful composers of his generation, New York native Richard Danielpour has written orchestral works for many venerable institutions, including the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Tonight he talks about his latest effort in collaboration with author Toni Morrison, the opera "Margaret Garner."
The Silent City
Friday, September 14, 2007
Iranian kamalcheh player and composer Kayhan Kalhor integrates ancient Persian musical traditions with a modern sensibility. Tonight we hear a selection from Kalhor's recent collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, in "The Silent City."
The Unknown Villa-Lobos
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Heitor Villa-Lobos' reputation as Brazil's greatest composer may rest on flashy pieces like the "Bachianas brasileiras," but a great deal of his output remained underrepresented until the last decade or so. Tonight, Brazilian pianist Sonia Rubinsky uncovers the unknown Villa-Lobos, with his charming suite of children's dance music, "Album das Cirandas."
Bad Boy of Modern Music
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
As the self-styled "bad boy of music," composer George Antheil specialized in creating riots with works like the "Ballet mécanique" (which famously used everything from 16 synchronized player pianos to an airplane propeller). Tonight we hear one of his slightly more conventional works, the Stravinsky-inspired "Jazz Symphony" for piano and jazz orchestra.
Musicians for Harmony
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Founded in the wake of September 11, 2001, Musicians for Harmony presents a memorial concert in New York City every year to help "foster and advance the cause of peace through music." Tonight we hear one of the highlights of last year's program, the premiere performance of violinist/composer Mark O'Connor's "Harmony."
Wild Variations
Monday, September 10, 2007
Still actively performing at just shy of 92 years old, pianist Earl Wild is one of the last great pianist/composers in the Romantic tradition. Tonight we hear his "Doo-Dah" variations, based on the music of Stephen Foster.
Berio Channels Boccherini
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Contemporary Italian composer Luciano Berio was primarily known for his experimental music, but he also drew on some decidedly "un-contemporary" source material. Tonight we hear an example with his "Ritirata notturna di Madrid," based on the eponymous work by 18th century composer Luigi Boccherini.
Spotlight on: Michael Cain
Saturday, September 08, 2007
The LA Times writes that pianist/composer Michael Cain "brings fresh ideas to jazz." Also fresh off the heels of an American/European tour and his latest album, "Indira," Cain joins us to share his music and talk about his current projects.
Schoenberg Meets Handel
Friday, September 07, 2007
Arnold Schoenberg may be best known for his densely-layered 12-tone music, but he also had his lighter side. Tonight we sample some Schoenberg á la Handel, in the Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra.
Primo Tenore
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Tonight we offer a musical tribute to the late, great Luciano Pavarotti, with selections that span his entire astonishing 45-year professional career, including some of his greatest hits — as well as some rare live recordings.
The Symphony of Sorrowful Songs
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Tonight we hear Polish composer Henryk Górecki's most famous work, the Symphony No. 3, or "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs." Texts heard in the work include a 15th Century religious poem, a message scrawled on the wall of a Gestapo prison in 1944, and a folksong about a mother searching for her son.
Cage and Cunningham
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
During a relationship that spanned nearly 50 years, John Cage and Merce Cunningham explored the concepts of space and time in their revolutionary approach to music and dance. Laura Kuhn of The John Cage Trust sits down with Cunningham for a candid interview about the personal and professional life he shared with Cage.
24:33 on WNYC2: A John Cage Festival
The Playful John Cage
Monday, September 03, 2007
John Cage took delight in writing "serious" works that dressed down the concept of "serious" music — often leaving the audience unsure as to how they should react. We hear one such piece tonight in "Fads and Fancies in the Academy," which parodies children's songs and popular music of the 1940s.
24:33 on WNYC2: A John Cage Festival
The Tao of Cage
Sunday, September 02, 2007
John Cage was greatly influenced by Taoism and Zen Buddhism, and accordingly often sought to dissolve expression and intention from his works. Tonight we hear his mesmerizing 1950 work for violin and keyboard, "Six Melodies."
24:33 on WNYC2: A John Cage Festival
Spotlight on: Ricky Ian Gordon
Saturday, September 01, 2007
The New York Times describes Ricky Ian Gordon's infectious and deeply moving music as "caviar for a world gorging on pizza." The composer talks about and plays excerpts from his hugely successful operatic version of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." Also, Mode Records director Brian Brandt talks about his long and fruitful association with composer John Cage.
24:33 on WNYC2: A John Cage Festival
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