Themes from a Midsummer Night

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

We buck the approaching solstice with Michael Gandolfi's atmospheric concert suite "Themes from a Midsummer Night," drawn from incidental music written for Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Also, vintage recordings of Dmitri Shostakovitch at the piano and Alan Hovhaness's orchestral tone poem "And God Created Great Whales."

Also Featured Tonight:

William Bolcom / Bird Spirits
Leonard Bernstein / Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano
Veljo Tormis / Crosswind
Ingram Marshall / Hidden Voices
Kaija Saariaho / Chateau de l'ame

Blue Mingus

Monday, December 29, 2008

Duke Ellington's standard "Mood Indigo" has been covered by everyone from Louis Armstrong to Nina Simone; we hear a smooth version from bassist Charles Mingus. Also, the Jacques Loussier Trio covers Claude Debussy, and we hear an excerpt from Theo Bleckmann's album of (re-imagined) Charles Ives songs.

Also Featured Tonight:

Terry Riley / Cadence on the Wind
Benjamin Britten / Suite for Harp Op. 83
Robert Schumann / Violin Sonata No.3 in A minor, WoO 2
Igor Stravinsky / The Firebird
Heitor Villa-Lobos / Cello Concerto No. 2

The heart has its reasons

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Canadian ensemble Sanctuary brings modern techniques to ancient materials to create what they call "contemplative plainsong for the 21st century." We feature their album The heart has its reasons, which combines the melodic simplicity of Gregorian chant with the sounds of free jazz and modern harmonic colors.

http://www.sanctuarymusic.ca/

Ear to Ear: Maria Schneider

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Recently awarded a Grammy for her album "Cerulean Skies," composer/conductor Maria Schneider fronts the eponymous international ensemble, the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra. Schneider collaborates frequently with other jazz icons, including Gil Evans and Bob Brookmeyer, creating music that has been described as "evocative," "majestic," and "beyond categorization."

http://www.mariaschneider.com/

Vox Vocal Ensemble from the Guggenheim

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Airs December 25 at 8PM on 93.9
As part of Works & Process at the Guggenheim, George Steel conducts the Vox Vocal Ensemble and the Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble in the renowned museum's rotunda. Hosted by Terrance McKnight, the program features 16th and 17th century holiday works, as well as a premiere by composer Nico Muhly.

Bach's Christmas Oratorio from Carnegie Hall

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Airs December 24th at 9PM on 93.9FM
WNYC pays tribute to the late conductor Robert Bass in this encore broadcast of the Collegiate Chorale's performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio, recorded live in Carnegie Hall in 2006. Bass conducts the Chorale and the Orchestra of St. Lukes, with soloists Lisa Saffer, Gigi Mitchell-Velasco, Paul Austin Kelly, and James Maddelena. Hosted by John Schaefer.

O Magnum Mysterium

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

For centuries, composers have set this matins prayer response for Christmas to music. We hear several versions of "O Magnum Mysterium" tonight, from the Renaissance (Tomas Luis de Victoria) to the modern (Morten Lauridsen and Francis Poulenc). Also, cello music by Philip Glass and Alberto Ginastera, plus Leonard Bernstein's grand symphony "The Age of Anxiety."

Also Featured Tonight:

Johannes Brahms / "Unbewegte laue Luft," Op. 57/8
Alfred Schnittke / Piano Quartet (Composed w/ Mahler)
Cesar Franck / "Psyche"
Ned Rorem / The Santa Fe Songs
Lou Harrison / Seven Pastorales

Moon over Messiaen

Monday, December 22, 2008

We launch the evening with piano music from Beata Moon, followed by a keyboard work from Olivier Messiaen. Also, an etude from Philip Glass, Aaron Copland's Duo for flute and piano, and two excerpts from Lukas Foss's first major work, "The Prairie." Later in the evening, visions of sugar rum cherries and peanut brittle brigades dance in our heads (and ears!) as we enjoy the Duke Ellington/David Berger charmer, The Harlem Nutcracker.

Also Featured Tonight

Fred Onovwerosuoke / Studies in African Rhythm
Philip Glass / String Quartet No. 2, "Company"
Olivier Messiaen / Le Merle nior
Keith Jarrett / Bridge of Light
Igor Stravinsky / Symphony of Psalms

Lights of the Season

Sunday, December 21, 2008

In honor of the winter solstice and the first night of Hanukkah, host David Garland offers musical light on the longest night of the year. Selections include James Blackshaw's "Transient Light in Twilight," Philip Glass's "The Light," Evelyn Glennie's "Light In Darkness," Nico's "Evening of Light," Animal Collective's "Hey Light," John Rutter's "Hymn to the Creator of Light," Lou Harrison's "Solstice," Gyorgy Ligeti's "Lux Aeterna," Morten Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna," and Incredible String Band's "Light In Time Of Darkness."

Ear to Ear: Robert Ashley

Saturday, December 20, 2008

A pioneer of new form and multi-disciplinary sonic techniques in American music, post-modern composer Robert Ashley has incorporated electronics, extended techniques and audio synthesis into his many operas and theater pieces over a nearly 50 year career.

http://www.robertashley.org/

Buy Robert Ashley CDs at amazon.com
Download Robert Ashley tracks at iTunes

Greensleeves

Friday, December 19, 2008

These days, we associate the traditional English folk tune "Greensleeves" with the Christmas carol "What Child is This?" The original ballad was dedicated to a very different subject, however: the notoriously promiscuous character "Lady Green Sleeves." We hear varying versions of this famous 16th century ditty from Hesperion XXI, the Boston Pops, and the 40 cellists of the LSO, RPO, BBC, and Philharmonia Orchestras.

Also featured Tonight:

Ernest Bloch / "Suite modal"
Maurice Ravel / "Le tombeau de Couperin"
Francois Couperin / Concert Royal No. 2 in D
Benjamin Britten / "A Ceremony of Carols," Op. 28
Philip Glass / "Akhnaten": Excerpts

Rabbit Foot Blues

Thursday, December 18, 2008

We hear a vintage performance from Blind Lemon Jefferson of the "Rabbit Foot Blues." Also, Toby Twining's crafty salute to another clever composer, in "Satie Blues," plus string works by Ronn McFarlane, Dominic Frasca, and Edgar Meyer.

Also Featured Tonight:

Ferruccio Busoni / Improvisation on a Bach Chorale
Gabriel Faure / Nocturne No. 13 in B Minor, Op. 119
Bela Bartok / Contrasts
Edward MacDowell / "Suite for Large Orchestra," Op. 42
Benjamin Britten / A Boy Was Born, Op. 3
Ludwig van Beethoven / String Quartet No. 13 in B flat Major

Brahms and Barber

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Though they were born more than 70 years apart, Johannes Brahms and Samuel Barber were both known for writing in a musical style that was considered "old-fashioned" at the time. We hear contrasting chamber works from both composers, Barber's "Horizon" and Brahms' Horn Trio in E flat. Also, contrasting vocal works in John Dowland's Elizabethan era "Come, heavy sleep," and Henryk Gorecki's beautiful choral folksong arrangement, "Grey Vistula."

Also Featured Tonight:

Alfonso X "El Sabio" / Instrumental, CSM 361
Johann Sebastian Bach / Flute Sonata in E-flat, BWV 1031
Dave Brubeck / La Fiesta de la Posada (The Feast of the Inn)
Olivier Messiaen / La Nativite du Seigneur

The Only Tune

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

In his second album, Mothertongue, composer Nico Muhly revisits the folk music of his childhood with a nightmarishly seductive twist in "The Only Tune." Also, Arvo Pärt's soulful tribute to Benjamin Britten, and progressive string quartet Ethel's spirited reading of Phil Kline's "March."

Also Featured Tonight:

Raymond Scott / "Siberian Sleighride"
William Byrd / "Blessed is he that fears the Lord"
Franz Schubert / Impromptu No. 4 in F minor
Ralph Vaughan Williams / Bass Tuba Concerto in F Minor
Carlos Chavez / Sextet for Piano and Strings
Evan Ziporyn / "The Ornate Zither and the Nomad Flute"

Return to the Ancestors

Monday, December 15, 2008

Minimalist figurehead Terry Riley compares the system of just intonation to Yoga: "just intonation has a lot to do with achieving the correct proportional balances of notes in order to create one." We hear an example in his rhapsodic yet slightly strange-sounding piano piece "Return to the Ancestors." Also, French superstar pianist Hélène Grimaud plays a more conventional sort of Rhapsody in music by Johannes Brahms, and we hear composer Samuel Barber exercise his considerable singing talent, while accompanying himself at the piano.

Also Featured Tonight:

Erik Satie / Chanson Medieval
Robert Schumann / Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor
Nikolas Medtner / "Skazki," Op. 34 (Fairy Tales)
Witold Lutoslawski / Polish Christmas Carols
Howard Hanson / Symphony No. 4, Op. 34, "Requiem"
Peteris Vasks / Lauda

Sacred Folk

Sunday, December 14, 2008

This week's Sacred Sunday features sacred music from folk traditions including shape-note singing, gospel, The Shakers, and more. We'll hear from Anonymous 4, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Washington Philips, Joseph Spence & the Pinder Family, the Bright Light Quartet, Danielson Familie, and Welcome Wagon, among others.

Ear to Ear: Taylor Ho Bynum

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Composer/brass virtuoso Taylor Ho Bynum has forged his own musical language through precision, alteration and skilled experimentation to become a singular voice on the improvisational music scene. In addition to his solo work and frequent collaboration with innovative musicians like Anthony Braxton and Cecil Taylor, Bynum leads his own Trio, Sextet, and the nine-piece ensemble SpiderMonkey Strings.

Taylor Ho Bynum's website
Taylor Ho Bynum on MySpace

Purchase Taylor Ho Bynum CDs at Amazon.com
Download Taylor Ho Bynum albums at iTunes

Article: A Fireside Chat with Taylor Ho Bynum (allaboutjazz.com)

The Skyscraper Blues

Friday, December 12, 2008

We start the show with a 1949 Broadway gem, Matt Dennis's "The Skyscraper Blues" (as re-interpreted by Tony Bennett). Also, non-movie music from film score master Franz Waxman, as well as works by Ennio Morricone, Ravel, Poulenc and others.

Also Featured Tonight:

Antonio Vivaldi / Flute Concerto, "La tempesta di mare"
Traditional Irish / "Banish Misfortune" and "Langstrom's Pony"
Francois Couperin / Piece en concert
Edwin Finckel / "Variations on 'Willow Weep for Me'"
Heitor Villa-Lobos / Harmonica Concerto in A Minor
Ludwig van Beethoven / Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23

Elliott Carter @ 100

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Born 100 years ago today, composer Elliott Carter was not only an important musical presence for most of the last century, but is still churning out new and challenging works for the present one. Overnight Music host and contemporary music performer Nadia Sirota joins Terrance McKnight for a special tribute: from the tuneful early works through the Pulitzer Prize-winning String Quartets, we trace the emergence and development of Carter's innovative compositional techniques.

Visit Carter's Centenary Website
Special Feature: see Nadia Sirota's Carter-related tattoos

Olivier Messiaen: A Centennial Celebration

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

No discussion of new music is complete without the name Olivier Messiaen. On the 100th anniversary of the birth of this composer, teacher (of Boulez, Xenakis, and Stockhausen to name a few) and ornithologist, host Terrance McKnight draws upon a collective of voices recently recorded live in the WNYC studios. We immerse ourselves in Messiaen's deep, loving theology; his lifelong fascination with birds (or what he called "God's messengers"), and his kaleidoscopic soundscapes. Guests include conductor (and Messiaen's friend) Reinbert de Leeuw, pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, and hornist/scholar William Purvis.

Baroque Jazz

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Many Jazz artists have sampled Johann Sebastian Bach, but few have done it with such imaginative vision as Uri Caine. We hear some samples of Caine's take on the Baroque master. Also, music from Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain, and Darius Milhaud's evocative "Creation du monde" ("Creation of the World"), from the Turtle Island String Quartet.

Also Featured Tonight:

Danny Seidenberg / "Bach's Lunch"
Ernesto Lecuona / Vals del sena
Donal Fox / Jazz Sets and Tone Rows
Igor Stravinsky / "L'histoire du soldat" Suite
James P. Johnson / "Harlem" Symphony

Bounce of the Sugar Plum Fairies

Monday, December 08, 2008

Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" music has been through many Jazz incarnations; we hear a lively one in Louis Singer's "Bounce of the Sugar Plum Fairies" from Don Byron. Also, dances by Leonard Bernstein and Florence Price, plus chamber music from New York composer John Musto, whose new opera "Later The Same Evening" premieres this week at the Manhattan School of Music.

Also Featured Tonight:

Gerald Finzi / "Lo, the full final Sacrifice," Op. 26
Igor Stravinsky / Concerto for Piano & Winds (1950 version)
Robert Kyr / Violin Concerto No. 2, "On the Nature of Harmony"
Howard Hanson / Symphony No. 4, Op. 34, "Requiem"
Nikolas Medtner / "Skazki," Op. 34 (Fairy Tales)

Sacred Sundays: Meredith Monk

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Composer, vocalist, and choreographer Meredith Monk has for decades explored the power of wordless singing to communicate thoughts, emotions, empathy, and humanity. Bypassing the world of words, her work inspires new modes of perception.

Ms. Monk joins host David Garland for Evening Music's "Sacred Sunday" feature, which explores the musical traditions of many religions as well as personal, non-denominational expressions of the search for the sacred through music. Meredith Monk will share her thoughts and her music, including selections from her albums "Impermanence," and "Mercy," as well as music that has moved her deeply.

http://www.meredithmonk.org/
Order Meredith Monk CDs at amazon.com
Download Meredith Monk tracks at iTunes

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Evening Music hosts David Garland and Terrance McKnight share hosting duties for this live broadcast of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra from Carnegie Hall. Headlining the program is dynamic young pianist Jonathan Biss, in Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22. We also hear works by Haydn and Ives, plus a special 100th birthday salute to composer Elliott Carter, with a performance of his iconic First Symphony.

http://www.orpheusnyc.org/

Osvaldo Golijov

Friday, December 05, 2008

With his music for artists like Dawn Upshaw, Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble, and for films like Francis Ford Coppolla's "Youth Without Youth," Osvaldo Golijov has emerged as one of the top composers of his generation. Today marks Golijov's 48th birthday, which we mark with several of his works including the "Night of the Flying Horses" Suite, "Tenebrae," "Last Round," and excerpts from his opera "Ainadamar."

Also Featured Tonight:

Johann Sebastian Bach / Double Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1060
Ralph Vaughan Williams / "Romance"
Earle Hagen / Harlem Nocturne
Charles Ives / Four Songs
Astor Piazzolla / "Verano porteno" (Summer in Buenos Aires)

Over the Waves

Thursday, December 04, 2008

As a classic Viennese tune, "Over the Waves" has often been attributed to waltzmaster Johann Strauss II. In truth, it was the work of Mexican violinist/composer Juventino Rosas — who rose from a poverty-stricken youth to become one of the best known band leaders at the end of the 19th century. We hear an acoustic chamber version for Psaltery, Double-Bass and Piano. Also, Martin Bresnick's dense musical language gets downsized a bit via his three "Intermezzi" for solo cello, and the solo piano takes a turn in the Piano Sonata of Ottorino Respighi.

Also Featured Tonight:

Franz Liszt / Romance Oubliee (Forgotten Romance)
Aaron Copland / Short Symphony (No. 2)
Joseph Dangerfield / The Waves Roll on, Thundering and Shimmering
Samuel Barber / Cello Sonata, Op. 6
York Bowen / Piano Concerto No.4 in A minor
Sebastian Currier / Quartetset (1995)

The Perilous Chapel

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Lou Harrison's 1948 ballet "The Perilous Chapel" begins innocently enough, but quickly arches into a ceremonial struggle between the forces of anarchy and the divine (tune in during our first hour to see which one wins).

We also hear Morten Lauridsen's beautiful and compelling choral work, "O magnum mysterium." And later in the evening, we offer an exclusive treat: a live recording of New York's Collegiate Chorale in Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana," recorded live at the Verbier Festival in 2007.

Also Featured Tonight

Annie Gosfield / Four Roses
Bela Bartok / An Evening in the Village
Howard Hanson / Pastorale for Oboe and Piano
Olivier Messiaen / Fete Des Belles Eaux
Ludwig van Beethoven / Horn Sonata in F
Aaron Copland / Nonet for Strings
Johannes Brahms / Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano in E Flat

A Poulenc Sampler

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) was a master at bringing the Parisian "salon" sound into the classical repertoire, creating a modern language all his own. We hear a small sampling of that language as distilled for violin and cello, from the rhythmic bombast of the "Bagatelle" to the undulating lyricism of the "Serenade." Later on we hear a string work that surveys another composer's iconic musical language, Philip Glass's Violin Concerto in D.

Also Featured Tonight

Oliver Knussen / Upon One Note: Fantasia after Purcell
Aram Khachaturian / Piano Concerto
Wilhelm Stenhammar / Nights of Late Summer
Sir Arnold Bax / Tintagel
Michel Camilo / Suite for Piano, Strings, and Harp
Magnus Lindberg / Concerto for Orchestra

Claremont Trio

Monday, December 01, 2008

As the only piano trio ever to win the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the Claremont Trio has jumped to the forefront of young dynamic ensembles on the classical music scene. We sample a track from their recent release, "American Trios." Also, Margaret Leng Tan brings her pianistic skills to John Cage's music in "Jazz Study," and we enjoy a "Bacchanale," Russian-style, from composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

Also Featured Tonight:

Patrick Beckman / Motown
Robert Schumann / Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 105
Samuel Barber / Piano Concerto
Giya Kancheli / Little Imber
Thomas Ades / Piano Quintet
Henryk Gorecki / Good Night, Op. 63