#4806, Minimalism With Winds

There's music with a minimalist or post-minimalist sense of motion, all featuring reed instruments, in music by London-based French-born producer and composer Akusmi, English composer, producer, pianist and violinist Poppy Ackroyd, and American minimalist Steve Reich.

Hear music from an opera without human voices, Dialogue, by Russian-born, American-based composer and pianist Anton Batagov, featuring motoric piano and saxophone, and the automated voice of a Russian banking system. Then, there’s music where jazz and ambient music meet minimalism by French-born London-based producer/composer Akusmi (aka Pascal Bideau) for alto saxophone, clarinet and piano with embellishments of ambience and minimal percussive elements. The work may draw a line back to the pieces in the Counterpoint series by American minimalist composer Steve Reich. Listen to some of New York Counterpoint featuring Bang on a Can reed specialist Ken Thomson, recorded for New Sounds Live in 2019.

Plus, hear minimalist music by Brighton-based composer, producer, pianist and violinist Poppy Ackroyd, with help from clarinetist Mike Lesirge. Also,  listen to work of classic minimalism from English composer Michael Nyman and the full might of the Michael Nyman Band. And more. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4806, Minimalism With Winds (First aired 10/23/2023)

ARTIST: Ken Thomson, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet (of Ensemble Signal)
WORK: Steve Reich: New York Counterpoint [1:00]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live, 10/16/19
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. 
INFO: signalensemble.org

ARTIST: Akusmi 
WORK:  Secant [6:49]
RECORDING: Lines
SOURCE: Tonal Union Records Ltd
INFO: akusmi.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Ken Thomson, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet (of Ensemble Signal)
WORK: Steve Reich: New York Counterpoint  - Finale [3:24]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live, 10/16/19
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. 
INFO: signalensemble.org

ARTIST: Anton Batagov
WORK: The System [6:20]
RECORDING: Dialog
SOURCE: Fancy Music
INFO: fancymusic.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Akusmi 
WORK: Oblique [8:39]
RECORDING: Lines
SOURCE: Tonal Union Records Ltd
INFO: akusmi.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Poppy Ackroyd 
WORK: The Calm Before [6:10]
RECORDING: Resolve
SOURCE: Denovali Records
INFO: poppy.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Michael Nyman Band
WORK: Water Dance No. 3 [5:50]
RECORDING: The Essential Michael Nyman Band
SOURCE: Argo #436 820
INFO: Available at Spotify, YouTube, AppleMusic, Amazon.com, Discogs.com

ARTIST:Wim Mertens
WORK: Struggle for Pleasure [3:00]
RECORDING: Close Cover
SOURCE: Windham Hill
INFO: wimmertens.com