Relevant Tones

Much like the novel, people are always pronouncing the symphony to be a dead form.  And yet, composers continue to write symphonies at an   incredible pace.  We’ll feature music by composers around the world who are adding to the symphonic canon. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Erkki Sven-Tüür: Symphony 3 Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Dennis Russell Davi...

Throughout history, composers who have been known for championing a particular musical style have shocked their fans by radically and suddenly changing their aesthetic.  Why does this happen, and who’s changing their style in the modern era? Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters George Rochberg: String Quartet No. 3 (excerpt) Concord String Quartet George Rochberg: Bagatelle No...

We all know the Pastoral Symphony of Beethoven,  Mendelssohn’s  Hebrides Overture inspired by Fingal’s Cave, and the  music by Vaughan Williams inspired by the English countryside.  But in  the modern era,  the urban environment is inspiring many composers to  capture its sounds in music. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters David Sampson: Chicago...

Critic Kyle Gann says “Singleton’s music is soulful, with an understated simplicity that I particularly prize. Despite the studied economy of his means and the set character of his images, the music is never cold … nor abstract. It glows with warmth.” Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Alvin Singleton: Jasper Drag (excerpt) Ted Gurch, cl.; Helen Hwaya Kim, v.; Laura Gordy, p...

Where would Gustav Mahler be without the incredible support of  Leonard Bernstein?  Bach without the support of Mendelssohn? Being championed by a famous performer or conductor is an incredible leg up to the career of many composers.  Who are the modern day composer   champions, and whose work are they promoting? Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters James N...

In recent years composers have become interested in the fact that the   performers can do things on stage other than just play their   instrument: stomp their feet, clap, play simple percussion, and even   sing.  We’ll feature a variety of pieces from composers who ask   musicians (who are not trained singers) to vocalize and supplement their  &nbs...

Stunningly versatile pianist Jenny Lin has recorded with jazz   musicians, rockers, contemporary composers and everyone in between.    Equally comfortable playing Shostakovich on the same concert as giving a   world premiere, Lin is a vital talent that is taking concert halls by  storm. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters George Gershwin: I...

This new release by the Del Sol Quartet marks the first time that all   of the string quartets by Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe have   appeared on one recording.  We’ll play several selections from this   remarkable new album. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Peter Sculthorpe: String Quartet No. 16, I (excerpt) Del Sol Quartet; Peter Ke...

One of the key pioneers in the incredibly influential minimalist   movement, Terry Riley is a restless artist who has constantly sought to   reinvent himself over his long career.  We’ll start with the landmark   piece In C and work our way through the numerous highlights of his musical output. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Terry Riley: Emi...

Legendary Brazilian guitar duo Sérgio and Odair Assad have been   performing and recording together for 50 years, reinventing guitar   technique along the way.  We’ll talk with Sérgio about their remarkable   career and feature music by a wide variety of composers who have  written  for them. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Altamir...

From Stravinsky’s famous In Memoriam: Dylan Thomas to Hindemith’s Trauermusik ,   composers have long written their most personal and moving music as a   tribute to a friend or great figure they admired.  We’ll remember   several great personalities with musical tributes by modern day   composers. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Wil...

Access Contemporary Music has begun an innovative collaboration with Warsaw composer Agnieszka Stulgińska   in which a piece of music is publicly performed in installments as  work  on it progresses. We’ll hear Agnieszka’s thought process, play each  installment, and  sit alongside the composer as she hears the world  premiere of the  completed work. Hosted...

Relevant Tones partners with the Santa Fe Opera to feature a sneak preview of Jennifer Higdon’s soon-to-be-premiered first opera, Cold Mountain , based on Charles Frazier’s best-selling novel. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Jennifer Higdon : String Poetic, III (excerpt) Jennifer Koh, v.; Reiko Uchida, p. Jennifer Higdon : Cold Mountain (excerpts) “The Metal Age has Come” “Lis...

Relevant Tones has been carrying on a correspondence with  several  musicians in this war-torn region, where making music has  recently been  a challenge.  We’ll share their stories and feature  chamber and  orchestral works by composers determined to carry on. Julia Gomelskaya: Planet “The Life” for String Orchestra and Piano (excerpt) Kiev Camerata/Valeriy Mati...

Gabriela Ortíz : Denibee, Para Flauta, Percusión Y Contrabajo- Siempre Ritmico (excerpt) Onix Ensemble Gabriela Ortíz : Concierto Candela, I (Marimba Candela) UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra/Zollman; Gallardo, perc. Mario Lavista : String Quartet No. 6, Suite in cinco partes I. Danza II. Motete III. Canon Cuarteto Latinamericano Toccata 106 (Purchase) Javier Álvarez : Metal de Corazones TM+ Ensemble O...

It gives technicians fits, but composers and performers are always   experimenting with new “wrong” ways to play their instrument. From  Bartok pizz to prepared piano, multiphonics to slap tongue,  many of  these techniques have made it into the standard repertoire.   What new  extended techniques are being pioneered today? Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced b...

One of the leading composers of our time and an ardent promoter of   new music throughout the world, Augusta Read Thomas is an artistic force   to be reckoned with. Championed by Pierre Boulez in her early years  and later named  composer-in-residence with the Chicago Symphony  Orchestra, Thomas rose  early to the top of her profession and has  remained...

Literally “light-dark,” chiaroscuro in art is the creation of depth   through the play of light and shadow.  This artistic technique has   inspired legions of composers to try and create the same contrasts in   music through timbral shadings and instrumental colors. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Jacob Druckman: Chiaroscuro (excerpt) Juillia...

Acclaimed micro-tonal composer Ben Johnston is justifiably famous for   his rigorous work ethic, attention to detail and for constructing a   sound world entirely his own. One of the few composers using just intonation who is also interested  in writing rhythmic music, Johnston is  a true original and we’re happy  to shine the spotlight on this modern  maste...

Ever since Ezra Pound’s famous advice to young artists, “make it   new!” there has been a relentless interest in breaking new ground in art   and music. But what about composers who are genuinely inspired by  older  forms like fugues, rondos, capriccios, even rags? We’ll feature music  by these “composers out of time” this week on Relevant Tones. Hosted by Seth B...

Pierre Boulez: Notations I – IV Pierre-Laurent Aimard, p. Esa-Pekka Salonen : Concerto for Violin, I Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Salonen; Leila Josefowicz, v. Anna Thorvaldsdottir : Hrím Caput Ensemble/Snorri Sigfus Birgisson Anna Clyne : Fits + Starts Ben Capps, vc.; Anna Clyne, 2nd cello Shulamit Ran : Mirage (excerpt) The Da Capo Chamber Players: Patricia Spencer, fl.; Laura Flax, cl....

We’re thrilled to receive hundreds of CDs a year from around the   country as well as from far-flung corners of the globe. We listen to   everything we receive and then feature an eclectic mix of music we think   our listeners should hear from established labels to self-producing   artists making their very first recording. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced b...

Composer Robert Kritz spent many years working in the corporate world   by day and busily composing music into the wee hours of the night. A   decision several years ago to show some of his pieces to professional   composers was the occasion of great excitement and led to a flurry of   public performances and commissions. We’ll talk with Kritz about his &nbs...

As astrophysicists like Neil deGrasse Tyson learn more about the   cosmos and present their often strange and wondrous findings to the   public, the creative mind can’t help but be captivated and inspired, and  composers are certainly no exception. From super strings to quarks,  multiple dimensions to M theory, we’ll  play several imaginative works by  compo...

When harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg asked Bach to write   pieces for him to play to help a Saxon count get to sleep at night he   could hardly have realized that he was playing a key role in creating   music that would inspire audiences and musicians for centuries. Not only are the Goldberg Variations among the most frequently  performed works  toda...