Relevant Tones

Conductor Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra have  created a thriving community of composers who have come to be known as  “The Atlanta School”. They include Jennifer Higdon, Christopher  Theofanidis, Osvaldo Golijov, and Michael Gandolfi, and this week we’ll  listen to their music. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Michael Gandolfi: The Garden o...

Today we leave the world of equal-temperament behind and explore  various contemporary pieces written for instruments in just intonation. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Terry Riley: The Harp of New Albion – Premonition Rag (excerpt), Terry Riley, p. Michael Harrison: Just Ancient Loops , II, Maya Beiser, vc. Terry Riley: The Harp of New Albion – Cadence on the Wind (exce...

Seth previews some of the fantastic upcoming performances from  Chicago new music groups, including CUBE, Access Contemporary Music, Dal  Niente, and more. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Chinary Ung: Laughter Passes Over the Earth & Flying Mirrors fr. Seven Mirrors – Ensemble Dal Niente Sebastian Currier: Ethereal & Charged from Static Access Contempora...

In anticipation of John Cage’s 100th Birthday, Relevant Tones  examines his life and music. Two members of Chicago-based ensemble Third  Coast Percussion, Robert Dillon and David Skidmore, join us in the  studio to share anecdotes about their experiences playing Cage’s works. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters

CSO composer-in-residence Anna Clyne comes to our studio to talk to  us about her new compositions and the artists who inspired them. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters

This week’s Relevant Tones focuses on composers who have tried to  step outside the box, redefine their definitions of music, and start  over without limitations. We’ll be examining the works of Alvin Lucier,  Chris Preissing, James Tenney, Lou Harrison, and more. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Alvin Lucier: I am sitting in a room  (excerpt) James Tenney:...

Join us this week for the third part of our foray into the Bang on a  Can Marathons. We’ll be focusing on Michael Gordon and Julia Wolfe, two  of the co-founders of the Bang on a Can organization. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Gordon: Timber , Mvt. 1 (excerpt), Slagwerk Den Haag Gordon: For Madeline , Bang on a Can All-Stars Wolfe: Lad , Part I From...

Seth brings back his findings and experiences from the Bang on a Can  Marathon in New York City. The Bang on a Can Marathon is a yearly  celebration of new musical styles and ideas, designed to bring diverse  performances to a wide public audience. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Louis Andriessen: De Staat  (excerpt), Bang on a Can All-Stars Milto...

This week on Relevant Tones, we’ll delve into the music of Gerard  Grisey and Tristan Murail, two composers who base their compositions on  mathematic spectral analyses of the overtone series. Grisey and Murail’s  compositions originated the style of Spectral Music. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Gerard Grisey: Partiels  (excerpt), WDR Sinfonieorchest...

This week, we’ll be broadcasting a live performance of the Lincoln  Trio, a Chicago-based ensemble featuring Desirée Ruhstrat on violin,  David Cunliffe on cello, and Marta Aznavoorian on piano. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Stacy Garrop: Silver Dagger Lera Auerbach: Trio, for violin, cello, and piano ; Prelude Laura Elise Schwendinger: C’e La Lune Questa Sera...

In his Notations, Pierre Boulez composed twelve short piano  miniatures that contain a cosmos of sound and potentiality. After  decades at the helm of the avant-garde, Boulez has set to work unlocking  those inner possibilities through thoughtful orchestration and  elaboration. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Olivier Messaien: Vingt regards sur l’enfant Jés...

During this week’s Relevant Tones, Seth Boustead continues to share  more music and interviews from the Bang on a Can Marathon 2012. Part II features composers Evan Ziporyn and David Lang, two galvanizing forces in the Bang on a Can Marathons. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Evan Ziporyn: Tire Fire, Mvts. 1, 4, 5, Gamelan Galak Tika Evan Ziporyn: Music from Shad...

Starting in 2004 Access Contemporary Music has read and recorded a  piece of music by a living composer every week and posted it to their  website.  We sample just a few of the highlights from the past eight  years of this remarkable program. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Malcolm Dedman: Dispelling the Darkness, Chie Yoshinaka, violin Bryan Page: Kick the...

This week, we’ll listen to how composers are using samples and remixes of recordings to generate an entirely new sound palette. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Luciano Berio: Sinfonia for Eight Voices and Orchestra – excerpt Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ChaillyLuciano Berio John Matthias/Nick Ryan: Cortical Songs John Matthias and Nick Ryan Thom Yorke: Neuron Trigger RemixTho...

Based on the Bhagavad Gita, a Sanskrit text that delves into the  discussion between the divine Krishna and earthbound Arjuna, Douglas  Cuomo’s Arjuna’s Dilemma draws from both Indian and western musical  traditions to create a compelling musical drama. Cuomo joins Seth in the  studio to talk about his composition. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Scene 1, T...

Seth talks with the founders of the Chicago Composers Orchestra about  their work and mission and upcoming U.S. premiere of Chen Yi’s viola  concerto.  All pieces conducted by Matthew Kaspar. Brian Baxter: Roots Run Deep Randall West: Elements for Orchestra Chen Yi: Xian Shi (Concerto for Viola and Orchestra), Michael Hall, viola

Gabriela Lena Frank talks with Seth about her travels, music,  professional life and the contemporary classical music field.  Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Toyos and Tarqueada from Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout , Chiara String Quartet Jungle Jaunt from Latin American Dances , Utah Symphony Orchestra/Keith Lockhart Harawi Para Colquipocro fr. Ritmos Anchinos , Silk...

This week we dive into our mailbag to listen to some recent new music releases sent to Relevant Tones. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Sunbin Kim: Whirlwind , Palisades Virtuosi James MacMillan: Seraph , I BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Jason Wright Wingate: Symphony No. 2 Movement of the Vaulted Chambers The Twittering Machine Hermitage Orchestra de l’invisible/Win...

The electric guitar and classical music may seem like strange  bedfellows, but almost as soon as the instrument was invented, composers  devised ways to take advantage of its sonic possibilities. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Bob Dylan: Maggie’s Farm Charlie Christian: Solo Flight  (excerpt) Leonard Bernstein: Simple Song from Mass Donald Erb: Trio f...

Dutch composer Jacob TV joins us in the studio to talk about the upcoming premiere of his ambitious multi media opera The News. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Playlist    ◦   Trailer to “The News” (1:40)    ◦   Lipstick (9:38)    ◦   Grab It! (1:39)    ◦   Garden of Love (7:17)...

London-based DJ, composer and entrepreneur Gabriel Prokofiev talks  with Seth about composing and performing for a 21st century audience,  family legacies, and the use of sampling in classical music. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Concerto for Turntable and Orchestra (excerpts)  — Heritage Orchestra/Jules Buckley; DJ Yoda, turntable Piano Book No. 1 (excep...

Fresh off their 2012 Grammy win, the Chicago ensemble eighth  blackbird stops by to discuss their latest album, recent premieres and  performances across the globe. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Jennifer Higdon: Zaka Thomas Albert: Thirteen Ways  (excerpt) Frederic Rzewski: Les Moutons De Panurge Steve Reich: Double Sextet  (excerpt) Jennifer Hi...

One of Poland’s most significant 20th century composers, Henryk  Górecki led a quiet revolution against the Soviet authorities through  his inimitable style of mystical minimalism. We’ll dedicate an hour to  his music and life. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Symphony No. 3 (excerpts)— London Sinfonietta, David Zinman, Conductor, Dawn Upshaw, Piano Pre...

Our series on the Mystic Minimalists continues with John Tavener,  whose encounters with Eastern thought changed him into one of the most  spiritually-connected composers to ever write music. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters The Protecting Veil  (excerpt), LSO/Rozhdestvensky; Isserlis, vc. The Whale , I, London Sinfonietta/Tavener Little Requiem for Father Malach...

The first in a three-part series looking at composers whose simple  but remarkable music transports many listeners to a deeply spiritual place. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Pärt: Miserere  (excerpts), Hilliard Ensemble/Hillier Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Piano , Op. 23, V Gould, p. Pärt: Sonatina , Op. 1 No. 2 (excerpt), Stephen de Pledge, p. Pärt: Perpe...