TRILLOQUY

Movement One: ·      Black Administrators of Opera Release Letter in Support of Afton Battle: https://operawire.com/black-administrators-of-opera-release-letter-in-support-of-afton-battle/ ·      Young musicians keep showing up on concert stages. It’s not clear they’re ready: https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/young-musicians-keep-showing-up-on-concert-stages-its-not-clear-theyre-ready?fbclid=...

Playlist   ·      Paul Williams – “Ain’t No Hole in the Washtub” ·      perf. Scatman Crothers and Redd Foxx – “All of Me”  ·      Sean O’Louighlin – “Imani”  ·      Paul Moravec – “The Shining”  ·      perf. Babatunde Akinboboye – Nigerian National Anthem  ·      Mongo Santamaria – “Afro Blue” ·      Counting Crows – “Long December”  ·      Vijay Iyer – “Optimism”  ·      Vijay Iyer – “Human Arch...

Playlist:  "We Are Santa's Elves" (from 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer') perf. Kathleen Kim - "Mein Herr Marquis (from 'Die Fladermaus' by Johann Strauss)  The Misfits - "I Like Your Style"  perf. Leslie Odom Jr. feat. Mzansi Youth Choir - "Little Drummer Boy" perf. Black Violin - "Carol of the Bells"  Mariah Carey - "When Christmas Comes"  Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal"   perf. Takesha Mesh...

Soprano Maria Clark and pianist Maria Thompson Corley navigate intense emotion, scars of suffering, and religious passion through hymns, spirituals, and gospel tunes on their latest album, "Soul Sanctuary". They both join Garrett (1:09:00) to discuss the album, the importance of the spiritual, and the cultural narratives that are drawn from this form of Black classical music. Garrett and Scott kic...

Experiments in Opera is focused on re-writing the story of opera, with one of their latest projects fusing contemporary subject matter and musical aesthetics with opera serialized for TV! The organization's Executive Director, Aaron Siegel, joins Garrett (1:07:00) to talk about the TV opera, ideas on dismantling the status quo of opera, and insights on how to cultivate younger audiences. Garrett a...

Garrett and Scott kick things off with a welcome to the holiday season and move into the New York Times' take on Sphinx, and the latest from "I Care If You Listen". The guys share music by Dear Silas, Blanco Brown, and more. Multi-time Grammy-nominated artist Curtis Stewart returns to TRILLOQUY to discuss his upcoming performance of Julia Perry's violin concerto, his approach to playing and unders...

For the past several years, the South Dakota Symphony has engaged local Indigenous communities through dialogue, music making, and recently, with a new recording! The ensemble's Music Director, Delta David Gier, and resident artist, Bryan Akipa join Garrett and talk about racial relations in South Dakota, the formation of the Lakota Music Project, and what the impact has been for white and Indigen...

This week Garrett and Scott highlight the power of inter-disciplinary blending and collaboration and the benefits therein with the help of an HBCU band inspired article by Katie Brown and a profile on cellist and "clown" Karen Hall. The guys highlight compositions by James Lee III, Shawn Okpebholo, Ludwig Göransson, and many others. Composer Elijah Daniel Smith returns to the third movement to tal...

Elijah Daniel Smith is a composer whose star is rising, with performances and commissions from orchestras across the country. He joins Garrett (57:00) to talk about the rock band origins of his musical trajectory, the vital nature of artist service organizations, and his reactions to being critiqued in a previous opus of TRILLOQUY. Scott honors Orchestra Noir's recent performance with Rick Ross an...

Rocky, Lee, and Paige, hosts of "The Score" from Minnesota Opera return for part 2 of their conversation with Garrett in the third movement (58:00). Garrett and Scott honor Dia de los Muertos with Mexican music of different shades, engage conversation about the affordability of opera, and consider the nuance behind teaching music students who will likely never "make it" in the field. TRILLOQUY is...

Minnesota Opera's Rocky, Lee, and Paige have been innovating the classical field with their hit podcast, "The Score". They join Garrett (56:30) to talk about the musical inspirations of the podcast, the issues they're working to engage within the opera field, and the nuances of leaving those who don't want to change behind. Scott offers music by Matisyahu, Garrett highlights a string quartet by Mi...

Garrett and Scott offer a pre-recorded opus this week that features conversations about social media's role in "classical" audience development, organ music by Black composers, and the alleged connection between AirBnB and midwest orchestras. Violinist Asher Laub is featured in the third movement to unpack his unique journey and career creating covers as an electro-violinist, and the guys spend th...

Shelley Washington lives at the intersections of many "boths" and has written a piece that explores it. She joins Garrett (1:02:00) to discuss the duality of her existence, mental health, and what it's like being a composer at these intersections. Scott celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day with "Navajo Piano", Garrett shares some African drumming, and the guys discuss the week in news. Support for T...

Brian Raphael Nabors is described as a composer of emotionally enriching music that tells exciting narratives with its vibrant themes and colorful harmonic language. He joins Garrett (1:04:00) to talk about his southern upbringing, his upcoming premieres, and his perspective on a slowly evolving "classical" music ecosystem. Scott honors Kate Bush and celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with music b...

Following a critically acclaimed debut, the second iteration of the album "White Power Outage" includes everything from classically-stylized Latin music to hip hop to spoken word. Nick Cooper, Karega Ani, and Michele Thibeaux are among the collaborators on the album, and they join Garrett (1:13:00) to unpack some of the music featured on the album as well as the sentiments and stories that inspire...

The debate over opera's use of skin-darkening makeup has triggered many conversations, and even more opinions. Opera superstar Limmie Pulliam returns to share his idea on this issue and to highlight the growing need for unity among musicians of color. Scott shares music inspired by his recent trip home to Omaha, NE, Garrett introduces the idea of racism in computer music to TRILLOQUY, and the guys...

After leaving the performance industry for many years, Limmie Pulliam has returned and is considered, among many, an up-and-coming superstar. With upcoming performances at the Metropolitan Opera, he's notable at the very least. Limmie joins Garrett (1:00:00) to offer insights into his start with music, his departure, and the unlikely situation that brought him back. Scott offers new by Björk and s...

Karen Slack is not only one of the nation's most celebrated sopranos, but a leading voice in changing-making spaces in classical music, as well as the host of one of the industry's most popular digital talk shows: #KikiKonvos. She joins Garrett (59:00) to offer her ideas and opinions on arts activism, what it takes to traverse a predominantly white industry as a person of color, and fostering unit...

Decolonizing ideas and structures require an engagement of educational systems, and Decolonizing the Music Room is uniquely poised to do that work. The organization's Founder and Executive Director, Brandi Waller-Pace, joins Garrett (1:01:00) to unpack the idea of decolonization, the process of building the organization, and her ideas on unity and reparations. Scott celebrates Chastity Brown while...

The Waves Cafe is a new kind of venue: a pop-up cafe where the menu features live poetry and new music. Described as small, fresh, ephemeral, and unpredictable, you never know what you’re going to hear through this refreshed approach to live music. The Waves Cafe's founder, Maura Bosch, joins Garrett (1:05:00) to talk about what inspired The Waves Cafe, the importance of this unique space in today...

After meeting at a Buddhist-inspired creator convening, New York-based artists HUNT DAWG and YOUAGOODKID have joined forces to disrupt violence and hate with an album called RADICAL HAUS. They join Garrett (1:01:00) to talk about their musical inspirations, Buddhism's impact on their radical approach, and what they think about "classical" music. Scott shares music by Danger Mouse & Black Thoug...

Many don't know that the United States military offers training for composers, but Greg LeGette is a living example. He joins Garrett 1:01:00 to talk about life in the military, traversing the industry as a living, white male composer, and his ideas on American classical music. Garrett celebrates music from Rick and Morty and recounts his weekend at a Buddhist commune, Scott reports on classical m...

There are many contemporary choral arts institutions that prioritize the "traditional" repertoire - the Southern California-based Choral Arts Initiative is not one of them. Artistic Director Brandon Elliott joins Garrett (55:00) to talk about their new album, the power of entrepreneurship, and his unique view of diversity. Scott and Garrett share their favorites from Beyoncé's latest album, discus...

Pulitzer Prize-winner Jennifer Higdon is one of America's busiest composers, and her catalogue is even more vast than many people realize. She joins Garrett (49:00) to talk about the Pulitzer win, her late brother, and the influence of East Tennessee on her musical identity. Scott unpacks "The Price of Luck" and highlights a one-man band; Garrett celebrates Tower of Power and offers a critical loo...

Inspired by the viscerally provocative poem, "Here, Bullet" by Brian Turner, the art song of the same name by composer Kurt Erickson is, among many things, a plea for western classical arts spaces to directly address gun violence. This composition inspired multi-disciplinary artist Will Chase to write a screenplay, which will be the foundation for an upcoming short film. Both Kurt and Will join Ga...