Category Archives: Modern Composition
Curve Ensemble ~ Towards the Light
Take a moment to consider the phrase, Towards the Light. Curve Ensemble‘s artistic director allowed each composer, some from within the ensemble and others without, to interpret the phrase in their own way. This resulted in seven remarkable pieces that work
Curve Ensemble ~ Towards the Light
Take a moment to consider the phrase, Towards the Light. Curve Ensemble‘s artistic director allowed each composer, some from within the ensemble and others without, to interpret the phrase in their own way. This resulted in seven remarkable pieces that work
Various Artists ~ Shorts
London’s Bigo & Twigetti label kicks off spring with two releases that each combine the talents of multiple composers. Shorts is an appetizer, nine tracks in mine minutes, while Towards the Light is the main course. We’ll be covering one today and the
Various Artists ~ Shorts
London’s Bigo & Twigetti label kicks off spring with two releases that each combine the talents of multiple composers. Shorts is an appetizer, nine tracks in mine minutes, while Towards the Light is the main course. We’ll be covering one today and the
ACL 2025 ~ Spring Music Preview: Modern Composition
Whether celebrating the new season or extending a feeling of peace, composing works about the color blue or new parenthood, or addressing our current societal crisis, these composers create a feeling that maybe everything will turn out all right. Connected
ACL 2025 ~ Spring Music Preview: Modern Composition
Whether celebrating the new season or extending a feeling of peace, composing works about the color blue or new parenthood, or addressing our current societal crisis, these composers create a feeling that maybe everything will turn out all right. Connected
Macie Stewart ~ When the Distance Is Blue
“The world is blue at its edges and in its depths,” writes Rebecca Solnit in the first of four elaborate, interconnected essays, each titled “The Distance of Blue,” collected in A Field Guide to Getting Lost. She writes of the
Macie Stewart ~ When the Distance Is Blue
“The world is blue at its edges and in its depths,” writes Rebecca Solnit in the first of four elaborate, interconnected essays, each titled “The Distance of Blue,” collected in A Field Guide to Getting Lost. She writes of the
Halvcirkel & Anders Lauge Meldgaard ~ Spirit
Spirit reunites Copenhagen composer Anders Lauge Meldgaard with string trio Halvcirkel, following the År & Dag collaboration Fragment 94. But something’s a little different this time; violinist Pernille Kristiansen is on parental leave (congratulations!) and Meldgaard is stepping up on New Ondomo, billed
Halvcirkel & Anders Lauge Meldgaard ~ Spirit
Spirit reunites Copenhagen composer Anders Lauge Meldgaard with string trio Halvcirkel, following the År & Dag collaboration Fragment 94. But something’s a little different this time; violinist Pernille Kristiansen is on parental leave (congratulations!) and Meldgaard is stepping up on New Ondomo, billed
Gellért Szabó’s Ideal Orchestra ~ Live at Berghain
Words to describe Live at Berghain: pummeling, overwhelming, emotional. And yet also: tender, restrained, thoughtful. The cover image suggests desolation and loss, the track titles religion, war, heroism. How can a set be all these things at once? The one-hour concert from
Gellért Szabó’s Ideal Orchestra ~ Live at Berghain
Words to describe Live at Berghain: pummeling, overwhelming, emotional. And yet also: tender, restrained, thoughtful. The cover image suggests desolation and loss, the track titles religion, war, heroism. How can a set be all these things at once? The one-hour concert from
Kronos Quartet & Mary Kouyoumdjian ~ WITNESS
We last encountered Mary Kouyoumdjian with 2 Suitcases, which told the story of a couple fleeing the Lebanese Civil War. The subject is greatly expanded on WITNESS, which pairs the composer with Kronos Quartet. We consider this a major work: startlingly relevant, meticulously researched
Kronos Quartet & Mary Kouyoumdjian ~ WITNESS
We last encountered Mary Kouyoumdjian with 2 Suitcases, which told the story of a couple fleeing the Lebanese Civil War. The subject is greatly expanded on WITNESS, which pairs the composer with Kronos Quartet. We consider this a major work: startlingly relevant, meticulously researched
Lara Somogyi + Jean-Michel Blais ~ Désert
Désert was born in Joshua Tree, California as a series of improvisations between harpist Lara Somogyi and pianist-composer Jean-Michel Blais. Personifying the cover photo, the album reminds listeners that there is life in the desert, springing from the hardscrabble ground.
Lara Somogyi + Jean-Michel Blais ~ Désert
Désert was born in Joshua Tree, California as a series of improvisations between harpist Lara Somogyi and pianist-composer Jean-Michel Blais. Personifying the cover photo, the album reminds listeners that there is life in the desert, springing from the hardscrabble ground.
a closer listen 