Out today on Nonesuch is John Adams’s Scheherazade.2, a concerto for violin and orchestra of symphonic proportions. Composed for soloist Leila Josefowicz and the St. Louis Symphony, conducted by David Robertson, it also features Chester Englander as a “shadow soloist” playing cimbalom. The program is, deliberately one suspects, somewhat veiled, but uncannily timed. ItContinue reading “Scheherazade.2”
Monthly Archives: September 2016
Signal plays Steve Reich at Miller
Steve Reich. Photo: Jeffrey Herman Opening Night at Miller Theater On September 15, Ensemble Signal, conducted by Brad Lubman, presented an all-Steve Reich program to open the season at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre. There was a sold out crowd, populated both by contemporary music devotees and over 200 Columbia students. Reich turns eightyContinue reading “Signal plays Steve Reich at Miller”
Interview with Kepler Quartet
One of the noteworthy recordings released in 2016 is the Kepler Quartet’s third volume of string quartets by Ben Johnston (New World Records). Johnston, who turned ninety this year, is well known for his work in unconventional tuning systems, namely extended just intonation. The complexity of some of his works in this system, notably theContinue reading “Interview with Kepler Quartet”
Melodica Men play Rite of Spring
My alma mater has shared some astounding premieres, but Rite of Spring for melodicas takes the cake.
Cass McCombs – “Opposite House”
Cass McCombs combines forces with Angel Olsen on “Opposite House,” a track from Mangy Love, his latest LP on Anti. Encompassing melodious, soft-rock inflected ballads and profane alt-folk that is gut wrenching in its impact, Mangy Love is his widest ranging release to date, and is effective throughout its many stylistic twists and turns. Olsen,Continue reading “Cass McCombs – “Opposite House””
Radiohead: “Present Tense” (Video)
The third video of a song from Radiohead’s latest LP, A Moon Shaped Pool (XL), is “Present Tense,” on which, accompanied by a drum machine, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood play an intimate guitar duet. The video was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, an auteur perhaps best known for the acclaimed film There Will Be Blood, to which Greenwood contributed music.
Clipping: “A Better Place” (live)
Daveed Diggs has a compelling post-Hamilton project. Check out the video for “A Better Place” below (and don’t forget to notice the HUGE modular synth rack!). Sub Pop artists Clipping have recently released a debut album for the imprint.
New Single from Helado Negro
Helado Negro has a new album, Private Energy, coming out October 7th (my birthday!). Below is an embed of the lead single.
Arvo Pärt – Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten
On this solemn day, which is also Arvo Pärt’s 81st birthday, it seemed fitting to share one of his most eloquent pieces of lament.
Interview with Robert Morris
On September 15-18 at Spectrum, Collide-O-Scope Music begins its eighth season with a Festival celebrating the music of Robert Morris. A wide range of works will be featured, for electronics, piano, small chamber ensemble, and string quartet. In addition to Collide-O-Scope personnel, there will be guest performers, notably JACK Quartet. I recently interviewed Morris aboutContinue reading “Interview with Robert Morris”
