Derek Stein (Vitamin String Quartet, gnarwhallaby, wild Up) is a cellist with the ability to extract exciting, unusual sounds from his instrument. On this episode, he demonstrates his favorite sounds, reveals which audition he bombed, and joins us for a discussion on whether cell phones belong at concerts.
Playlist Here is a Spotify playlist to pair with Underscore Episode B3! Co-hosts Chrysanthe and Thomas collaborated with our guest Derek Stein to curate an hour of tracks featuring ice-skating music, electronica, spoken word, microtones, and strange cello sounds.
Guest Derek Stein is a cellist with the ability to extract exciting, unusual sounds from his instrument. He is a member of the Vitamin String Quartet and several contemporary classical groups, including gnarwhallaby and wild Up.
Find Derek Stein online: * Website * Instagram * Twitter * Soundcloud
Lightning Round Questions * What genre is your music?
Bizarre, confusing, mind-opening * Performance ritual?
Wild Up ensemble gets in a circle, puts their hands together, and does a chant before each show. * A modern/technological tool that’s extremely helpful to your practice?
iPad Pro * What failure that turned out for the best?
Bombed his Eastman School of Music audition (so did Thomas)! * Something besides music that you’re obsessed with right now?
The new Marvel comic book movies; he enjoyed every moment of Black Panther. * A piece of art that changed your life?
Penderecki Capriccio for Ziegfried Palm
Counterpoint Topic Do cell phones belong at concerts?
Something Old Quarter-Tone Pieces by Ivan Wyschnegradsky (iTunes / Spotify)
Something New Vicky Chow’s recording of "Sonatra" by Michael Gordon (Bandcamp / Soundcloud)
Something Borrowed We’re New Here by Gil-Scott Heron and Jamie xx (iTunes / Spotify)
Something Blue Chrysanthe hasn’t been connecting with most musical selections in Olympic figure skating. On the bright side, Kaori Sakamoto’s free skate to Yann Tiersen's Amélie selections was stellar.
Credits * Hosts: Thomas Kotcheff and Chrysanthe Tan * Guest: Derek Stein * Script: Chrysanthe Tan * Recording engineer/editor: Mark Hatwan * Produced by USC Radio Group * Podcast theme: “Playground Day” by Chrysanthe Tan (iTunes / Spotify) * Old New Borrowed Blue transition: "Part and Parcel" by Thomas Kotcheff (Soundcloud)
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