The Crossover Media Podcast: Recent Episodes
Crossover Media
Crossover Media Inc., is one of today's premier Music Promotion & Marketing companies and one of the very few that works to a variety of music genres that includes: Classical, Jazz, Roots Music, World, and Standards & Soundtracks. Working with the best names in music as well as developing artists, clients include: Sony, Universal, Warner Music, Concord, ECM, Disney & One.
On our podcasts we explore our artists and their latest projects. Please visit crossovermedia.net for more info.
As they begin their 30th Season, the GRAMMY® Award-winning choral ensemble from Austin, Texas, Conspirare, present an emotionally rich and wide-ranging program in their Delos recording: ‘House of Belonging.’ Known worldwide for expanding the boundaries of choral performance, Conspirare has teamed up with the superb Miró Quartet to present a tapestry of intriguing new works by dynamic American composers…. Kevin Puts, Derrick Skye, Alex Berko, Moira Smiley, Ross Lee Finney, Shara Nova, Michael Schachter and Margaret Bonds. The album’s thoughtful texts explore themes about spirituality, philosophy, the natural world, and the human need for deep connection with verses by Ewen Tait, John Muir, William Stafford, Wendell Berry, Rabindranath Tagore, David Whyte, Langston Hughes, Ludwig van Beethoven, Hildegard of Bingen, Kobayashi Issa, Rūta Kuzmickas, Andrew Marvell, and Kiara Skye. Conspirare founder and leader, Craig Hella Johnson who curated and conducted the music on House of Belonging, also commissioned many of the pieces, as well as composing the album’s opening track. We’re delighted to have Craig with us to discuss the project. Listen to the segmentConspirare - House of Belonging is a dynamic and timely collection of American music for voices and with instruments. Curated and conducted by Craig Hella Johnson, the album showcases the unique combination of choral virtuosity and extraordinarily beautiful human expression in works by composers and poets diverse in age, geography, and ethnicity who speak to our internal and external sense of home and belonging. Each composer, in their unique voice, offers a reflection point for listeners.Conspirare’s nationwide roster of vocal artists Simon Barrad, Meg Dudley, Haitham Haidar, Chelsea Helm, Michael Jones, Lauren McAllister, Savannah Porter, Kathlene Ritch, and David Kurtenbach Rivera are featured as soloists on the album. Produced by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
As they begin their 30th Season, the GRAMMY® Award-winning choral ensemble from Austin, Texas, Conspirare, presents an emotionally rich and wide-ranging program in their new Delos recording: ‘House of Belonging.’ Known worldwide for expanding the boundaries of choral performance, Conspirare has teamed up with the superb Miró Quartet to present a tapestry of intriguing new works by dynamic American composers including: Kevin Puts, Derrick Skye, Alex Berko, Moira Smiley, Ross Lee Finney, Share-a Nova, Michael Schachter and Margaret Bonds. Conspirare founder and leader, Craig Hella Johnson, commissioned many of the pieces on House of Belonging and composed the opening track himself. The album’s thoughtful texts explore themes about spirituality, philosophy, the natural world, and the human need for deep connection with others with verses by Ewen Tait, John Muir, William Stafford, Wendell Berry, Rabindranath Tagore, David Whyte, Langston Hughes, Ludwig van Beethoven and Hildegard of Bingen.Shara Nova, aka ‘My Brightest Diamond,’ has brought her unique perspective to this project with contributions on a setting of David Whyte’s poem which shares the album’s title, as well as a new arrangement for choir…..her emotionally charged lullaby: “I Have Never Loved Someone.” Shara Nova is here with us to discuss the album as well as give us her unique musical perspective. Listen to the segmentConspirare - House of Belonging is a dynamic and timely collection of American music for voices and with instruments. Curated and conducted by Craig Hella Johnson, the album showcases the unique combination of choral virtuosity and extraordinarily beautiful human expression in works by composers and poets diverse in age, geography, and ethnicity who speak to our internal and external sense of home and belonging. Each composer, in their unique voice, offers a reflection point for listeners.Conspirare’s nationwide roster of vocal artists Simon Barrad, Meg Dudley, Haitham Haidar, Chelsea Helm, Michael Jones, Lauren McAllister, Savannah Porter, Kathlene Ritch, and David Kurtenbach Rivera are featured as soloists on the album.Produced by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Whether it’s prison reform, the plight of refugees, music education for all, or the industry-defining ‘In War and Peace,’ opera superstar Joyce DiDonato transcends the physical confines of the concert hall. DiDonato has long been an artist who has dedicated herself to creating and initiating projects that challenge and galvanise the public.Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.Her latest initiative; EDEN, is one that she will dedicate much of her time over the next four years to. Uniting music, drama, education and organizational partnerships to confront questions about our individual connection to Nature, the EDEN project includes an astonishing new recording released on Er-ato – Warner Classics, and a 2 year, 45 venue stage production tour across five continents. EDEN’s long-term impact and legacy will be far reaching to say the least and Joyce DiDonato is here with us to discuss all of it with us. Listen to this audio piece.
As they begin their 30th Season, the GRAMMY® Award-winning choral ensemble from Austin, Texas, Conspirare, presents an emotionally rich and wide-ranging program in their new Delos recording: ‘House of Belonging.’ Known worldwide for expanding the boundaries of choral performance, Conspirare has teamed up with the superb Miró Quartet to present a tapestry of intriguing new works by dynamic American composers: Kevin Puts, Derrick Skye, Alex Berko, Moira Smiley, Ross Lee Finney, Share-a Nova, Michael Schachter and Margaret Bonds. Conspirare founder and leader, Craig Hella Johnson, commissioned many of the pieces on House of Belonging and composed the opening track himself. The album’s thoughtful texts explore themes about spirituality, philosophy, the natural world, and the human need for deep connection with verses by Ewen Tait, John Muir, William Stafford, Wendell Berry, Ru-bin-druh-nath Tu-gore, David Whyte, Langston Hughes, Ludwig van Beethoven and Hildegard of Bingen. The Miró Quartet is one of America’s most celebrated and dedicated string quartets. Described by ‘The New Yorker’ magazine as “furiously committed” and the ‘Cleveland Plain Dealer’ as having an “exceptional tonal focus and interpretive intensity,”, Miro is the Quartet-in-residence at the University of Texas’ Butler School of Music, and for over twenty-five years, has performed on the world’s most prestigious concert stages.Miró violist: John Largess is a Curtis Institute and Yale University graduate. In 1995 he toured the United States and Canada with the Colorado String Quartet. Appointed principal violist of the Charleston Symphony the following year, in 1997 Mr. Largess joined the Miró Quartet and has been a vital fixture ever since. An active speaker and writer about all things chamber‐music, the violist also holds a degree in Classical Archeology which has led to his participation in excavations in Greece, Israel, and Jordan. John Largess is here with us to discuss Conspirare, new Delos recording: ‘House of Belonging,’ as well as give us his unique musical perspective. Listen to the attached segment.Conspirare's new recording: ‘House of Belonging’ is a dynamic and timely collection of American music for voices and with instruments. Curated and conducted by Craig Hella Johnson, the album showcases the unique combination of choral virtuosity and extraordinarily beautiful human expression in works by composers and poets diverse in age, geography, and ethnicity who speak to our internal and external sense of home and belonging. Each composer, in their unique voice, offers a reflection point for listeners.Conspirare’s ongoing commitment to commissioning and performing music of today’s most vibrant living composers is reflected in these world premiere recordings. Conspirare’s nationwide roster of vocal artists Simon Barrad, Meg Dudley, Haitham Haidar, Chelsea Helm, Michael Jones, Lauren McAllister, Savannah Porter, Kathlene Ritch, and David Kurtenbach Rivera are featured as soloists on the album.Produced by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Hailed as ‘the new Maurice André’ by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Paul Merkelo is a spectacular soloist who the Montreal Gazette calls ‘a most impressive master of his instrument.’ As principal trumpet of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Mr. Merkelo was the first member of the orchestra invited to record a solo album with the ensemble: ‘French Trumpet Concertos’ under the direction of maestro Kent Nagano.Making his Lincoln Center debut in 1999 with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, Paul Merkelo has worked with the world’s greatest orchestras including: the New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Sapporo Symphony, Venice Baroque Orchestra and the Eastman Wind Ensemble among others. He has performed with a veritable who’s who of legendary conductors. Leonard Bernstein, Charles Dutoit, Lorin Maazel, Sir Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta and Valery Gergiev among themPaul Merkelo has now released a new recording for the Naxos label showcasing the Trumpet Concertos of Alexander Arutiunian, Dmitry Shostakovich, and Mieczyslaw Weinberg. Featuring The Russian National Orchestra under the direction of maestro Hans Graf, along with the acclaimed pianist Jae-Hyuck Cho, the three works on this recording each have a connection to the legendary Ukrainian trumpeter: Timofei Dokshizer who not only served as principal trumpeter with Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre but who also enjoyed a spectacular live performance and recording career. Paul Merkelo is here with us to discuss these 3 great concertos. Listen to the podcast.Here's the track listing for the recording:Alexander Arutiunian (1920–2012)1 Trumpet Concerto(1950, cadenza by Timofei Dokshizer, 1921–2005) xx:xxAndante maestoso – Allegro energico – Meno mosso – Tempo I – Meno mosso – Tempo I – Cadenza – CodaMieczyslaw Weinberg (1919–1996)Trumpet Concerto in B flat major, Op. 94 (1966–67) xx:xx2 I. Etudes x:xx3 II. Episodes – x:xx4 III. Fanfares x:xxDmitry Shostakovich (1906–1975)Concerto No. 1, Op. 35, for Piano, Trumpet and Strings (1933) (expanded trumpet part by Timofei Dokschizer and Paul Merkelo) xx:xx5 I. Allegro moderato x:xx6 II. Lento x:xx7 III. Moderato – x:xx8 IV. Allegro con brio x:xxFrom the 2009 transcription for trumpet and piano (DSCH Publishers, 2009)**Assisted by Jae-Hyuck Cho and Hans GrafAlbum Produced by Michael Fine. Engineer Erdo GrootProduced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Houston Texas based ‘Apollo Chamber Players’ sixth studio recording; ‘Moonstrike’ on Azica Records includes Jennifer Higdon’s groundbreaking work for string quartet; ‘In the Shadow of the Mountain.’ The piece is the 20th and final work in Apollo’s 20 by 2020 multicultural commissioning initiative and multiple GRAMMY and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon joined us for this podcast along with Apollo Chamber Players violinist and founder Matthew Detrick to discuss the piece. Listen to the Segment‘In the Shadow of the Mountain’ has great intensity and emotionalism, while at the same time is very technically challenging. Jennifer Higdon grew up in the shadow of the Smoky Mountains and the subject matter for this commission was heavily influenced by her childhood memories of sound, light, and music of the mountain and its people. Topics include:How this commission came about.The genesis for this piece and it’s relationship to Jennifer Higdon’s first opera which honors the resonance of the Great Smoky Mountains.Jennifer Higdon’s approach rethinking the structure converted an opera, a work that has words, to a string quartet arrangement, which is wordless. The Apollo Chamber Players return to Carnegie Hall for a program celebrating the ensemble's 15th season of multicultural programming and the conclusion of its Moonshot-inspired 20x2020 commissioning project. New works by Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon, Emmy-winning Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, and Rome Prize-winning composer Pierre Jalbert are showcased, along with a homage to Turkish-born composer Erek Eryilmaz's heritage and a peace-infused work by Prairie View A&M composer John Cornelius. Special guests include Houston Poet Laureate Outspoken Bean, vocalist Kenneth Gayle , and astronaut narrator John Herrington, the first Native American to fly in space.The Program Is As Follows:JENNIFER HIGDON In the Shadow of the Mountain (NY Premiere)JEROD IMPICHCHAACHAAHA' TATE MoonStrike (NY Premiere)PIERRE JALBERT L'esprit du Nord (NY Premiere)JOHN CORNELIUS PAX (NY Premiere)ERBERK ERYILMAZ Thracian Airs of Besime Sultan (NY Premiere)Apollo Chamber Players Performers are:··Matthew J. Detrick, Violin··Anabel Ramirez Detrick, Violin··Matthew Dudzik, CelloProduced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Mark Abel’s music writing is beholden to no school or discernible influence. Even if his music sits comfortably within an ongoing continuum in the classical tradition, Abel is his own man, a composer who brings his sensibility and highly developed command of craft to a particular idea and then illuminates it in a strikingly imaginative way. Abel’s versatility of works is fully apparent on his sixth recording for Delos Music. ‘Spectrum,’ a generous two-disc set of song-cycles, chamber pieces, and excerpts from an opera still roaming around his brain and features: 2 time GRAMMY® Award winning soprano: Hila Plitmann, 4 time Juno Award winner: Isabel Bayrakdarian, celebrated mezzo-soprano: Kindra Scharich, pianists Carol Rosenberger, Dominic Cheli, Sean Kennard and Jeffrey LaDeur; as well as Alexander String Quartet violist David Samuel; Pacific Symphony concertmaster Dennis Kim; and the superb cellist: Jonah Kim.Mark Abel is here with us along with Hila Plitmann to discuss ‘Spectrum.’ Listen to the podcastThe recording features 3 instrumental gems: ‘Reconciliation Day,’ ‘Out the Other Side’ and ‘The Long March’ along with 3 captivating song cycles: ‘Trois Femmes du Cinema,’ ‘1966’ and ‘Two Scenes from The Book of Esther.’ Trois Femmes du Cinema’ features the powerful vocal artistry of soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian who is joined by the superb pianist: Carol Rosenberger. The piece is rooted in Abel’s love for art films, particularly from the ‘1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, and the texts that he’s written are centered around 3 important women: French actress; Anne Wiazemsky, Mexican actress: Pina Pellicer, and the Ukrainian Soviet film director: Larisa Shepitko. These songs replicate their emotional trajectory, as well as their courage in standing up against the power of patriarchal misogyny in the film industry. These heroines are still largely unknown to the general public and each song in the cycle has a unique compositional approach.‘Reconciliation Day’ is the first chamber piece on ‘Spectrum’ and is a moody, enigmatic duet beautifully played by violist: David Samuel and pianist Dominic Cheli. The rhythmic feel on this piece has a dance-like quality with bursts of sound and forward motion interspersed with calmer sections almost evoking an impressionistic quality. ‘Out the Other Side’ is played with immense integrity and authority by Trio Barclay, the ensemble-in-residence at the University of California, Irvine. This trio consisting of Pacific Symphony violinist and concertmaster: Dennis Kim along with one of today’s most highly regarded young cellists: Jonah Kim, and the superb pianist: Sean Kennard play together with a unique and rare chemistry. Abel’s thirteen-minute trio excursion titled: The Long March’ which features pianist: Dominic Cheli, hornist: Jeff Garza and flutist: Christy Kim is an unusual piece and somewhat of a rarity in chamber music. As the title suggests, this musical journey explores the unique timbres of the horn and flute against an exhilarating piano and includes stops to regroup, reflect, celebrate, and endure. Two Scenes from “The Book of Esther," features: soprano Hila Plitmann as ‘Esther,’ and Mezzo-Soprano: Kindra Scharich as ‘Vashti.' They are joined by Violinist: Adam Millstein, clarinetist Max Opferkuch, and pianist: Dominic Cheli.1966 is the final piece and the 3rd song cycle on the album. Mark Abel wrote the text which features Mezzo-Soprano: Kindra Scharich and her close colleague: pianist Jeffrey LaDeur. This wistful, nostalgic, lyrical piece reflects on the time when Abel turned eighteen years of age and was affected by 3 life-changing events, a romance, a hike, and San Francisco visit.Produced by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Composer Eric Schorr is a musical chameleon who has written music for a variety of genres and venues. With a body of work that includes the musical: “Tokio Confidential,” vocal arrangements for “Uncommon Women and Others” and processional music for the opening ceremony of the ‘Gay Games’ at Yankee Stadium, most recently Eric Schorr has created a captivating new album that transforms contemporary poetry into a series of unique art songs. Released by Albany Records, “New York Pretending to be Paris,” features Metropolitan Opera Mezzo-Soprano: Eve Gigliotti, Boston Lyric Opera tenor: Jesse Darden, and Théâtre du Châtelet baritone: Michael Kelly who give voice to Schorr’s thirteen musical settings of poems by Morri Creech, Richie Hofmann, Susan Kinsolving, Thomas March, Aaron Smith & Cynthia Zarin. Produced by Paul McKibbins, orchestrated by Nik Rodewald, the album features the 19 Mercer Ensemble who are joined by pianists Cris Frisco, Erika Switzer and Schorr himself. The result is a poignant recording, full of longing and desire, and joining us for this podcast are composer Eric Schorr, baritone Michael Kelly, and poets: Susan Kinsolving and Aaron Smith. LISTENFilled with beautiful and humorous images, the 13 songs on “New York Pretending to be Paris” flow from one to another like a set of short stories that portray deeply moving characters in situations pertaining to the subject of love. Love in many forms. The settings are happy, angry, melancholy and vengeful among other emotions, each acknowledging the power of memory and desire. .The diverse subject matter of these poems is reflected in Eric Schorr’s varied musical vocabulary and tone painting and his musical choices reinforce the poems. Schorr also has a keen awareness of the organic rhythm in the words and every syllable seems to be given its proper weight. The pieces on this album are like dramatic stories or mini-musicals. Stylistically, the music encompasses several genres. Neo-Romantic, jazz, chanson and bossa nova among other styles. Eric Schorr originally scored these pieces for voice and piano but then decided to expand the texture and utilized Nik Rodewald to compose chamber arrangements for the album, exquisitely played by members of the 19 Mercer Ensemble.
Houston Texas based ‘Apollo Chamber Players’ sixth studio recording; ‘Moonstrike’ on Azica Records includes Jennifer Higdon’s groundbreaking work for string quartet; ‘In the Shadow of the Mountain.’ The piece is the 20th and final work in Apollo’s 20 by 2020 multicultural commissioning initiative and multiple GRAMMY and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon joined us for this podcast along with Apollo Chamber Players violinist and founder Matthew Detrick to discuss the piece. Listen to the Segment‘In the Shadow of the Mountain’ has great intensity and emotionalism, while at the same time is very technically challenging. Jennifer Higdon grew up in the shadow of the Smoky Mountains and the subject matter for this commission was heavily influenced by her childhood memories of sound, light, and music of the mountain and its people. Topics include:How this commission came about.The genesis for this piece and it’s relationship to Jennifer Higdon’s first opera which honors the resonance of the Great Smoky Mountains. Jennifer Higdon’s approach rethinking the structure converted an opera, a work that has words, to a string quartet arrangement, which is wordless.The Apollo Chamber Players return to Carnegie Hall for a program celebrating the ensemble's 15th season of multicultural programming and the conclusion of its Moonshot-inspired 20x2020 commissioning project. New works by Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon, Emmy-winning Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, and Rome Prize-winning composer Pierre Jalbert are showcased, along with a homage to Turkish-born composer Erek Eryilmaz's heritage and a peace-infused work by Prairie View A&M composer John Cornelius. Special guests include Houston Poet Laureate Outspoken Bean, vocalist Kenneth Gayle , and astronaut narrator John Herrington, the first Native American to fly in space.The Program Is As Follows:JENNIFER HIGDON In the Shadow of the Mountain (NY Premiere)JEROD IMPICHCHAACHAAHA' TATE MoonStrike (NY Premiere)PIERRE JALBERT L'esprit du Nord (NY Premiere)JOHN CORNELIUS PAX (NY Premiere)ERBERK ERYILMAZ Thracian Airs of Besime Sultan (NY Premiere)Apollo Chamber Players Performers are:··Matthew J. Detrick, Violin··Anabel Ramirez Detrick, Violin··Matthew Dudzik, CelloProduced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
A pulsation marks time. Listen to the 'Pulsations' podcast with Angele Dubeau. Hosted and Produced by Crossover Media's Max HorowitzWith a career spanning over four decades and an impressive discography of more than forty albums, Angèle Dubeau continues to leave her mark in today's music world. Her virtuosity brings her on the most prestigious stages and she continues to be awarded international prizes for her recordings and to receive honors for her career. Pulsations, the violinist's new album, brings together works that evoke strong images and possess a profound emotional intensity. In addition to the excellence of her playing, she has a flair for finding and recording the works of remarkable composers, thus placing her at the center of the post-minimalist movement, one of the most relevant musical genres of our time. The public's increasing interest for some of these composers whose works are featured on Pulsations tells us that we are witnessing the emergence of a golden age for this contemporary music. "A pulsation marks time, it infuses its rhythm in it and also evokes the heart. Just like those composers whose music calls out to me and who, with their unique signatures, mark time, our time; Olafur Arnalds, Jean-Michel Blais, Ludovico Einaudi, Alex Baranowski, Craig Armstrong, Peter Gregson, Yann Tiersen, Abel Korzeniowski, Johan Johannsson, Max Richter and Dalal." - Angèle Dubeau, O.C., C.Q., O.M.Once again, Angèle Dubeau is accompanied by the excellent musicians of her all-female string ensemble La Pietà, with whom she has been playing for over 20 years. Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Houston Texas based ‘Apollo Chamber Players’ sixth studio recording; ‘Moonstrike.’ is the 19th commission of Apollo’s 20 by 2020 multicultural initiative. The Azica Records album title track was written by Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.Joining us for this podcast is Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate and Apollo Chamber Players founder and violinist Matthew Detrick. We will discuss Part 4 III. Raven Steals the Moon (Haida) which features the Haida Play Song and War Song.MoonStrike, is narrated by Chickasaw astronaut John Herrington, the first American Indian citizen to fly in space. Tate explains, “American Indian legends are very colorful and have a tendency to take twists and turns within the narrative. Regarding the Moon, it is very consistent that the traditional tales involve trickster characters and competitions for ownership of this precious object.” MoonStrike also draws inspiration from Apollo Founder Matthew J. Detrick’s love of space and childhood dream to become the first person to play the violin in space.
Houston Texas based ‘Apollo Chamber Players’ sixth studio recording; ‘Moonstrike.’ The Azica Records album is the 19th commission of Apollo’s 20 by 2020 multicultural initiative. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate has created music and narration depicting the very colorful American Indian legends around the subject of the moon. Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate is here with us to discuss Moonstrike, and is joined by Apollo Chamber Players founder and violinist Matthew Detrick. The inspiration behind the Apollo players came from the work NASA has been doing over the decades. Apollo founder Matthew Detrick had worked for a long time on curating a space-themed program to honor the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Scored for string quartet and narrator MoonStrike involves three diverse American Indian legends and includes traditional songs. Section II. The Man Who Married the Moon (Isleta Pueblo) includes a Pueblo Lullaby, and the Choctaw Hymn 139.Our narrator for the ‘Moonstrike’ piece is astronaut and member of the Chickasaw tribe: John Herrington. Mr. Herrington was selected as a Mission Specialist for NASA’s sixteenth Shuttle mission to the International Space Station. Known as STS-113, the shuttle Endeavour was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in 2002, with a mission to deliver structural support for the Space Station’s radiators. During this mission John Herrington performed three spacewalks which are commemorated on the reverse of the 2019 Saca-gawea dollar coin.LISTEN TO THE PODCASTProduced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Houston Texas based ‘Apollo Chamber Players’ have released their sixth studio recording; ‘Moonstrike.’ The title track for this Azica Records album is the 19th commission of Apollo’s 20 by 2020 multicultural initiative. A new work by Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, the pice commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Mr. Tate has created music and narration depicting the very colorful American Indian legends around the subject of the moon. Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate is here to discuss Moonstrike and in particular, the section ‘Origin Of the Moon.’ Mr. Tate is joined by Apollo Chamber Players founder and violinist Matthew Detrick.Listen to the segmentAmerican Indian legends have a tendency to take twists and turns within the narrative. Traditional tales about the Moon often involve trickster characters and competitions for ownership of this precious object.Scored for string quartet and narrator MoonStrike involves three diverse American Indian legends and includes traditional songs. Right after the Calusa Corn Dance the piece transitions to the first movement: Origin of the Moon (Kalispel), which includes the Rockies Powwow Song, and the Apache Bird Song. The section can be characterized in this way.The inspiration behind the Apollo players came from the work NASA has been doing over the decades. Matthew Detrick has always been fascinated with space exploration and as a kid dreamed of being an astronaut, and his primary goal as a kid was to be the first person to play the violin in space. Matthew has been working on curating a space-themed program to honor the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Matthew Detrick read all of the space and NASA books in the Loganville Elementary school library, and in 5th grade even wrote a detailed report on the solar system. A regular atendee at space camp, his primary goal as a kid was to be the first person to play the violin in space, and now as an adult have made Houston your home. So this Apollo Chamber Players ‘Moonstrike’ commission is really an homage to Matthew's lifelong dedication to space.Moonstrike narrator is astronaut John Herrington, a good friend of JIT and also a member of the Chickasaw tribe. Mr. Herrington was selected as a Mission Specialist NASA’s sixteenth Shuttle mission to the International Space Station. Also known as STS-113, the shuttle Endeavour was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in 2002, with a mission to deliver structural support for the Space Station’s radiators. During this mission John Herrington performed three spacewalks which are commemorated on the reverse of the 2019 Saca-gawea dollar coin. John’s late-wife, Margo Aragon-Herrington, had always wished for Jerod and John to collaborate on a project such as this, one which would bring these American Indian astrological stories to life. It was no doubt serendipitous that Matthew reached out to Jerod for this project. MoonStrike is aptly dedicated to the memory of Margo Herrington. The album artwork for MoonStrike was created by award- winning Chickasaw multimedia artist and designer Dustin Illete-wahke Mater, whose works are featured in the permanent collect of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). He commented “As a visual artist, one of the tools I use for inspiration and my storytelling ideas is music. The performances and compositions on this album filled my imagination with wide vistas, plateaus & the shell carvings of my Muskogean ancestors. The Ledger Art portraits celebrate this uniquely American Indian art form and honor the wonderful artists of MoonStrike.” Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Houston Texas based ‘Apollo Chamber Players’ have released their sixth studio recording; ‘Moonstrike.’ The Azica Records album title track is the 19th commission of Apollo’s 20 by 2020 multicultural initiative, a new work by Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Mr. Tate has created music and narration depicting the very colorful American Indian legends around the subject of the moon. Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate is here with us to discuss Moonstrike, and is joined by Apollo Chamber Players founder and violinist Matthew Detrick. American Indian legends have a tendency to take twists and turns within the narrative. Traditional tales about the Moon often involve trickster characters and competitions for ownership of this precious object. Scored for string quartet and narrator MoonStrike involves three diverse American Indian legends and includes traditional songs. Jerod, The piece is bookended with an arrangement of a Calusa Corn Dance. For Southeast Indians, the Green Corn Dance took place during the annual, fall Harvest Moon. The inspiration behind the Apollo players came from the work NASA has been doing over the decades. Matthew Detrick has always been fascinated with space exploration and as a kid dreamed of being an astronaut, and his primary goal as a kid was to be the first person to play the violin in space. Matthew has been working on curating a space-themed program to honor the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. We start with the Calusa Corn Dance as the PrologueWe conclude the piece with an Epilogue returning to the arrangement of the Calusa Corn DanceMoonstrike narrator is astronaut John Herrington, a good friend of JIT and also a member of the Chickasaw tribe. Mr. Herrington was selected as a Mission Specialist NASA’s sixteenth Shuttle mission to the International Space Station. Also known as STS-113, the shuttle Endeavour was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in 2002, with a mission to deliver structural support for the Space Station’s radiators. During this mission John Herrington performed three spacewalks which are commemorated on the reverse of the 2019 Saca-gawea dollar coin. John’s late-wife, Margo Aragon-Herrington, had always wished for Jerod and John to collaborate on a project such as this, one which would bring these American Indian astrological stories to life. It was no doubt serendipitous that Matthew reached out to Jerod for this project. MoonStrike is aptly dedicated to the memory of Margo Herrington. The album artwork for MoonStrike was created by award- winning Chickasaw multimedia artist and designer Dustin Illete-wahke Mater, whose works are featured in the permanent collect of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). He commented “As a visual artist, one of the tools I use for inspiration and my storytelling ideas is music. The performances and compositions on this album filled my imagination with wide vistas, plateaus & the shell carvings of my Muskogean ancestors. The Ledger Art portraits celebrate this uniquely American Indian art form and honor the wonderful artists of MoonStrike.” The MoonStrike commission is very unique. There is nothing else out there like it, especially for chamber ensemble instrumentation. The closest comparison I can think of is Prokovief’s peter and the wolf.) Jerod, tell us about your process in taking texts such as these and creating music for them?Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Listen to the attached Podcast: Jeff Beal - The Paper Lined Shack.
Highlighting the recording of the same name on on Supertrain Records, the album features Grammy Award-winning soprano Hilá Plitmann, the New Hollywood String Quartet, and Leonard Slatkin conducting the Eastman Philharmonia.
Comprising two works - The Paper Lined Shack” for soprano and orchestra, and “Things Unseen” for string quartet - this album is a deeply personal one for Beal in many respects, representing Beal’s lineage, past and present. The libretto to “The Paper Lined Shack” was compiled by Joan Beal, utilizing texts and images sourced from his great-grandmother’s memoir, composed in her late years. the world premiere of “The Paper Lined Shack'' took place in 2019 with Plitmann, Slatkin, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
“Things Unseen,” the second complete work of the album, was originally commissioned by Eastman School of Music’s quartet-in-residence, the Ying Quartet which, at the time of its world premiere, consisted of four siblings. According to Beal, “Each of the four movements unfold as balancing acts of controlled dialog and chaos. Ideas are introduced by one player, developed, morphed, and passed around the room, as in the best of dinner party conversations - perhaps a group of siblings,” The recorded version is performed by the New Hollywood String Quartet (Tereza Stanislav & Rafael Rishik, violins; Robert Brophy, viola; Andrew Shulman, cello).
The album is also indicative of Beal’s many ties to Eastman School of Music, where he is an alumni and the founder of The Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media.
Track list: The Paper Lined Shack for soprano and orchestra 1. Carefree Girl 2. The Red Chair 3. The Paper Lined Shack - May 13 single release 4. Our Garden 5. My Heart
Track list: Things Unseen for string quartet 6. Ghosts 7. Spirits 8. Angels 9. Gnomes - June 3 single release
Jeff Beal is an American composer with a genre-defying musical uidity. His work has been nominated for nineteen, and won five Primetime Emmy awards for scores for House of Cards (Netflix), Rome (HBO), Carnivale (HBO) Nightmares and Dreamscapes (TNT), Monk (USA) and Oliver Stone’s The Putin Interviews (Showtime). Film scores include the documentaries The Biggest Little Farm and Black?sh, and dramas Pollock (dir. Ed Harris) and Shock and Awe (dir. Rob Reiner).
Beal composes, orchestrates, conducts, mixes and often performs on his own scores – no other artist’s brush strokes touch his canvas. An accomplished and recorded jazz musician, Beal uses his improvisational skills to read the emotional tone of a scene.
Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
In 2021, through Azica Records, the innovative Houston Texas based, Apollo Chamber Players released 'With Malice Toward None.' Taking its title from Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, the recording deals with politics, identity, and what it means to be a citizen of a nation balanced between an idealized past and a just future. Featured on this recording is a unique work by composer/performer Pamela Z titled: ‘The Unraveling.’
Pamela Z composes for voice, electronic processing, samples, gesture activated MIDI controllers, and video. She’s toured throughout the US, Europe, and Japan, presenting her work at New York’s ‘Bang on a Can,’ Festival ‘The Japan Interlink Festival,’ San Francisco’s ‘Other Minds,’ the Venice and Dakar Biennales, among other venues and exhibitions. With a body of scores written for dance, film, and chamber ensembles, Pamela Z has collaborated with the Kronos Quartet, Eighth Blackbird, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s among others, and she’s received awards from the Guggenheim and Robert Rauschenberg Foundations, United States Artists, and is a recipient of the Rome Prize, Doris Duke Artist Impact Award, and the Herb Alpert Award. Pamela Z is here with us along with Apollo Chamber Players violinist and founder Matthew Detrick to discuss her piece ‘The Unravelling’ and the intersection of classical and folk music. LISTEN
With all the mixing and blurring of genre boundaries, we start our conversation discussing the question… What is classical music in the 21st century. Is there a 'right' and authentic way to combine genres, and will the cultural moment that we're currently living in be long-lasting or ephemeral?
Many classically trained musicians and composers want to be involved in music outside of notated concert music because these musicians love different kinds of music.
In creating ‘The Unraveling,’ Pamela Z drew from American folk and rock music from the 1960s and 70s. This is a sound that has resonated with her since childhood. From a young age the first songs she learned were by Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Malvina Reynolds, and her first compositions were in that singer/songwriter style. She was particularly drawn to protest songs.
The Apollo Chamber Players did an entire season centered around the question, ‘what folk music means’ and how different composers and people generally define folk music, and 'With Malice Toward None' is at its core focused on folk music. In this particular commission Apollo is asking this question of Pamela. Of course, folk music is a key the basis for popular music and folk music lends itself very well to a string quartet configuration.
The podcast goes over each of the four movements In the first section ‘Joni’ Pamela Z uses the string quartet as a human sampling and playback device creating their phrases and motifs from cut up, layered, and looped fragments taken from the dulcimer part in Joni Mitchell's ‘All I Want’ from her Blue album.
The second section, ‘Lord I’m One’ is a kind of ‘broken record' riff on the old folk standard made popular by Peter, Paul, and Mary “500 Miles,”
The third section, ‘Travis’ is a lesson in a common finger-picking style.
The final section, ‘Microbus’ is a wistful reminiscence of Pamela Z's busking days in San Francisco, where she eventually relocated.
We also ask Apollo Chamber Players violinist and founder Matthew Detrick to discuss from the performer's perspective, what its like to be immersed in the 'sound world' that Pamela Z creates.
Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
In 2021, the innovative, Houston Texas based Apollo Chamber Players released their fifth studio album - With Malice Toward None, through Azica Records. Taking its title from Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, the recording tackles politics, identity, and what it means to be a citizen of a nation balanced between an idealized past and a just and multicultural future.
Prominently featured on the recording is a remarkable work by composer/performer Eve Beglarian titled ‘We Will Sing One Song.’
Characterized by the Los Angeles Times as a “humane, idealistic rebel and a musical sensualist,” Eve Beglarian’s chamber, choral, and orchestral music has been commissioned and performed by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the American Composers Orchestra, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Apollo Chamber Players, and countless other notable groups and individual performers. Eve Beglarian is here with us along with Apollo Chamber Players violinist and founder Matthew Detrick.
Listen to the attached podcast
Eve Beglarian began writing ‘We Will Sing One Song’ while reading ‘The Human Comedy’ by the Armenian-American writer William Saroyan. On this podcast we start back in 2009 or even before to discuss Eve Beglarian's obsession with the Mississippi River and its impact on the development of American culture. Known as ‘The River Project,’ the Mississippi is one of the defining natural features of the North American continent and you became interested in how our relationship to the nature, geography, and ecology of the river is manifested in music, literature, and all the arts.
Although the journey down the Mississippi has been made and written about by many compelling travelers, perhaps the most famous of which is Mark Twain more than 120 years ago, Eve Beglarian spent a year traveling the whole length of the Mississippi starting from its source in Minnesota, meeting people along the way, recording the sounds of the river, writing music as she traveled and performed in the local communities that she found.
Beglarian draws geographical parallels between the River project which chronicles the Mississippi and ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ which serves as the basis for your piece; ‘We Will Sing One Song.’ The inspiration for the piece, is William Saroyan’s novel, ‘The Human Comedy’ and the moment when a young boy waves at a man on a passing train, who is singing Stephen Foster’s "My Old Kentucky Home.” The first 5 words of the song is the title of Beglarian's piece. The first line reading; We will sing one song of the meek and humble slave.
The approximately 18 minute piece features the Apollo Chamber Players along with the Armenian du-duk prodigy; Arsen Petrosyan, Iranian born percussion master; Pejman Hadadi on an array of instruments (tombak, kuzeh, dayereh, bam-dayereh, senj, kanjira), Joan Der-Hov-sepian on viola, and Beglarian's digital track which serves as the musical bed for the piece.
Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
With songs written in his mother tongue – Tomson Highway’s latest recording is a country music milestone with songs that swing, joke, drawl, and wail – all in Cree. This is what makes Cree Country unique. Sung by the incomparable Patricia Cano, this stylish collection of 12 new country songs from one of Canada’s most prolific artistic innovators - Tomson Highway features a spectacular band of Canada’s best country musicians. Cree Country is nothing short of compelling and joining us for the conversation is album composer Tomson Highway, vocalist Patricia Cano, producer John Alcorn and engineer Jeff Wolpert.
Cree is an Indigenous language spoken by 100,000 North Americans. Many of Canada’s most well-known place names are of Cree origin, including Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Chicoutimi, Québec, and Ottawa. It’s a very rhythmic language that lends itself naturally to music-making – and particularly country! Tomson recalls living in the Manitoba bush in the 1950’s and hanging a transistor radio high in the trees at night to hear country music waft north all the way from Nashville, Tennessee. The joy of hearing that music is the inspiration behind these tunes.
“English is so hierarchical. In Cree, we don't have animate-inanimate comparisons between things. Animals have souls that are equal to ours. Rocks have souls, trees have souls. Trees are 'who,' not 'what.” – Tomson Highway.
Writer, composer and musician Tomson Highway was born in a snowbank on the Manitoba/Nunavut border to a family of nomadic caribou hunters. He had the great privilege of growing up in two languages: Cree, his mother tongue, and Dene, the language of the neighbouring nation, a people with whom his family travelled and hunted. He is the proud son of legendary caribou hunter and world championship dogsled racer, Joe Highway, and artist-in-her-own-right (as bead-worker and quilt-maker extraordinaire), Pelagie Highway. That’s them on the cover!
Tomson left home at the age of six, and travelled south 500 miles to attend school, learn English and to play the piano. His desire was to become a concert pianist. Now, the multi-talented Mr. Highway enjoys an international career as playwright, novelist, pianist, and songwriter. His critically acclaimed plays include The Rez Sisters, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, Rose, Ernestine Shuswap Gets her Trout and the best-selling novel Kiss of the Fur Queen. For many years, Tomson ran Canada’s premiere Native theatre company Native Earth Performing Arts (based in Toronto), out of which emerged an entire generation of professional Indigenous playwrights, actors and many Native theatre companies in Canada.
Tomson Highway’s many awards include the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best New Play and Best Production (three wins, five nominations), the Governor General's Literary Award for Drama (two nominations), the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award (two wins), the Toronto Arts Award (for outstanding contributions made over the years to the City of Toronto cultural industries), the Wang Harbourfront International Festival of Authors Award, the Silver Ticket Award (from the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, for outstanding contributions made over the years to the Toronto theatre industry), the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (2001), and the Order of Canada (1994).
Patricia Cano is an award-winning Peruvian-Canadian singer-songwriter and actor. In 2001, Tomson Highway invited Patricia to perform alongside him in a cabaret of his songs. This marked the beginning of an artistic collaboration that continues to this day. In 2014, Tomson Highway released his first studio recording, Patricia Cano Sings Songs from The (Post) Mistress, and in 2015, the album was nominated for a JUNO in the Indigenous Album of the Year category. In 2017, Patricia won the Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Cree, English and French in Highway's one-woman musical, The (Post) Mistress.
In 2021, the innovative, Houston Texas based Apollo Chamber Players released their fifth studio album - With Malice Toward None, through Azica Records. Taking its title from Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, the recording tackles politics, identity, and what it means to be a citizen of a nation balanced between an idealized past and a just and multicultural future.
Prominently featured on the recording is the 7 part piece written by Christopher Theofanidis and Mark Wingate titled What is the Word?
Christopher Theofanidis is here with us for this Episode 2 podcast along with Apollo Chamber Players violinist and founder Matthew Detrick.
Written in 2017, ‘What is the Word?’ is based on Samuel Beckett's poem of the same name, which was written in response to his own late encounter with a-phasia, which is caused by a degree of brain damage that brings on the loss of one’s ability to understand or express speech.
The piece attempts to document Beckett’s struggle with a-phasia and a resulting fear of vanishing identity. The actress Billie Whitelaw once said of Beckett's work, "I looked at his work like music, and to me it was rhythm and pauses, and lack of pauses." This idea guided your approach and musical response with co-writer - electronic music composer Mark Wingate. With respect to the string quartet, this seems to be evident in the restless, start-stop patterns and fast spirals of tremolo.
The piece begins with the reading of the original poem, read by actress Maura Hooper. It then unfolds over six additional sections that combine the abstracted voice with the string quartet in a very interactive and surreal way. In the section called ‘Extroverted.’ We continue to hear the poem’s verse in a somewhat normal form, now joined by the string quartet in a fast paced, jagged movement. The music seems to really emphasize the agony of Beckett struggling to the find the word.
Then we move to a short section, only :44 seconds ‘Edgy’ also very jagged, but with a defined pulse, and now with electronics clearly present in the texture.
This leads to ‘Mercurial, and more electronics, now manipulated more than before mixing with the quartet.
Then ‘Noble’ which has a sound of nobility in the strings, a defined melody and more evolving electronic elements that keep the texture pretty sideways.
Then ‘Very Fast’ a string rich section which brings the voice back in tiny vocal snips with some scant electronics. It has some stability compared with the previous 2 sections.
And the piece finishes with ‘Euphoric’ which musically brands itself through the heavy use of electronics. It glistens
Christopher Theofanidis and Mark Wingate were quoted as saying of Beckett's poem, "the a-phasic search for ‘the word' becomes something which itself spins off rhythm and phrase in a kind of virtuosic dance, the text moving along a spectrum between meaning and pure musical sound. Music, then, seemed to us the natural way to amplify this search for this intersection of sound and meaning."
On Friday, August 20, 2021, Apollo Chamber Players released their fifth studio album, With Malice Toward None, on Azica Records. The album is a breathtaking collection of globally-inspired compositions and collaborations, with each composer sharing their own personal interpretations of folk music. Works include a title track by Vietnam War-veteran J. Kimo Williams with a performance by electric violinist Tracy Silverman, Pamela Z's The Unraveling, What is the Word? by Christopher Theofanidis and Mark Wingate, new arrangements of a trio of Armenian folk songs by pioneering Armenian composer Komitas, and Eve Beglarian's We Will Sing One Song for duduk, string quartet, percussion, and track. The Pamela Z, Theofanidis and Wingate, and Beglarian pieces are part of Apollo's 20x2020 project, launched in 2014 with a mission to commission 20 new multicultural works before the end of the decade.
Listen to this podcast featuring electric violin master - Tracy Silverman and Apollo Chamber Players Violinist and co-founder Matthew Detrick. The duo will discuss the title track on the album; J. Kimo Williams' With Malice Toward None along with the Allegretto Groovando based on the Fantasy from Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. LISTEN
In J. Kimo Williams' With Malice Toward None (2020), the composer speaks to the current social and cultural climate we face, taking inspiration from Beethoven, who wished that musical expression could affect change. Carol Williams, the composer's wife and a social activist and artist, says, "A speech by a politician is not expected to be the equivalent of poetry, or to cast a lasting memory in popular culture; especially not one given 155 years ago. But that is precisely what [Abraham Lincoln's] phrase, ‘with malice toward none, and charity for all,' has become. It is the definition of politics seamlessly intersecting with art. So should it be any different from having music intersect with politics? Not for Beethoven, as most students of his music are already aware. Today, there is still a critical need for ‘socially responsible pieces of music' that can address our human failures with as much hope as it does despair.
We are together here in 2020, facing challenges old and new, internal and external. And we have reached a new low point when a People, born more American than African, have to again demand that the value of their lives be recognized." The piece is dedicated to the late Civil Rights leader John Lewis and was composed for Apollo Chamber Players and electric violinist Tracy Silverman, who performs on this recording.
Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
‘The Singing Guitar,’ 12 guitarists, 26 singers and a cellist, in new works by four American composers. Exploring the unique connection of voices and strings.
Listeners experience an unusual musical journey on the Delos Music recording; ‘The Singing Guitar.’ Combining voices, guitars, and cello with Native American and non-native pioneer stories, it is hard to overstate the power, challenge, and difficulty of this unique collaboration that expresses these exquisitely crafted compositions by Reena Esmail, Nico Muhly, Kile Smith and Craig Hella Johnson. On this episode of The Singing Guitar, composer Kile Smith. LISTEN
Grammy-nominated composer Kile Smith has gained international acclaim with commissions from The Crossing, Conspirare, Piffaro, Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Chor Leoni, Helena Symphony, Choral Arts Society of Washington, Lyric Fest, Westminster Choir College, Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, Newburyport Chamber Music Festival, the Pennsylvania and iSing Girlchoirs, Choral Arts Philadelphia, and Gaudete Brass, with major choral works heard in New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Canada, England, and New Zealand. Gramophone called Vespers “spectacular” and Audiophile Audition, “easily one of the best releases of the year of any type… a crime to pass up.” Ten CDs with his music have been released since 2018.
The Arc in the Sky with The Crossing received a 2020 Grammy nomination for Best Choral Performance, and his Canticle with Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble helped win the 2020 Best Classical Producer Grammy. The Philadelphia Orchestra featured The Bremen Town Musicians in their 2021 “Our City, Your Orchestra” chamber music series.
Kile has also been performed by the L.A. Guitar Quartet, Seraphic Fire, The 24, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Sofia Philharmonic, the Grand Rapids and Delaware symphonies, Orchestra 2001, and Network for New Music. His first opera, The Book of Job, will premiere in multiple cities in the 2022/23 season.
About the Album — The wonderful Conspirare chamber choir, known for its interpretive depth and otherworldly sonic lushness, offers another of its captivating programs-this time joined by three superb guitar quartets-in a program remarkably relevant to our time. Conspirare’s 2019 Delos album, The Hope of Loving (DE 3578), was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for Best Choral Performance in 2020. The concert version of The Singing Guitar was performed to full houses in 2019. The combination of guitar quartet and chorus is so successful it’s surprising that more composers have not written for it. Four recently written compositions feature the voices of Conspirare accompanied by guitar-twelve guitars in Nico Muhly’s How Little You Are, a compelling composition telling of the struggles of pioneer women. Kile Smith’s The Dawn’s Early Light ponders our national anthem in the writings of a Native American woman, Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins. The album is rounded out with compositions by Reena Esmail and Conspirare’s founder and director Craig Hella Johnson.
A Chicago Tribune Best Classical Recording of 2020, A WRTI Best of 2020 Album, Apple Music Featured New Album, and Qobuz Grand Selection.
Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Penderecki in Memoriam Podcast unveils a multifaceted portrait of Krzysztof Penderecki, with commentary from musicians, colleagues, radio programmers, and writers who lend insight and memories of Poland's greatest modern composer. This podcast is part of Penderecki in Memoriam Worldwide project, honoring the life and legacy of the great composer. Thank you to project partners DUX, NAXOS, Ludwig van Beethoven Association, and Schott EAM for sharing Krzysztof Penderecki's music with the world.
This Penderecki - In Memoriam Podcast features conductor Jurek Dybal. Listen to the attached program.
Jurek Dybal is the General Director and Chief Conductor of The Orchestra of the Royal Capital City of Krakow Sinfonietta Cracovia, an acclaimed conductor and a musician of the famous Vienna Philharmonic. His charismatic personality has been valued by the audience of many European music venues, in which he has made an appearances with the Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich, Radio Symphonie Orchester Wien, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, L'Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, Wiener KammerOrchester, Wiener Concert-Verein, Concerto Köln, Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie, Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Polish Radio Orchestra, Silesian Chamber Orchestra, Wroclaw's Leopoldinum and National Forum of Music Symphony Orchestra as well as Philharmonic Orchestras in Poznan, Krakow, Lódz and Gdansk. As a conductor he collaborated with such eminent soloists as Gidon Kremer, Martin Grubinger, Katia and Marielle Labèque, Xavier de Maistre, Cameron Carpeneter, Lawrence Power, Erwin Schrott, Tomasz Konieczny, and singers of the Vienna State Opera among others.
Jurek Dybal is a founder and a director of the Krzysztof Penderecki International MusicFestival - Level 320 held in the historical hall of Guido mine in Zabrze. The artist premiered there a number of Pendereckis works. His recordings can be found on the albums by Sony Classical and Warner Classics among others.
Penderecki Tracks include Sinfonietta №1 & 2 & 3 Polish Requiem Credo 3 Pieces in Old Style Concertino per tromba e orchestra UBU REX
Penderecki in Memoriam Podcast is produced and hosted by Max Horowitz, Crossover Media. Created by Anna Perzanowska and Klaudia Ofwona Draber, and presented by Polish Cultural Institute New York. This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
‘The Singing Guitar,' 12 guitarists, 26 singers and a cellist, in new works by four American composers. Exploring the unique connection of voices and strings.
Listeners experience an unusual musical journey on the Delos Music recording; ‘The Singing Guitar.' Combining voices, guitars, and cello with Native American and non-native pioneer stories, it is hard to overstate the power, challenge, and difficulty of this unique collaboration that expresses these exquisitely crafted compositions by Reena Esmail, Nico Muhly, Kile Smith and Craig Hella Johnson.
On this episode of The Singing Guitar, Conspirare Company of Voices soprano - Kathlene Ritch. LISTEN
Known for her “powerful, crystal-clear voice,” Kathlene Ritch has sung with such noted ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, and the Vienna Philharmonic. She made her solo debut at Lincoln Center with the American Symphony Orchestra in Listz’s Dante’s Inferno. With that same ensemble, she recorded a live concert version of Die ägyptische Helena as Hermione opposite Deborah Voigt’s Helen. Kathlene’s true passion, musical theater, has been a lifelong pursuit. Two of her career highlights were performing Sweeney Todd at Lincoln Center, and Carousel at Carnegie Hall. Kathlene lives in Santa Fe where she teaches music and voice at the New Mexico School for the Arts, accompanies the Santa Fe High School choirs, directs the children’s choir and cantors at the Church of the Holy Faith, and is the Music Director for Tri M Productions, a non-profit organization with the mission to give local ‘Millennials’ opportunities to perform musicals at a professional level. She still loves to sing with the Grammy-winning ensemble, Conspirare, as well as the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. When she isn’t singing or playing the piano, Kathlene is also an on-air announcer for Classical 95.5 KHFM Santa Fe/Albuquerque, for which she has won a “Golden Mike” award from the New Mexico Broadcasters Association.
About the Album - The wonderful Conspirare chamber choir, known for its interpretive depth and otherworldly sonic lushness, offers another of its captivating programs-this time joined by three superb guitar quartets-in a program remarkably relevant to our time.
Conspirare's 2019 Delos album, The Hope of Loving (DE 3578), was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for Best Choral Performance in 2020. The concert version of The Singing Guitar was performed to full houses in 2019. The combination of guitar quartet and chorus is so successful it's surprising that more composers have not written for it. Four recently written compositions feature the voices of Conspirare accompanied by guitar-twelve guitars in Nico Muhly's How Little You Are, a compelling composition telling of the struggles of pioneer women. Kile Smith's The Dawn's Early Light ponders our national anthem in the writings of a Native American woman, Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins. The album is rounded out with compositions by Reena Esmail and Conspirare's founder and director Craig Hella Johnson.
Music for choir and guitars with Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Texas Guitar Quartet, Austin Guitar Quartet, and cellist Douglas Harvey.
Johnson curated a program woven together by exquisitely crafted music for voices, guitar, and stories of women.
Conspirare gratefully acknowledges the following for their support of this recording: Anonymous, Dale and Tina Knobel, Legacy of Sound 2, Hella Circle, CAPTRUST: STMM, National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Economic Development Department, Cultural Arts Division and St. Luke's Methodist Church.
Produced by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
‘The Singing Guitar,' 12 guitarists, 26 singers and a cellist, in new works by four American composers. Exploring the unique connection of voices and strings.
Listeners experience an unusual musical journey on the Delos Music recording; ‘The Singing Guitar.' Combining voices, guitars, and cello with Native American and non-native pioneer stories, it is hard to overstate the power, challenge, and difficulty of this unique collaboration that expresses these exquisitely crafted compositions by Reena Esmail, Nico Muhly, Kile Smith and Craig Hella Johnson.
On this episode of The Singing Guitar, Grammy®-winning founder and Artistic Director of Conspirare; Craig Hella Johnson. LISTEN
The wonderful Conspirare chamber choir, known for its interpretive depth and otherworldly sonic lushness, offers another of its captivating programs-this time joined by three superb guitar quartets-in a program remarkably relevant to our time.
Conspirare's 2019 Delos album, The Hope of Loving (DE 3578), was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for Best Choral Performance in 2020. The concert version of The Singing Guitar was performed to full houses in 2019. The combination of guitar quartet and chorus is so successful it's surprising that more composers have not written for it. Four recently written compositions feature the voices of Conspirare accompanied by guitar-twelve guitars in Nico Muhly's How Little You Are, a compelling composition telling of the struggles of pioneer women. Kile Smith's The Dawn's Early Light ponders our national anthem in the writings of a Native American woman, Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins. The album is rounded out with compositions by Reena Esmail and Conspirare's founder and director Craig Hella Johnson.
Music for choir and guitars with Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Texas Guitar Quartet, Austin Guitar Quartet, and cellist Douglas Harvey.
Johnson curated a program woven together by exquisitely crafted music for voices, guitar, and stories of women.
Nico Muhly's musical mediation How Little You Are evokes powerful landscapes of American pioneers in a compelling work for choir and 12 guitars; soprano Estelí Gomez is a featured soloist. Kile Smith's The Dawn's Early Light sets selected text from Native American Sarah Winnemucca's autobiography that addresses the significant divisions in our human family. The texts present contrasting perspectives of Sara Winemucca, the first Native American to publish and English language narrative, and the pioneer women whose texts are set in Muhly's piece.
Indian-American composer Reena Esmail's "When the Guitar," in a new instrumentation created for Conspirare and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, opens the CD. Conspirare's sopranos and altos join cellist Douglas Harvey in Craig Hella Johnson's "The Song That I Came to Sing".
Conspirare gratefully acknowledges the following for their support of this recording: Anonymous, Dale and Tina Knobel, Legacy of Sound 2, Hella Circle, CAPTRUST: STMM, National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Economic Development Department, Cultural Arts Division and St. Luke's Methodist Church.
Produced by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
The Singing Guitar,' 12 guitarists, 26 singers and a cellist, in new works by four American composers. Exploring the unique connection of voices and strings.
Listeners experience an unusual musical journey on the Delos Music recording; ‘The Singing Guitar.' Combining voices, guitars, and cello with Native American and non-native pioneer stories, it is hard to overstate the power, challenge, and difficulty of this unique collaboration that expresses these exquisitely crafted compositions by Reena Esmail, Nico Muhly, Kile Smith and Craig Hella Johnson.
On this episode of The Singing Guitar, American composer and sought-after collaborator; Nico Muhly. LISTEN
About the Album - The wonderful Conspirare chamber choir, known for its interpretive depth and otherworldly sonic lushness, offers another of its captivating programs-this time joined by three superb guitar quartets-in a program remarkably relevant to our time.
Conspirare's 2019 Delos album, The Hope of Loving (DE 3578), was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for Best Choral Performance in 2020. The concert version of The Singing Guitar was performed to full houses in 2019. The combination of guitar quartet and chorus is so successful it's surprising that more composers have not written for it. Four recently written compositions feature the voices of Conspirare accompanied by guitar-twelve guitars in Nico Muhly's How Little You Are, a compelling composition telling of the struggles of pioneer women. Kile Smith's The Dawn's Early Light ponders our national anthem in the writings of a Native American woman, Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins. The album is rounded out with compositions by Reena Esmail and Conspirare's founder and director Craig Hella Johnson.
A Chicago Tribune Best Classical Recording of 2020, A WRTI Best of 2020 Album, Apple Music Featured New Album, and Qobuz Grand Selection.
"The singing of Craig Hella Johnson's ensemble Conspirare combined with the delicacy of shifting textures of twelve guitars is intriguing and emotionally effective. … I found this a really moving setting for an unusual ensemble. You'll find it alongside other new pieces for choir and guitar quartet." – Andrew McGregor, BBC Record Review
"Johnson and Conspirare continue to create indelible work, as in "The Singing Guitar," which pairs Conspirare's sublime voices with guitar accompaniment. The melismatic chant of Reena Esmail's "When the Guitar," the poignant tone painting of Nicol Muhly's "How Little You Are," and the storytelling character of Kile Smith's "The Dawn's Early Light" illuminate Conspirare's versatility and singular sound." – Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
Music for choir and guitars with Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Texas Guitar Quartet, Austin Guitar Quartet, and cellist Douglas Harvey.
Johnson curated a program woven together by exquisitely crafted music for voices, guitar, and stories of women.
Nico Muhly's musical mediation How Little You Are evokes powerful landscapes of American pioneers in a compelling work for choir and 12 guitars; soprano Estelí Gomez is a featured soloist. Kile Smith's The Dawn's Early Light sets selected text from Native American Sarah Winnemucca's autobiography that addresses the significant divisions in our human family. The texts present contrasting perspectives of Sara Winemucca, the first Native American to publish and English language narrative, and the pioneer women whose texts are set in Muhly's piece.
Indian-American composer Reena Esmail's "When the Guitar," in a new instrumentation created for Conspirare and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, opens the CD. Conspirare's sopranos and altos join cellist Douglas Harvey in Craig Hella Johnson's "The Song That I Came to Sing".
Produced by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Listen to the renowned American pianist Tedd Joselson and pioneer surgeon Dr Susan Lim together in ‘companionship.' This podcast features conversation and music presenting two of Tedd Joselson's favourite concertos – the Grieg Piano Concerto and Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, along with the ‘Lim Fantasy of Companionship' for Piano & Orchestra, composed by Manu Martin.
Led by conductor Arthur Fagen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Grieg) and the Philharmonia Orchestra (Rachmaninov), Tedd Joselson's 'Companionship of Concertos' is companion to recording of the Lim Fantasy of Companionship for Piano and Orchestra. Recorded at the same time at Abbey Road with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Society currently finds itself at an intersection of technology and humanity as physical forms embedded with Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems fulfil an urgent need for previously unimaginable companions, such as robot caregivers, to address the twin challenges of longevity and loneliness.
It is precisely this concept of an inanimate-human companionship that Dr Susan Lim, together with her project Co-Creative Director, Dr Christina Teenz Tan explored in the ‘Lim Fantasy of Companionship' for Piano & Orchestra. Composed by Manu Martin, released via Signum Records, and recorded at Abbey Road Studios, the Lim Fantasy draws its inspiration from fifteen original songs composed for a proposed musical, ‘ALAN'. It unfolds the story of an inanimate, ‘ALAN' and the journey of its soul, twice teleported, from an animate to inanimate and ultimately into a human being. The Fantasy is brought to life through the performance of acclaimed pianist, Tedd Joselson alongside the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Arthur Fagen, together with solo electric guitar, solo voices and choral ensemble, London Voices.
Tedd Joselson describes the work as: "...a truly magnificent addition to the realm of piano concerto repertoire...a masterstroke of creative ingenuity, which I am truly delighted and honoured to lead as solo pianist".
Belgian-American pianist Tedd Joselson was only 17 when he auditioned for the Philadelphia Orchestra's music director, Eugene Ormandy, after which the famous conductor remarked "Anything you want, you can play with us". He was offered a recording contract by RCA whilst still a student at Juilliard, and quickly became, and remained until his retirement, one of the most sought after performers regularly appearing with nearly every important symphonic ensemble and conductor. He gave his debut piano recital on the Great Performer's series in Lincoln Center in NYC in 1975. Thereafter, his annual sold out recital tours were eagerly awaited events on the music calendar. Noted for his lyrical playing across a wide range of repertoire, his recordings of works span 400 years of music from Bach to Lim, and have won numerous awards including several Grammy nominations.
The International Chopin Piano competition is known for its incredible power to turn unknown prodigies into global standing. Among past winners are Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Garrick Ohlsson, Krystian Zimerman, Rafal Blechacz, and Seong-Jin Cho. Every five years (due to the limitations imposed in the wake of the pandemic, the competition was postponed from 2020 to 2021), the jury faces an almost impossible task, they have to select the best pianist out of over 500 outstandingly gifted and perfectly trained contestants from all over the world. The preliminaries were held in July, and the jury qualified 87 pianists. The competition is divided into four stages. The results will traditionally be announced from the stairs in the main lobby of the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall on the night of 20/21 October.
‘The Singing Guitar,’ 12 guitarists, 26 singers and a cellist, in new works by four American composers. Exploring the unique connection of voices and strings.
Listeners experience an unusual musical journey on the Delos Music recording; ‘The Singing Guitar.’ Combining voices, guitars, and cello with Native American and non-native pioneer stories, it is hard to overstate the power, challenge, and difficulty of this unique collaboration that expresses these exquisitely crafted compositions by Reena Esmail, Nico Muhly, Kile Smith and Craig Hella Johnson.
On this episode of The Singing Guitar, American composer and sought-after collaborator; Nico Muhly.
Born in 1981, Nico Muhly's musical influences range from minimalism to the Anglican choral tradition. A recipient of commissions from The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Tallis Scholars, and St. John’s College, Cambridge, to name a few, Mr Muhly has written more than 100 works for the concert stage, and is a frequent collaborator with artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Björk, Grizzly Bear, Antony and the Johnsons, composer Philip Glass, and choreographer Benjamin Millepied.
Nico Muhly's contribution on ‘The Singing Guitar’ ‘How Little You Are,’ a commission from Austin Classical Guitar, Conspirare, and Texas Performing Arts, is a 6 segment work scored for three guitars and chorus. Nico Muhly is here with us on the podcast to discuss the piece.
About the Album The wonderful Conspirare chamber choir, known for its interpretive depth and otherworldly sonic lushness, offers another of its captivating programs-this time joined by three superb guitar quartets-in a program remarkably relevant to our time.
Conspirare's 2019 Delos album, The Hope of Loving (DE 3578), was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for Best Choral Performance in 2020. The concert version of The Singing Guitar was performed to full houses in 2019. The combination of guitar quartet and chorus is so successful it's surprising that more composers have not written for it. Four recently written compositions feature the voices of Conspirare accompanied by guitar-twelve guitars in Nico Muhly's How Little You Are, a compelling composition telling of the struggles of pioneer women. Kile Smith's The Dawn's Early Light ponders our national anthem in the writings of a Native American woman, Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins. The album is rounded out with compositions by Reena Esmail and Conspirare's founder and director Craig Hella Johnson.
A Chicago Tribune Best Classical Recording of 2020, A WRTI Best of 2020 Album, Apple Music Featured New Album, and Qobuz Grand Selection.
Music for choir and guitars with Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Texas Guitar Quartet, Austin Guitar Quartet, and cellist Douglas Harvey.
Nico Muhly's musical mediation How Little You Are evokes powerful landscapes of American pioneers in a compelling work for choir and 12 guitars; soprano Estelí Gomez is a featured soloist. Kile Smith's The Dawn's Early Light sets selected text from Native American Sarah Winnemucca's autobiography that addresses the significant divisions in our human family. The texts present contrasting perspectives of Sara Winemucca, the first Native American to publish and English language narrative, and the pioneer women whose texts are set in Muhly's piece.
RIOPY has fused minimalism, pop, jazz, and cinematic idioms into a distinctive crossover piano style. A self-taught composer who studied at Oxford University, RIOPY has built a successful career both as a performer and as a composer for television and film, where his evocative solo piano pieces provide the backdrop to popular movie and tv trailers.
RIOPY's new Warner Classics recording; 'Bliss' is a collection of 11 titles, each a jewel of pure emotion. RIOPY's inspiration for this album has been guided by his will to pay tribute to the anonymous but true heroes of "normal life". Although he has rejected tricks of over-produced music, preferring the sheer power and shine of an amazing Fazioli piano, he manages to create incredibly cinematic music, built chapter by chapter, character by character, growing into a piano tale – a piano tale that, for the listener, will become an unforgettable experience of Bliss.
We are happy to welcome RIOPY to the podcast. Listen to the conversation
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"My good friend Manny Ax would always say to me that it doesn't matter what you did yesterday; if you're here today, that's what counts." - Yo-Yo Ma to The New York Times Magazine
On Friday, June 4, 2021 Yo-Yo Ma and long-time friend and musical partner Emanuel Ax released Hope Amid Tears, a new recording of Beethoven's complete works for cello and piano, on Sony Classical. Hope Amid Tears presents Beethoven's five sonatas for cello and piano in the order in which they were composed, tracing an important arc in Beethoven's development and approach as a composer. Joining them are Beethoven's three sets of variations for cello and piano.
The dynamic duo discussed the recording with Crossover Media's Max Horowitz. Listen to the conversation here.
The title is an allusion to the possibly apocryphal story that, in 1809, Beethoven sent a copy of the recently-completed Sonata No. 3 to his friend Ignaz von Gleichenstein with the note "Inter lacrimas et luctum"-"amid tears and grief." At the time, Vienna was embroiled in the chaos of the Napoleonic Wars, and many of Beethoven's closest friends and supporters had fled the city. But in this period of loneliness and isolation, compounded by his increasingly profound deafness, Beethoven nonetheless completed works of enduring spirit.
"When we look to music to give us hope for the future, to believe that we can survive and to do good, it is invariably to Beethoven's," writes Ax. "His mastery of musical craft was second to none, of course, but it is his indomitable spirit in the face of personal tragedy that makes him unique. In this period of world-wide unease, grief, and suffering, it is perhaps fitting that we are also celebrating the 250th birthday of the composer who represents what is best in our humanity."
Ma and Ax have made music together for more than 40 years, recording dozens of albums, earning five Grammy Awards, and performing on stages all over the world. Their friendship is not only rooted in a deep love of music, but also a shared sense of humor and keen perspectives on life's joys and challenges. Hope Amid Tears is their second recording of the complete Beethoven cello sonatas, after a 1987 effort that earned the duo their second Grammy.
"It has been a true privilege to live with this music for over forty years," writes Ax. "Each time that Yo-Yo and I have come back to work on these sonatas and variations, we have found new meaning and new ways of realizing the notes on the page. Fortunately for us, there are so many ways of experiencing them, and finally the music itself is so uplifting that every attempt, whether good or bad, is a joy. I hope we can share with you our awe for Beethoven and our deep love for his vision."
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Gramophone Magazine noted that GRAMMY-winning conductor JoAnn Falletta conducts performances that are assured, spontaneous and superbly played. An award winning musician and member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and National Council on the Arts, Ms. Faletta has introduced over 500 works by American composers, including over 100 world premieres, and her discography tops 120 titles. Not only does she lead the Buffalo Philharmonic, but is also Music Director Laureate of the Virginia Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor of the Brevard Music Center, and Artistic Adviser of the Hawaii Symphony and Cleveland Institute of Music - Orchestra. Hailed for having ‘Toscanini's tight control over her ensembles, Walter's affectionate balancing of inner voices, Stokowski's gutsy showmanship, and a controlled frenzy worthy of Bernstein', Joann Falletta is a leading force for the music of our time.
In 2018, The Buffalo Philharmonic made their first international tour in three decades and performed at Warsaw's Beethoven Easter Festival. The impetus for the tour was the BPO's friendship with Krzysztof Penderecki and his wife, Easter Festival founder and artistic director Elzbieta Penderecka. That year the festival celebrated the centennial of Leonard Bernstein, as well as Penderecki's 85th birthday, and Maestra Falletta also made history as the first American women conductor to lead an orchestra at the prestigious event.
JoAnn Falletta is here with us to discuss the great Polish composer; Krystof Penderecki. LISTEN
JoAnn, met Penderecki when guest-conducting in Krakow, and invited him to Buffalo. In December 2016, Penderecki led the BPO in concert. Soon after that, the BPO accepted Penderecka's invitation to perform at the Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw. What was your first impressions of meeting Penderecki?
For our conversation today, JF and I touched on 3 Penderecki pieces that you have performed and recorded; the Double Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, the Horn Concerto subtitled Vinterreise, and the Adagio from Symphony #3.
The Double Concerto, a commission from Vienna's Musikverein which marked the society's bicentenary provided Penderecki an opportunity to try out an idea suggested to him by Julian Rachlin, who wanted a work that he could play and record both the solo violin and viola parts. Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major is probably the most well known example of a piece in this format. Max Bruch and Benjamin Britten have also contributed, JF gives thoughts on
Why there are relatively few compositions in this configuration.
Why Penderecki's Double Concerto has had a huge impact on the repertoire.
the Horn Concerto running counter to Penderecki development.
the Adagio from Symphony No. 3
Maestra JoAnn Falletta in a candid interview about Krystof Penderecki
Produced by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Listen to the Daniel Hope 'tribute podcast' to Alfred Schnittke. It's the violinist's encounter with one of the twentieth century's most original and fascinating composers. This podcast was hosted and produced by Crossover Media's Max Horowitz.
"The real legacy of Schnittke's music is its multidimensional exploration of what musical truth in the twentieth century might be, from chaotic polystylism to heartfelt spirituality." - The Guardian
Schnittke – Works for Violin and Piano, released in February 2021 by Deutsche Grammophon, pairs Hope with pianist Alexey Botvinov in a programme of enormous creative breadth and energy. Botvinov, an acclaimed interpreter of the composer's works, joins Daniel Hope for an album that embraces everything from the immediately accessible Polka and Tango to the multi-layered Violin Sonata No.1, the work that first ignited Hope's passion for Schnittke's music.
Daniel Hope was fifteen when he first encountered the music of Alfred Schnittke in 1989. The experience launched a love affair with the Russian composer's work that has continued to deepen ever since. The violinist's latest album for Deutsche Grammophon pays homage to this maverick genius, whose elegant explorations of past styles and free-thinking experiments in "polystylism" were both original and iconoclastic, at times bringing him into conflict with the Soviet authorities.
Ludvig Forssell is the featured guest on our Keeping Score podcast, produced and hosted by Crossover Media's Max Horowitz. The Death Stranding composer reveals his experience working alongside Hideo Kojima and crafting the gritty score by utilizing household appliances and synths that help create the natural, eerie sound.
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After the collapse of civilization, Sam Bridges must journey across a ravaged landscape crawling with otherworldly threats to save mankind from the brink of extinction. In the near future, mysterious explosions have rocked the planet, setting off a series of supernatural events known as the Death Stranding. With spectral creatures plaguing the landscape, and the planet on the verge of a mass extinction, it’s up to Bridges to journey across the ravaged wasteland and save mankind from impending annihilation.
Ludvig Forssell is a Swedish composer known for his work on Metal Gear Solid V and Death Stranding, as well as an audio director at Kojima Productions. He is composing the soundtrack for Death Stranding. For the Metal Gear series, he composed the soundtracks for Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Forssell also wrote the lyrics for Sins of the Father, performed by Donna Burke and "Quiet's Theme", performed by Stefanie Joosten. As an actor, he provided the voices of minor characters, and the likeness for the Shago Platoon commander.
Colin Stetson is the featured guest on Sony Soundtracks Keeping Score podcast, produced and hosted by Crossover Media's Max Horowitz. The Color Out of Space composer breaks down his process of layering different sounds in order to find the sonic representation of a color that is between magenta and hot pink.
Color Out of Space is based on the short story by H.P. Lovecraft. After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farmstead, Nathan Gardner (Nicolas Cage) and his family find themselves battling a mutant extraterrestrial organism as it infects their minds and bodies, transforming their quiet rural life into a technicolor nightmare. Color Out of Space stars Nicolas Cage (Mandy, Leaving Las Vegas), Joely Richardson (The Rook, Nip/Tuck), Madeleine Arthur (Snowpiercer), Brendan Meyer (The OA), Julian Hilliard (The Haunting of Hill House), Elliot Knight (How to Get Away with Murder), with Q’orianka Kilcher (The New World) and Tommy Chong (Cheech & Chong). The film is directed by Richard Stanley (Hardware, Dust Devil). He co-wrote the screenplay with Scarlett Amaris (The Theatre Bizarre). The film was produced by SpectreVision and ACE Pictures and is being distributed domestically by RLJ Entertainment.
Colin Stetson, born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, spent a decade in San Francisco and Brooklyn honing his formidable talents as a horn player before eventually settling in Montreal in 2007. Over the years he has worked extensively with a wide range of bands and musicians, including Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Arcade Fire, Bon Iver and The National. Stetson has developed an utterly unique voice as a soloist, principally on saxophone and clarinet. His astounding physical engagement with his instruments produces emotionally rich and polyphonic compositions that transcend expectations of what solo horn playing can sound like. He is at home in the avant-jazz tradition of pushing the boundaries through circular breathing and embouchure, and his noise/drone/minimalist sound encompasses genres like dark metal, post-rock and contemporary electronics. More recently, Stetson has focused on scoring a number of original soundtracks, including Lavender (2016), Hereditary (2018) and Hulu series The First (2018).
Mark Korven is the featured guest on our Keeping Score podcast, produced and hosted by Crossover Media's Max Horowitz. Korven breaks down the creation of the hypnotic score for The Lighthouse and his experience working alongside Robert Eggers.
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From Robert Eggers, the visionary filmmaker behind modern horror masterpiece The Witch, comes The Lighthouse, a hypnotic and hallucinatory tale of two lighthouse keepers on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s. Starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, A24’s The Lighthouse made its world premiere at this the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
Mark Korven is a Toronto based composer for film and television. He is best known for his work on the 2016 period Horror film The Witch, which won the best director award at the 2015 Sundance festival for director Robert Eggers. Mark also scored Egger’s follow up The Lighthouse starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. It won the Critics Prize at the Cannes Film Festival 2019. His scores have been nominated 14 times for Canadian film and Television awards, winning several. His client list includes AMC, CBS, CTV, CBC, E1, PBS, and BBC. He has also composed feature film scores for acclaimed directors Deepa Mehta, Patricia Rozema and Vincenzo Natale. Currently he is composing for AMC’s critically acclaimed The Terror. Mark is also a multi-instrumentalist specializing in world music. He is represented by Core Music Agency.
INTERPLAY, Conversations in Music, with Michael Shapiro - Leonard Slatkin by Crossover Media
Guitarist John Scofield celebrates the music of his friend and mentor Steve Swallow in an outgoing and spirited recording, made in an afternoon in New York City in March 2019 - "old school" style as Scofield says, acknowledging that more than forty years of preparation led up to it. John was a 20-year-old student at Berklee when he first met and played with bassist Swallow, and they have continued ever since, in many different contexts.
Listen to the podcast
"I love these songs", says Scofield of the selection of Swallow compositions explored here – a broad range including tunes that have become standards, as well as some lesser-known works. The rapport between Scofield and Swallow is evident in every moment. John: "Sometimes when we play it's like one big guitar, the bass part and my part together."
Behind the drum kit, Bill Stewart is alert to all the implications of the interaction. "What Bill does is more than ‘playing the drums,'" Scofield says. "He's a melodic voice in the music, playing counterpoint, and comping, while also swinging really hard." The guitarist himself plays with fire and invention throughout: "These two giants bring out the best in me."
Swallow's compositions, John notes, "make perfect vehicles for improvisation. The changes are always interesting – but not too interesting! They're grounded in reality with cadences that make sense. They're never just intellectual exercises, and they're so melodic. They're all songs, rather than ‘pieces'. They could all be sung."
Swallow Tales opens with "She Was Young", a tune introduced on Steve Swallow's ECM album Home, in 1979, where it was indeed sung, by Sheila Jordan. A number of the tunes addressed here – including "Falling Grace", "Portsmouth Figurations", and "Eiderdown" – belonged to the 1960s repertoire of Gary Burton's groups. Scofield, who had admired them from the outset, studied them with Burton and the composer in the early 1970s, by which point Swallow had made the transition from double bass to bass guitar, creating a new voice for himself on the electric instrument. When Scofield launched his own recording career, Swallow was in his trio (with Adam Nussbaum on drums). Touring widely the guitarist and the bassist fine-tuned their musical understanding, a process continued in many other configurations over the years. Scofield appeared on Steve's XtraWatt album Swallow in 1991, for instance, and Swallow is on numerous Scofield recordings - including the recent Country For Old Men, which also featured Bill Stewart. A close associate since the early 1990s, drummer Stewart had played in John's quartet with Joe Lovano, and gone on to join the guitarist in many journeys over varied musical terrain.
John Scofield has recorded for jazz labels including Impulse, Blue Note, Verve, Emarcy and Gramavision. ECM appearances to date have been infrequent but distinguished; they include two albums with Marc Johnson's Bass Desires group – Bass Desires (recorded 1985) and Second Sight (1987) - in which the guitarist shared frontline duties with Bill Frisell. On Shades of Jade (2004), a third Marc Johnson album, Scofield is heard alongside frequent colleague Joe Lovano. The live double album Saudades (recorded in 2004), meanwhile, features Scofield as a member of Trio Beyond, alongside Jack DeJohnette and Larry Goldings, reassessing the songbook of Tony Williams' Lifetime. Swallow Tales is the first of his ECM recordings to feature the guitarist as bandleader.
Wolfgang Muthspiel, whom The New Yorker has called "a shining light" among today's jazz guitarists, returns to the trio format with Angular Blues, his fourth ECM album as a leader, following two acclaimed quintet releases and his trio debut. Like Driftwood – the 2014 trio disc that JazzTimes dubbed "cinematic" and "haunting" – Angular Blues finds the Austrian guitarist paired with long-time collaborator Brian Blade on drums; but instead of Larry Grenadier on bass, this time it's Scott Colley, whose especially earthy sound helps imbue this trio with its own dynamic. Muthspiel plays acoustic guitar on three of the album's tracks and electric on six more. Along with his characteristically melodic originals – including such highlights as the bucolic "Hüttengriffe" and pensive "Camino" – he essays the first standards of his ECM tenure ("Everything I Love" and "I'll Remember April"), as well as his first-ever bebop rhythm-changes tune on record ("Ride"). Angular Blues also features a single guitar-only track, "Solo Kanon in 5/4," with Muthspiel's electronic delay imbuing the baroque-like rounds with a hypnotic glow.
Muthspiel, Colley and Blade recorded Angular Blues in Tokyo's Studio Dede after a three-night run at the city's Cotton Club. The album was mixed with Manfred Eicher in the South of France at Studios La Buissonne, where Muthspiel had recorded his two previous ECM albums, Rising Grace and Where the River Goes (both of which featured pianist Brad Mehldau and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire). Each of the groups that Muthspiel has put together for his ECM recordings has had a special rapport. About his new trio, the guitarist says: "Scott and Brian share my love of song, while at the same time there is constant musical conversation about these songs."
The Louisiana-born Blade has been a member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet since 2000, along with recording with artists from Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Daniel Lanois and Norah Jones to Charlie Haden, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Joshua Redman. Since the mid-'90s, Blade has also co-led the gospel-infused Fellowship Band.
After being mentored by Charlie Haden, Scott Colley was the bassist of choice for such jazz legends as Jim Hall, Andrew Hill, Michael Brecker, Carmen McRae and Bobby Hutcherson, along with appearing on albums by Herbie Hancock, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Chris Potter and Julian Lage. Colley, a native of Los Angeles, has released eight albums as a leader. "Scott and Brian have also played a lot together over the past few years, so they know each other well,"
After "Wondering" – which includes extended soloing by Colley that embroiders on Muthspiel's melody beautifully – comes the album's title song, the highly trio-interactive "Angular Blues," so titled for its "rhythmic modulations and strange breaks," the guitarist explains. "Somehow Chick Corea's album Three Quartets was an association, but so was Thelonious Monk." Those first two tracks, as well as the album's third, "Hüttengriffe," feature Muthspiel on acoustic guitar, his sound on the instrument both warm and extraordinarily fluent. After that – on "Camino," "Ride," "Everything I Love," "Kanon in 6/8," "Solo Kanon in 5/4" and "I'll Remember April" – he plays electric. Muthspiel's ever-liquid electric phrasing buoys both an emotionally rich original such as "Camino" and the two different turns on his kaleidoscopic "Kanon," the trio version in 6/8 and the solo, mostly improvised rendition in 5/4.
Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Lyrics in medieval Hebrew, Arabic and Spanish from Andalusia, 900-1400 C.E. The Golden Age of Spain that created the tradition of Western song, from Schubert and Verdi to Hank Williams and the Beatles
Zajal, renowned Downtown composer and instrumentalist Dave Soldier explores the beginning of popular song and locates it 1000 years ago at the intersection of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian cultures in southern Spain. Zajal, along with muwashaha, were the lyrics of medieval Andalusia. While many are still sung today (notably in Lebanon), their offspring are everywhere. On a trip to Spain in 2004, Soldier read about the Andalusian caliphate, when the Muslim, Christian and Jewish com- munities not only coexisted, but co-created much of the world we inhabit today. Together, they produced the novel, cowboy culture, the guitar, the dance suite, the Kabbalah, Maimonides and ibn Arabi and the discovery of the New World. And modern song: the zajal and muwashaha introduced the verse and chorus that are the backbone of popular music. Imitation of Andalusia's singing oud players begat the troubadours and the figure of the wandering poet and singer in its myriad incarnations, from Villon to Joni Mitchell.
Zajal features Maurice Chedid, a celebrated singer and oudist from Lebanon who drives a livery cab in New York; Triana Bautista and Ismael Fernandez, scions of famous Gypsy flamenco families; flamenco and Latin music singers David Castellano and Barbara Martinez; and Israeli-Moroccan-Persian vocalist Ana Nimouz. Players include composer Dave Soldier on guitar and keyboards: classical and klezmer violinist Rebecca Cherry; Alan Kushan, the foremost virtuoso of the Iranian sentur: trombonist Chris Washburne (Eddie Palmieri and Willie Colon): klezmer trombonist Dan Blacksberg: jazz bassist Ratzo Harris (Mose Allison, Betty Carter): timbalero Robby Ameen (Eddie Palmieri, Dizzy Gillespie): Greek clarinetest Lefteris Bournias: flamenco dancer and percussionist Jose Moreno: and palmas (handclaps) by the dancers Nelida (Neli) Tirado and Sonia Olla (Madonna and Ricky Martin). Dave learned flamenco guitar from Pedro Cortes, the foremost American exponent of Gypsy flamenco, who produced the record.
The lyrics are by the major Arabic and Hebrew poets of medieval Spain, plus one by their Persian contemporary Rumi in Farsi; a lyric by Dave Soldier in English that uses the sevillianas, a flamenco form; and a modern muwashaha from the great Lebanese singer Fairouz. The music uses contemporary Andalusian forms (buleria, fandango, petenera, rumba, tango) as translated through Soldier's vision of the contemporary cultures of New York City.
Musicians: Dave Soldier, guitar, keyboards, musical compositions (except #2), arrangements; Ana Nimouz, Triana Bautista, David Castellano, Barbara Martinez, Ismael Fernandez, Anais Tekarian vocals; Maurice Chedid, oud, vocals; Chris Washburne, Dan Blacksberg, trombones;
Philip Payton, Rebecca Cherry (solos), violins; Alan Kushan, sentur; Lefteris Bournias, clarinet; Mahmoud Hamadani, recitation; Ratzo Harris, bass; Jose Moreno, hand percussion, trap set, vocals; Robby Ameen, timbales; Ismael Fernandez and Sonia Olla, palmas and jaleo; Neli Tirado, palmasn.
Produced by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Milan Records recent release of THE NEW POPE (ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK FROM THE SKY – HBO – CANAL+ SERIES produced by FREMANTLE'S THE APARTMENT and WILDSIDE, co-produced with HAUT ET COURT TV and THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO), features music by LELE MARCHITELLI. The album score music written by Marchitelli for Paolo Sorrentino's nine-episode original series starring Jude Law and John Malkovich, is complimented by a collection of provokotive songs including the show's theme song from Sofi Tukker and Charlie Barker, a special new edit of Afterhours' "Voglio Una Pelle Splendida" recorded specifically for the show, Recondite & Henrik Schwarz' techno classic "Motion" and more – full tracklist below. Created by Academy Award-winning director Paolo Sorrentino (Youth, The Great Beauty) and his follow-up to 2016's The Young Pope, The New Pope premiered on HBO in January 2020.
Listen to the podcast featuring score composer - Lele Marchitelli
Of the soundtrack, composer LELE MARCHITELLI says, "In soundtracks for cinema and TV, I think it's not so much the music you use but how you use it. We could use the term ‘counterintuitive' to describe certain musical choices that take an unexpected direction compared to what the audience expects. Paolo Sorrentino belongs to a set of directors who share this approach; his musical choices, regarding both pre-existing music and original scores, are extremely well thought out and incongruous with respect to the editing of the scenes. If the music says one thing and the dialogues, the acting or the scene in general don't, it means it has achieved its goal: completing the director's thinking."
Written by the Academy Award-winning director, The New Pope, is Paolo Sorrentino's second installment in the original series, set in the world of the modern papacy. The nine-episode series features Jude Law, John Malkovich, Silvio Orlando, Cécile de France, Javier Cámara, Ludivine Sagnier. Sharon Stone and Marilyn Manson guest star.
Laura Karpman (Underground, Paris Can Wait, Step, Black Nativity) has scored the Discovery docu-series Why We Hate. The show is directed by Geeta Gandbhir & Sam Pollard and investigates the human capacity for hatred and how we can overcome it. The 6-parter traces the evolutionary basis of hate and uses stories from past and present to reveal the nature of the primal and universal emotion. Steven Spielberg, Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) and Frank Marshall (Jurassic World, The Sixth Sense) are executive producing the Amblin Television & Jigsaw production with Stacey Offman, Richard Perello (Super Troopers), Darryl Frank & Justin Falvey (The Americans, The Haunting of Hill House), Yael Melamede, Erica Sashin and Steve Tisch (Forrest Gump, The Equalizer). Karpman has previously scored the Spielberg-produced 2002 mini-series Taken. Why We Hate will premiere later this year on Discovery.
Throughout history, hate and conflict have been part of the human experience. From horrific extremes such as the Holocaust or the Rwandan genocide, when hate has fueled mass destruction, to everyday incidents like playground bullying or malicious trolling on social media, hate shapes our lives in myriad ways. And while all humans have the capacity to hate, few understand what sparks it and transforms it into a destructive force.
Executive produced by filmmaking heavyweights Alex Gibney and Steven Spielberg and directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Sam Pollard (Emmy® winners for "When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts"), WHY WE HATE explores one of humanity's most primal and destructive emotions – hate. At the heart of this timely series is the notion that if people begin to understand their own minds, they can find ways to work against hate and keep it from spreading.
The six-part series began airing on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 2019 on Discovery Channel, with additional episodes airing each subsequent Sunday.
"The issues explored in WHY WE HATE are more relevant than ever," says Nancy Daniels, Chief Brand Officer, Discovery and Factual. "Discovery is tremendously proud to delve into this critical subject with legendary filmmakers Alex Gibney and Steven Spielberg and the teams they have assembled. The hard science gives us the knowledge we need, the storytelling provides the hope."
WHY WE HATE works to contextualize the many instances of hate in everyday life: the violent rivalries that erupt at sports matches, the hateful rhetoric that runs rampant on social media, and the heated disagreements that flare up over political partisanship, race, religion, and social beliefs. The series follows brave individuals seeking to quell violent conflict and correct misperceptions, hears from former terrorists and architects of genocide, and allows viewers to consider lessons from some of the most brutal and enduring examples of hate throughout the world.
WHY WE HATE is an Amblin Television and Jigsaw Productions in association with Escape Artists for Discovery Channel. Directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Sam Pollard. The series is executive produced by Alex Gibney, Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, Stacey Offman, Richard Perello, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, David McKillop, Jon Bardin, Yael Melamede, and Erica Sashin. For Escape Artists: executive producer, Steve Tisch; For Discovery Channel: executive producers, Nancy Daniels and Howard Swartz.
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Welcome to the 'Little Women' podcast featurIng Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and GRAMMY® Award-winning composer; Alexandre Desplat.
Sony Music's release of LITTLE WOMEN (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) was recorded in New York City under the leadership of Desplat, who conducted a chamber orchestra to perform his original compositions. The score serves as a sonic companion to the film's coming-of-age narrative, directed by Greta Gerwig, and which opened in theatres on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25.
Of the soundtrack, composer Alexandre Desplat says, "To capture the life of these four young girls on their path to adulthood, I have called in the four hands of two pianists. They are surrounded by a chamber orchestra, which keeps us in the intimate world of these ‘little women.' We recorded the score in New York City with the most wonderful musicians whose musicality and virtuosity went beyond my expectations."
"Working with him has been a dream," adds Greta Gerwig of working with Desplat on the score. "From the first sketches he sent me to listening to him record the glorious score with an orchestra in New York, every step of the process has been a joy. He has taught me how to work with a composer: how to listen, how to give notes, how to wait for it to develop, how to step away, how to dive in. I am a better filmmaker for having worked with him, and I sincerely hope that it is not the last time."
"For Little Women, Greta envisioned a musical without lyrics. From the beginning, Alexandre had to be the musical voice of the film," says Spring Aspers, President of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, Music. "The resulting score is both dynamic and intimate making it the perfect complement to this exquisite retelling. I can't wait for audiences to come together to experience this film."
Writer-director Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) has crafted a Little Women that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author's alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. In Gerwig's take, the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women each determined to live life on her own terms -- is both timeless and timely. Portraying Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth March, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbor Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March.
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
A bold and powerful nation with imperial ambitions must confront the fact that absolute power may not always equate to certain victory. It must come to terms with the possibility that in this world, other forms of strength and resilience exist. Sublime and transcendental forces, unseen by the naked eye, but infinitely more effective at motivating hearts and minds than brutish strength and bombast.
The POINT LESS podcast is a series that boldly expresses views on social injustice. It is an activist's call - at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered and rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit.So embodies the artistic - and entrepreneurial - philosophy of Onabulé, whose latest album release, Point Less, is a giant leap forward and deeply soulful Rueful yet optimistic, Onabulé's reach is global. His three-and-a-half octave baritone and the powerful emotions he conveys with it connects with audiences around the world. "Hands-on, self-sufficiency has always been my mantra for survival in the music game," says the songwriter.
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Crossover Media has created a podcast with Third Coast Percussion's David Skidmore in conjunction with the quartet's Cedille Records release "Fields," which features music composed by Devonté Hynes (aka Blood Orange.
Podcast includes music from the following tracks - Reach, Coil , Wane, Curl, Hush, Gather, Cradle, Press, Fields, Perfectly Voiceless, There Was Nothing. Third Coast Percussion, though longtime fans of Dev's work as Blood Orange, first came to know him personally through the choreographer Emma Portner from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Although he is best known as a R&B performer and producer, classical music was the first music Dev knew and still considers it to be the foundation of his musical background, citing Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, Giacomo Puccini, and Philip Glass as particular influences on his sense of melody and timbre.
Dev composed all the music for the project in a Digital Audio Workstation, and sent recordings and sheet music to TCP for them to orchestrate. Each of the four members worked on arranging a different section, offering feedback and sending their versions back to Dev and the choreographers. The blend of elements includes; synth pads, beautiful melodies, or intricate, light and bubbly rhythmic structures.
Third Coast Percussion members include; Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, David Skidmore. For 15 years, the Grammy Award-winning, Chicago-based percussion quartet has created exciting and unexpected performances that constantly redefine the classical music experience. The ensemble has been praised for "commandingly elegant" (New York Times) performances, the "rare power" (Washington Post) of their recordings, and "an inspirational sense of fun and curiosity" (Minnesota Star-Tribune). Third Coast Percussion maintains a busy tour schedule, with past performances in 33 of the 50 states plus international tour dates in Colombia, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and Poland.
Over the past several years, TTCP albums for the dynamic Cedille Records have included 2018's "Paddle to the Sea," whose title track was collaboratively composed by all four members of the quartet; and 2016's "Third Coast Percussion | Steve Reich," the winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Chamber Music Performance.
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
After a tragic loss, a parent is inundated with words of condolences and must ponder the real value and meaning of these words. Are they meant in all sincerity or are they just platitudes? Are these words spoken merely to salve the conscience of the well-wisher. In situations where the tragedy is avoidable, Can the energy expended in composing theses elaborately worded but useless phrases be put into preventing the sad event in the first place. Do words have any meaning if they are un-yoked from deeds and action.
The POINT LESS podcast is a series that boldly expresses views on social injustice. It is an activist’s call — at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered and rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit.So embodies the artistic — and entrepreneurial — philosophy of Onabulé, whose latest album release, Point Less, is a giant leap forward and deeply soulful Rueful yet optimistic, Onabulé’s reach is global. His three-and-a-half octave baritone and the powerful emotions he conveys with it connects with audiences around the world. “Hands-on, self-sufficiency has always been my mantra for survival in the music game,” says the songwriter.
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Making their first appearance on BIS, Margaret Batjer and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra cross great distances in both time and space in this program of concertante violin works. In this podcast we speak with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra concertmaster; Margaret Batjer about the album. Here are some notes about the pieces on the recording.
The disc opens with a Violin Concerto by the American composer Pierre Jalbert (b. 1967), whose music has been described as ‘rich in instrumental colour and harmonically engaging.' Composed in 2017, the 26-minute concerto was a commission from the orchestra and here makes its first appearance on disc. The next work takes us to 18th - century Germany, where Johann Sebastian Bach had been busy studying the concertos of his Italian colleagues, and especially Vivaldi. His Concerto in A minor is thought to have been composed around 1730, at a time when Bach had freed himself from his models, producing works richer in both texture and sentiment.
For the second half of the program we return to our own time, travelling northwards to the Baltic countries, as Bach is followed by one of his great admirers in modern music, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt (b. 1935). Margaret Batjer and the orchestra offer us their performance of what is probably Pärt's most famous piece, Fratres from 1977. Originally written for chamber ensemble ‘without fixed instrumentation', it soon became a modern classic and exists in numerous versions. The one heard here, for violin, string orchestra and percussion, was made by the composer in 1992. The closing Lonely Angel is by Pärt's slightly younger colleague P.teris Vasks (b. 1946) from Latvia. Reworked from a movement for string quartet, the piece was inspired by a particular image: ‘I saw an angel, flying over the world; the angel looks at the world's condition with grieving eyes, but an almost imperceptible, loving touch of the angel's wings brings comfort…'
Concertante works for the violin spanning three centuries
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
'And Yet' is a song that begs the question: If we are fundamentally all the same, why is it so easy to dehumanize marginalized people? It takes an askance look at all the counter-intuitive scenarios that a member of such a group may find themselves in. It explores how such scenarios can rapidly descend into unexpected and sometimes dire consequences. Anything from clothing to speech, standard of education or levels of occupational achievements can affect the tenor and trajectory of the most ordinary interactions.
The POINT LESS podcast is a series that boldly expresses views on social injustice. It is an activist's call - at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered and rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit.So embodies the artistic - and entrepreneurial - philosophy of Onabulé, whose latest album release, Point Less, is a giant leap forward and deeply soulful Rueful yet optimistic, Onabulé's reach is global. His three-and-a-half octave baritone and the powerful emotions he conveys with it connects with audiences around the world. "Hands-on, self-sufficiency has always been my mantra for survival in the music game," says the songwriter.
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
The POINT LESS podcast with Ola Onabule: POINT LESS
'Point Less' is the title track of the album and for good reason. It is on the face of it, an exploration of the pointlessness of violence, but it aims to delve a little deeper and asks why in the modern era there seems to be a tendency to point the finger of blame at the victims of violence. The song addresses how peoples who are afflicted by subjugation to a violent culture, ironically have a tendency to enact greater violence on one another . It uses a play on the words point and less and the word pointless to explore these complex relationships.
The POINT LESS podcast is a series that boldly expresses views on social injustice. It is an activist's call - at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered and rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit.So embodies the artistic - and entrepreneurial - philosophy of Onabulé, whose latest album release, Point Less, is a giant leap forward and deeply soulful Rueful yet optimistic, Onabulé's reach is global. His three-and-a-half octave baritone and the powerful emotions he conveys with it connects with audiences around the world. "Hands-on, self-sufficiency has always been my mantra for survival in the music game," says the songwriter.
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
This song is written from the point of view of a man who has just extinguished life of another. He has the authority to do so as a licensed officer of the law, nonetheless the extent of his powers do not sit easy with him. He asks philosophical questions of the society that gives him the power of life and death over his fellow human beings and he ponders the historical context that allows him to wield said authority. He comes to the conclusion that he is fulfilling a pre-ordained role determined by history rather than one defined by his own personal choices.
The POINT LESS podcast with Ola Onabule presents: ‘The Old Story
The POINT LESS podcast is a series that boldly expresses views on social injustice. It is an activist’s call — at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered and rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit.So embodies the artistic — and entrepreneurial — philosophy of Onabulé, whose latest album release, Point Less, is a giant leap forward and deeply soulful Rueful yet optimistic, Onabulé’s reach is global. His three-and-a-half octave baritone and the powerful emotions he conveys with it connects with audiences around the world. “Hands-on, self-sufficiency has always been my mantra for survival in the music game,” says the songwriter.
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media
The Novel Voices Refugee Aid Project, created and directed by the Carr-Petrova Duo, is designed to give voice and visibility, through music and film, to the lives and struggles of both local and international refugee communities, and to encourage audiences and artists alike to become connected and involved.
The #50Days4Refugees podcast series walks through the Duo's past year of travels with the Novel Voices Refugee Aid Project. The 10 episodes cover 50 days for listeners to meet and engage with the people, places, life-stories, cultures, music, and organizations associated with refugee camps and and communities around the globe.
Listen to this week's 10.14.2019 Novel Voices podcast with violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova. Part 2 from the Jelling Camp, Denmark
Because music has such an uplifting, community-building effect, it was easy for the duo to forget amidst their camp visits, the abundance of darkness and sadness which was so often staring them in the face. It was hard for their psyches to consolidate the innocent smiles they saw together with the knowledge of what those smiles had already experienced at such a young age.
On their second day in the Jelling Refugee Camp, the duo greeted the children as they entered the Red Cross School classroom, and were stopped in their tracks when a disagreement broke out between two of the students over who would have first dibs on playing the viola. All of a sudden a chair flew through the air and two incredibly sweet children with whom they had interacted the entire day before released furious tirades at each other in Arabic. As the teachers moved in to assuage the situation, one of the children released a scream they will never forget. A scream of anger, sadness, frustration, and fury, a sound they had never witnessed before.
Carr-Petrova's sweet, gentle and very shy friend Siha is an Egyptian from Kuwait awaiting asylum in Denmark. Siha had deep, curious, thoughtful, and expressive eyes and the duo was excited to watch her slowly start to open up after making music together. Siha gave them another "reality check" moment while working with the students to design a "musical story" together.
One of Carr-Petrova's goals in launching the #NovelVoices Project was to educate themselves about what is being done by both local and international refugee-aid organizations who make a difference in the refugee crisis. Learning about the work done by the Danish Red Cross in their "Jelling Model" school exceeded all of the duo's expectations, filling their hearts with hope, admiration, and inspiration.
In each country the duo visited they had the opportunity to learn about particular refugee policies. The more they learned, the more urgency they felt. The Danish Red Cross was one of these organizations - and their work is INCREDIBLE. With their whole hearts, Carr-Petrova urges everyone reading this post to investigate your local Red Cross organization - and find ways to get involved. They are worthy of our time, volunteerism, and financial support, as they are making the world a better place every day.
Since joining forces as the Carr-Petrova Duo, violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova have compiled a remarkable list of accolades. Both acclaimed international soloists and prize winners, they have been featured in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, and Lincoln Center, to name a few.
Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
The Novel Voices Refugee Aid Project, created and directed by the Carr-Petrova Duo, is designed to give voice and visibility, through music and film, to the lives and struggles of both local and international refugee communities, and to encourage audiences and artists alike to become connected and involved.
The #50Days4Refugees podcast series walks through the Duo’s past year of travels with the Novel Voices Refugee Aid Project. The 10 episodes will cover 50 days for listeners to meet and engage with the people, places, life-stories, cultures, music, and organizations associated with refugee camps and and communities around the globe.
Listen to this week’s 9.30.2019 Novel Voices podcast with violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova — Jelling Camp, Denmark
Since joining forces as the Carr-Petrova Duo, violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova have compiled a remarkable list of accolades. Both acclaimed international soloists and prize winners, they have been featured in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, and Lincoln Center, to name a few.
The Duo’s upcoming engagements include their Carnegie Debut in Weill Recital Hall, on Monday, October 28, 2019 at 8 PM, the release of two recording projects: their debut album “Novel Voices” and an album featuring all American composers on the Spanish Melos label, and international concert tours, masterclasses and residencies in China, Europe, the US, and Israel.
Production & Narration by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
The Novel Voices Refugee Aid Project, created and directed by the Carr-Petrova Duo, is designed to give voice and visibility, through music and film, to the lives and struggles of both local and international refugee communities, and to encourage audiences and artists alike to become connected and involved.
The #50Days4Refugees podcast series walks through the Duo’s past year of travels with the Novel Voices Refugee Aid Project. The 10 episodes will cover 50 days for listeners to meet and engage with the people, places, life-stories, cultures, music, and organizations associated with refugee camps and and communities around the globe.
Listen to this week’s 9.30.2019 Novel Voices podcast with violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova — Jelling Camp, Denmark
Listen to this week’s 9.30.2019 Novel Voices podcast with violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova — Jelling Camp, Denmark
Since joining forces as the Carr-Petrova Duo, violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova have compiled a remarkable list of accolades. Both acclaimed international soloists and prize winners, they have been featured in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, and Lincoln Center, to name a few.
The Duo’s upcoming engagements include their Carnegie Debut in Weill Recital Hall, on Monday, October 28, 2019 at 8 PM, the release of two recording projects: their debut album “Novel Voices” and an album featuring all American composers on the Spanish Melos label, and international concert tours, masterclasses and residencies in China, Europe, the US, and Israel.
Production & Narration by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
The POINT LESS podcast with Ola Onabule presents: 'Throwaway Notion', the second track from POINT LESS, the new album by Ola Onabule.
Onabule wrote ‘Throwaway Notion’ during that period a couple of years ago in which there was an overwhelming amount of discussion about immigration. With alarming speed, expressions of xenophobia that had been left fallow for some time reseeded themselves and were shoe-horned into the arena of acceptability. The song talks about the disconcerting speed with which noble and lofty ideals can be eroded and replaced with fear and mistrust of the outsider. It talks about how diabolical but effective is the cruel genius of ‘scapegoating’ them for the misdeeds and failures of people in power.
The POINT LESS podcast is a series that boldly expresses views on social injustice. It is an activist's call - at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered and rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit.So embodies the artistic - and entrepreneurial - philosophy of Onabulé, whose latest album release, Point Less, is a giant leap forward and deeply soulful Rueful yet optimistic, Onabulé's reach is global. His three-and-a-half octave baritone and the powerful emotions he conveys with it connects with audiences around the world. "Hands-on, self-sufficiency has always been my mantra for survival in the music game," says the songwriter.
Production & Narration by Max Horowitz — Crossover Media
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
A follow up to; 'It’s The Peace That Deafens' Ola Onabulé's new album, Point Less boldly expresses views on social injustice. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered on Point Less, rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit.
‘I Knew Your Father’ is a song that describes a foreign, long distance observers’s reaction to the events that ‘Ballad Of The Star-Crossed’ attempts to document as they watch them unfold in the media. The observer tries, unsuccessfully to comprehend and untangle the complex social anomalies that make these shocking harrowing events possible.
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, under the direction of Amy Andersson, features the music of eight renowned female film composers and presents 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality. This 80-minute interactive experience is a socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert which includes historical visuals from the past to present day. Women Warriors: The Voices of Change celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Orchestra Moderne NYC and Conductor/Producer Amy Andersson team with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience in seventeen world premiere pieces that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
Featured Podcast for today 9.19.2019 is 'Chapter 11 Hell Hath No Fury Like A Women Scorned' with music by Penka Kouneva
The Me Too chapter highlights a painful subject for Penka Kouneva as the overwhelming majority of women bear scars of some form of sexual violence against them. Extremely intense and seething with anger, Kouneva's piece realizes a big breakthrough towards the end symbolizing that finally this issue has been brought out into the open. Women are the creators and nurturers of life itself and it was a great honor for Kouneva to compose music that underscores their battle.
Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Narration for this podcast by Max Horowitz. The opening theme music was provided by Penka Kouneva.
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, under the direction of Amy Andersson, features the music of eight renowned female film composers and presents 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality. This 80-minute interactive experience is a socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert which includes historical visuals from the past to present day. Women Warriors: The Voices of Change celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Orchestra Moderne NYC and Conductor/Producer Amy Andersson team with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience in seventeen world premiere pieces that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
Featured Podcast for today 9.18.2019 is 'Chapter 10: 'Parkland' with music by Isolde Fair
Chapter Ten "Parkland" Honors 3 activists who survived the Parkland shooting. Featuring fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, the song is a memoriam for those who were murdered. Isolde Fair has been writing and performing music since she can remember. She plays electric bass, has studied the violin since 5 years of age, and has played piano since she was a baby, thanks in part, to her mother, Starr Parodi. Isolde draws her inspiration from every day living like school and her peers as well as world events.
Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Narration for this podcast by Max Horowitz. The opening theme music was provided by Penka Kouneva.
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change - Chapter 8: Our Truth is Our Power
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, under the direction of Amy Andersson, features the music of eight renowned female film composers and presents 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality. This 80-minute interactive experience is a socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert which includes historical visuals from the past to present day. Women Warriors: The Voices of Change celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Orchestra Moderne NYC and Conductor/Producer Amy Andersson team with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience in seventeen world premiere pieces that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
Featured Podcast for Week 9.1.2019 is 'Chapter 8: 'Our Truth is Our Power' with music by Mandy Hoffman, Nathalie Bonin & Penka Kouneva.
Chapter Eight - 'Our Truth is Our Power' highlights activists fighting trafficking, child marriage and FGM. Mesmerized by Amy Andersson's passion and concept for 'Women Warriors,' film and television composer Mandy Hoffman collaborates with the young Afghani rapper; Sonita Alizadeh on her song; 'Daughters For Sale.' Depicting the heartbreaking tale of how child brides are still sold in Afghanistan everyday, Alizadeh, almost a child bride herself, luckily escaped, came to America, and became an activist who is now about to attend college. Hoffman worked with Alizadeh's 'Daughters For Sale' producer in Iran to translate their digital composition into Hoffman's 71 piece orchestral arrangement.
Intense and emotional, Nathalie Bonin's memoriam to victims of honor killings; 'Prayer' illustrates a moment of mourning, reflection and hope. When Bonin composed this piece, she wanted to create a very sacred mood where we feel the loss and the pain, but also the hope shining through.
Penka Kouneva's impulse as a composer is to always write music that transcends space and time. For the 'Our Truth' chapter, Kouneva's composition; 'Starry Way' addresses women around the globe who have overcome profound traumas in their lives and yet are role models for their communities, leading by example. The music is not overly "ethnic" but has overtones of curiosity and humanity. Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Narration by Max Horowitz and the opening theme music for this podcast was provided by Penka Kouneva.
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, under the direction of Amy Andersson, features the music of eight renowned female film composers and presents 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality. This 80-minute interactive experience is a socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert which includes historical visuals from the past to present day. Women Warriors: The Voices of Change celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Orchestra Moderne NYC and Conductor/Producer Amy Andersson team with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience in seventeen world premiere pieces that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
Our 2nd Featured Podcast for Week 8.26.2019 is 'Chapter 7: 'Mother Earth Protectors' with music by Nathalie Bonin, Penka Kouneva & Miriam Cutler
Nathalie Bonin's composition 'Tender Dismay' for Chapter Seven 'Mother Earth Protectors' honors Biologist and environmentalist Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring. The light melody and multiple layers of string effects create an innocent and sensitive mood within an unearthly and somewhat disturbing texture. Amy Andersson felt this piece was perfect to accompany the eerie footage of mass DDT sprayings in US of cities during the 1950's and 60's.
The feelings Penka Kouneva had watching the 'Standing Rock' media coverage were rage, anger and disgust. Water is the most precious resource on our planet. Human life would be impossible for more than three days without water. Yet, millions of people around the world have no access to clean drinking water and so many preventable deaths around the globe happen because of contaminated water. Kouneva's music in this chapter was inspired by the minimalism of Steve Reich. The piece features pounding chords and drums capturing the rage at the unjust violence against the peaceful protestors at Standing Rock.
'Climate Revolutionaries' is meant to underscore the very real connection women have with the earth, and the understanding that we need to heal ourselves and our planet. Miriam Cutler understands the reality that we now must come together on a global scale to fight for earth justice and life itself.
Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
The opening theme music for this podcast was provided by Penka Kouneva.
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, under the direction of Amy Andersson, features the music of eight renowned female film composers and presents 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality. This 80-minute interactive experience is a socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert which includes historical visuals from the past to present day. Women Warriors: The Voices of Change celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Orchestra Moderne NYC and Conductor/Producer Amy Andersson team with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience in seventeen world premiere pieces that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
Featured Podcast for Week 8.26.2019 is 'Chapter 6: 'Yearning to Breathe Free' with music by Sharon Farber
Sharon Farber is a four time Emmy Award Nominated Film, TV and concert music composer. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and a member of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Farber is the recipient of a 'Society of Composers and Lyricists Award,' a 'Visionary Award In Music,' and a 'Telly Award.'
Farber is a true believer in Hans Christian Andersen's quote; "When words fail, music speaks" and she is honored to be a part of the Women Warriors, Voices of Change concert and it's historical importance. Always drawn to human stories, she feels privileged to be able to musically communicate the teaching and moral of these narratives and shine light on the human experience.
For Chapter Six - 'Yearning to Breathe Free,' Farber composed "Hurryiah-Wind in My Hair ", honoring Masih Alinejad and the struggle for freedom by the women of Iran. Farber says; "To feel the 'Wind in my hair' is such a simple request and yet in many parts of the world, this plea is denied." The piece was a musical opportunity for Farber to create a fusion of Middle Eastern rhythms combined with the rich sound of the orchestra, and one female voice asking for freedom.
Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
The opening theme music for this podcast was provided by Penka Kouneva
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Amy Andersson - Women Warriors, The Voices of Change, Chapter 5: Women Build Peace
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, under the direction of Amy Andersson, features the music of eight renowned female film composers and presents 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality. This 80-minute interactive experience is a socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert which includes historical visuals from the past to present day. Women Warriors: The Voices of Change celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Orchestra Moderne NYC and Conductor/Producer Amy Andersson team with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience in seventeen world premiere pieces that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
Featured Podcast for Week 8.19.2019 is 'Chapter 5: 'Women Build Peace' with music by Penka Kouneva & violin solo by Nathalie Bonin
Penka Kouneva says that the Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert is the most important and relevant event that she has ever been a part of as it gives orchestral music an urgent social and cultural resonance by tackling humanistic issues that are not usually addressed on a classical concert stage. Kouneva's music will accompany six segments in the program.
For the Women Build Peace segment which shows Israeli and Palestinian women peacefully coming together and searching for common language amidst the most violent, continuous and divisive war of our modern times, Kouneva's soaring piece 'Earth' expresses love, care and humility honoring the power of the human spirit to rise above conflict, hatred and profound differences. In this piece she strived for the music to have a timeless and universal sound.
Violinist and composer Nathalie Bonin has always loved to spark emotion through music and art. Bonin is honored to be part of the Women Warriors event both as composer and soloist. In Chapter Five, Bonin's soulful violin solo for Penka Kouneva's 'Earth' transcends nations, religions, and ideologies, speaking the language of brotherhood, peace and reconciliation.
Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
The opening theme music for this podcast was provided by Penka Kouneva
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, under the direction of Amy Andersson, features the music of eight renowned female film composers and presents 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality. This 80-minute interactive experience is a socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert which includes historical visuals from the past to present day. Women Warriors: The Voices of Change celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Orchestra Moderne NYC and Conductor/Producer Amy Andersson team with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience in seventeen world premiere pieces that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
The featured Podcast for Week 8.12.2019 is 'Chapter 4: Love Is Love' with music by Starr Parodi
Starr Parodi first entered the public eye as part of the house band on the hit late-night Arsenio Hall Show. Since then she has created scores for numerous films, television series, and iconic movie trailers. Her solo work has been featured on NPR, LA's non-comm powerhouse radio station - KCRW and on iHEART Radio. Parodi's darkly innovative production/arrangement of the JAMES BOND Theme which received an RIAA Gold Record was credited by Forbes magazine as "reinventing the modern action movie trailer."
Parodi's World Premiere 'Joy of the Waters' is featured in Chapter Four "Love is Love" which celebrates LGBTQ activists and the achievement of Marriage Equality in the US.
Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
The opening theme music for this podcast was provided by Penka Kouneva.
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, under the direction of Amy Andersson, features the music of eight renowned female film composers and presents 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality. This 80-minute interactive experience is a socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert which includes historical visuals from the past to present day. Women Warriors: The Voices of Change celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Orchestra Moderne NYC and Conductor/Producer Amy Andersson team with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience in seventeen world premiere pieces that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
Our featured Podcast for Week 8.5.2019 is 'Chapter 3 - The 1980's & The AIDS Crisis' with Music By Penka Kouneva
As an adolescent growing up in the 80's in Sofia, Bulgaria, Penka Kouneva was very scared by the AIDS pandemic. She remembers thinking about the trauma each infected person was experiencing and tried to imagine how it feels to live with a death sentence hovering over one's heads. Later, she got to meet and make friends with people who were HIV-positive and their resilience, willpower and commitment to heal touched her deeply. Kouneva's music for this Chapter 3 - The 1980's & The AIDS Crisis' has urgency and drama, but also compassion and hope expressed in the soaring emotional melodies.
Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
The opening and closing theme music for this podcast was provided by Penka Kouneva.
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
Read Full Feature here: http://bit.ly/2OxqqM9
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, under the direction of Amy Andersson, features the music of eight renowned female film composers and presents 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality. This 80-minute interactive experience is a socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert which includes historical visuals from the past to present day and celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Orchestra Moderne NYC and Conductor/Producer Amy Andersson team with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience in seventeen world premiere pieces that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
Chapter 2: 'Freedom - Women Unite' tracks the development of feminism as it emerged in the 1960–1970's. When Miriam Cutler was invited to be part of the Women Warriors, The Voices of Change concert, her response was an enthusiastic YES! The event is a natural extension of her long career in documentary work as a film composer. Cutler is both an activist and an artist; and needs the combination of social consciousness and music that documentaries provide. The filmmakers she works with inspire her, they share values, and Cutler is honored to be a collaborator in the documentary process, as there is a deep sense of purpose and commitment to telling real stories in a responsible way. Cutler believes that Amy Andersson's vision for this concert is ambitious and offers the opportunity for women to join together in creating a powerful expression of their desire to heal the planet and work towards environmental and social justice.
In Chapter 2: 'Freedom - Women Unite,' Cutler's music is accompanied by footage of the feminist struggle to achieve true equality. The composer was lucky enough to be in college when the second wave of feminism exploded into our culture and she has tried to express the outrage, excitement, and hope that many young women felt participating in that revolutionary vision of a more just future.
Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Women Warriors, The Voices of Change features Orchestra Moderne NYC, Amy Andersson, Conductor, with Masih Alinejad - Guest Speaker and Guest Artists - Sonita Alizadeh, Isolde Fair and Nathalie Bonin. The evening presents the music of Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis.
This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.
The opening and closing theme music for this podcast was provided by Penka Kouneva
Read the full feature here: http://bit.ly/2Y3aHsl
Women Warriors: The Voices of Change is a thrilling multimedia concert performed by Orchestra Moderne NYC, and features the music of eight renowned female film composers. Presenting 800 years of women fighting for human rights and equality, this 80-minute interactive symphonic experience features historical visuals of activists from the past to present day. A socially and culturally relevant world premiere concert experience, Women Warriors: The Voices of Change celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human, civil, and minority rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Conductor and Producer Amy Andersson teams with composers Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis, who together have created a rich and cinematic orchestral experience. Concertgoers will hear an unprecedented seventeen world premieres that inspire hope and courage for women and girls around the world. Special guest artists include; Afghan rapper/songwriter Sonita Alizadeh, fifteen year old singer/songwriter Isolde Fair, and violinist Nathalie Bonin. Iranian human rights activist and author Masih Alinejad is the honored guest speaker.
Featured Podcast for Week 7.22.2019: 'Prologue' & Chapter One 'The Long Road' with Music By Lolita Ritmanis.
We live in a time of great hope for change, in a time where women's voices will no longer be silenced, or ignored. As we rip off the band-aid that has been covering up many unhealed wounds from our past, the time is now to learn from that past, and through awareness create a healthier society, where equality becomes the norm, and where diverse voices are no longer marginalized, but celebrated. The concert 'Prologue' shares both visually and sonically, the power of women and the breathtaking groundswell of the collective experience.
Chapter One: 'The Long Road' As Lolita Ritmanis sat down to begin the process of composing an original symphonic work to support Chapter One of Women Warriors: The Voices of Change, the powerful subject of women throughout history seemed a daunting task to write for. How does one comment musically on such a broad overview of the collective "long road," while paying homage to individual achievements, obstacles, and battles won and lost? Chapter One could not merely support the visuals we will see on the screen. This work needed to make its own statement, present its own purpose within the body of the concert. 'The Long Road' needed to feature individual voices within a sea of collective voices and Ritmanis chose to compose a double concerto, featuring four unique voices: flute, violin, french horn, and cello. Throughout Chapter One, the quartet shines a light through the orchestra celebrating women warriors of the past, their journeys throughout history, and the living, breathing road that we are all paving together today.
Join us at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - September 20 2019 at 8:00pm for this historical and stunning concert experience which celebrates the strength and heroism of female global activists fighting for human and civil rights, environmental causes, and gender equality.
Women Warriors, The Voices of Change features Orchestra Moderne NYC, Amy Andersson, Conductor, with Masih Alinejad - Guest Speaker and Guest Artists - Sonita Alizadeh, Isolde Fair and Nathalie Bonin. The evening presents the music of Nathalie Bonin, Miriam Cutler, Anne-Kathrin Dern, Sharon Farber, Mandy Hoffman, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, and Lolita Ritmanis.
Requiem For My Mother by Stephen Edwards - Set for Mother's DayRelease Features Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus American Public Television Documentary to be Aired Nationwide
Requiem For My Mother by acclaimed composer Stephen Edwards is now available on CD and DVD on iTunes, Amazon and other retailers nationwide. The recording, which features the 160-voice Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus, including their 60-member children's choir, and the 50 piece City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, is under the direction of conductor Candace Wicke. This ground breaking event was staged in one of the most beautiful and sacred places in the world, the Basilica of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Rome. The work is the soundtrack of the award-winning documentary of the same name to be aired on American Public Television nationwide in May 2017 in celebration of Mother's Day (check local listings).
Requiem For My Mother is an 11-movement major choral work written by Edwards to commemorate his mother's influence on him – both personally and professionally – from his first music lessons as a child to his career as a professional film score composer. Says Edwards, "I wrote Requiem For My Mother as a remembrance for my mother, Rosalie Edwards, whose passion for music transformed my life and was my constant inspiration. I began the Requiem as a way of dealing with my deep sense of loss at my mother's death in 2006." Requiem earned high praise from acclaimed composer John Williams, who calls the work "heart-felt and honest," and "a touching tribute to a Mother from a loving son."
The documentary follows the thrilling creation of the piece and the massive preparations leading up to its international premiere at the Musica Sacra Festival in Vatican City. A moving personal story as well as a rousing performance film, Requiem For My Mother received an excellent early review from St. Anthony's Messenger's Channel Surfing with Christopher Heffron, declaring "Requiem celebrates family, memories and our universal search for healing – all of it set to heavenly music. Surely, Rosalie is smiling."
Stephen Edwards is best known in Hollywood as one of today's most in-demand film and television composers, whose original compositions are featured in top-grossing films including the multiple Oscar-winning Dallas Buyers Club and over 50 other films. His greatest passions, however, are his choral and orchestral works. These include, in addition to Requiem For My Mother, Missa Brevis for a capella women's choir, under the direction of Candace Wicke which celebrated its' premiere in 2012 at the Musica Sacra Festival in Vatican City, Ave Maria Mass, commissioned by Domino's Pizza founder Thomas S. Monaghan (2004), and Christmas Time In The City (2009), both premiered at Carnegie Hall.
The soundtrack of Requiem For My Mother is Edwards' third commercially released recording. Earlier recordings include his solo piano album, Piano Music from the Movies which pays homage to the film music that moved Edwards through his childhood, and Ave Maria Mass & Suite For the Americas, a 9/11 tribute album that has been hailed as a "magnificent work" and "a moving tribute to the victims of 9/11."
Stream & Download this Helene Grimed Podcast with the pianist discussing her latest project - Water
Hélène Grimaud Explores the Power and Beauty of Water in an evocative and deeply personal new Deutsche Grammophon recording to be released February 5
Hélène Grimaud's latest album for Deutsche Grammophon, produced by Nitin Sawhney, was inspired by her abiding fascination with Nature's most precious gift. Water is set for worldwide release on February 5, 2016 and conveys imaginative responses to everything from mighty oceans and great lakes to raindrops and snowflakes as well as inviting listeners to contemplate the mounting threats to the safety, security and supply of this essential resource.
"What inspired the idea to record this album is really the fascination that so many composers of the 19th and 20th centuries seem to have had with the element of water," Grimaud states. Not only did this sow the seed for a recording, it also grew into a collaboration between the pianist and Turner Prize-winning artist Douglas Gordon. Their site-specific installation tears become… streams become… was created for the Wade Thompson Drill Hall at New York's Park Avenue Armory in December 2014. Described by the New York Times as a "compelling, boldly original work", the project blended elements of art, music and architecture, with Grimaud's water-themed programme located at its core. Gordon transformed the cavernous Drill Hall by slowly flooding its vast floor to create the impression of what he described as an endless "field of water," entirely surrounding the grand piano at which Grimaud performed.
The album features works by nine composers: it opens with Berio's Wasserklavier and includes Takemitsu's Rain Tree Sketch II, Fauré's Barcarolle No.5, Ravel's Jeux d'eau, "Almería" from Albéniz's Iberia, Liszt's Les Jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este and the first movement of Janáček's In the Mists, before closing with Debussy's La cathédrale engloutie. These myriad reflections on the qualities of water were recorded live at the Armory during the installation and then connected and woven into the album narrative by seven "Transitions" that were newly composed, recorded and produced by Sawhney. Grimaud was delighted to work with the award-winning composer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist, praising his ability to highlight "the universal human dependence on our planet's most precious resource" and weave "contrasting poetic and philosophical perspectives into a single, cogent musical ecosystem."
Each piece on this new album unfolds as part of an acoustic "stream", carefully structured in its blend of classical and contemporary compositions, yet experimental in its overall aesthetic.
Hélène Grimaud is not only one of the world's most celebrated pianists, but also a tireless champion of ecological causes, having founded the Wolf Conservation Center, which raises awareness of the importance and relationship of these top predators to our ecosystem. With Water, the insightful Grimaud has united her twin passions for music and the environment in unique fashion.
Stream and Download this Downton Abbey Podcast with Series Composer John Lunn
DOWNTON ABBEY: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION
Musical Highlights From All Six Seasons of the Emmy Award-winning Series and Soundtrack Available on Decca Records/Universal Music Classics on December 4th
Description: UMGToolKit:Users:caseyj:Desktop:Downton.png Coinciding with the U.S. premiere of the final season of the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series Downton Abbey, Decca Records/Universal Music Classics releases Downton Abbey: The Ultimate Collection. The album will be released digitally on December 4, followed by the physical version on January 15, 2016. The 2-CD set features musical highlights from all six seasons of the show.
BAFTA and Ivor Novello Award nominee and 2-time Emmy award winner John Lunn composed the music that is such an integral part of the show, as well as played piano on soundtrack.The instrumental score is performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London, conducted by Alastair King, and features three vocal tracks.
Lunn says, "I like to think that one could almost chart the emotional arc of the entire six years just by listening to these two CDs."
With his gift for delicate orchestration, Lunn possesses a wonderfully unique voice that commands the full range of musical style. Actress Michelle Dockery (aka Lady Mary Crawley) refers to him as "the unsung hero of Downton."
Fans of the hit series will recognize the theme song that instantly evokes the grand estate and its clock-like inner-workings. The theme of Duneagle captures the foggy moors of the Scottish estate of the same name, and The Hunt places you amongst the Crawleys as they chart the rolling hills of the English countryside.
The critically acclaimed drama follows the lives of a stellar cast of characters portrayed memorably by Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, among others, in a stately English country house during the early 20th century. Variety noted Downton Abbey was "compulsively watchable from the get-go" and the Wall Street Journal concurred noting it was "impossible to resist".
Stream & Download thIS Igor Levit Podcast discussing his Sony Classical Bach | Beethoven | Rzewski release
Sony Classical announces the release of Pianist Igor Levit's third album - Bach, Beethoven, Rzewski. Available October 30, the album includes Bach's Goldberg Variations and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, long considered acid tests of the performer's art, plus Frederic Rzewski's gigantic cycle on the Chilean revolutionary song ¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!, which has the reputation of being nearly unplayable. Not content with canonized masterpieces, Levit is equally drawn to the physical challenge of Rzewski's virtuosic tightrope walks.
In seven performances from December 7-19 in New York, Levit and iconic visual/performance artist Marina Abramović will give the world premiere of their collaboration on the Goldberg Variations, which Levit will perform live, at the Park Avenue Armory in the Wade Thompson Drill Hall. Abramović re-imagines the concertgoing experience by employing her Abramović Method to explore the relationship between performer and observer, the limits of the body, and the possibilities of the mind. This concentrated durational work reflects upon music, time, space, emptiness, and luminosity, with the audience becoming a part of the work.
Levit's vaulting artistic ambitions have been proven by his first two albums: the five late Beethoven sonatas (2013) and the six Bach partitas (2014). The response from the international media was as broad as it was universally ecstatic. In April 2014, Alex Ross of The New Yorker wrote of Levit's début album for Sony Classical, "After a few minutes, I was transfixed. Here was playing of technical brilliance, tonal allure, intellectual drive, and an elusive quality that the Germans indicate with the word Innigkeit, or inwardness."
Today, after just a few years on the international scene, this young artist has emerged as one of the leading pianists of our time, combining supreme interpretative earnestness with sparkling technique and extraordinary versatility. He has enlarged his repertoire in many directions at once, at a dizzying pace. It may seem ambitious that Levit, aided by multiple Grammy-winner Andreas Neubronner as producer, has recorded the three most demanding sets of variations in the keyboard repertoire, all within the space of half a year. Yet he has already spent a great deal of time with all three, each of which stands for an important aspect of his work.
Since 2011 Levit has headed the chamber music program at the Heidelberg Spring Festival. It was at his initiative that Frederic Rzewski was invited this year to be the festival's artist-in-residence. Over the years all three sets of variations on this recording have been featured in Levit's Heidelberg recitals. He even played the Goldberg Variations there for the very first time in April 2015.
"Actually, variations have always been my favorite musical form," Levit confides. "The faster the change and the higher the frequency, the more I like it. I view variations like travel books: there are reports of roads leading from point A to point B, but also reports of people who set out as person X and arrive as person Y. I never know in advance how I'll experience the stops along the way or in what state of mind I'll arrive at my destination. Yet I've always felt very protected and in good hands on these journeys."
Levit made a deep study of the Diabelli Variations at the age of 17. Karl-Heinz Kämmerling, the legendary professor of piano at Hanover University of Music, who died in 2012, had intuitively recognized that the wealth of sharply contrasting characters in late Beethoven were made to order for his intellectually agile protégé. Kämmerling's intuition proved correct: the Diabelli Variations became the pièce de résistance of Levit's early career.
Stream and Download this Angele Dubeau podcast discussing her album - BLANC
"BLANC like purity and serenity. BLANC for luminous music that can bring interior peace through its strength and powerful evocation. Fully charged emotions that reflect the strange solitude found in illness. After months of battle against cancer, music has been my focal point, it has brought me comfort, tranquillity and sometimes, an essential escape. This music is of Brubeck, Dompierre, Golijov, Hisaishi, Morricone, Mozetich, Munsey, O'Connor, Phillips, Sakamoto, Schyman and Stevens. A music without artifice, real and filled with hope. This album tells my story, the story of a woman like many others who had to fight against illness and, serenely, came out of it stronger." The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation Thanks You Thank you. By buying this album, you will be helping the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation to finance research and innovation, to support women affected by breast cancer and make breast cancer health a priority thanks to initiatives in education and awareness. The enormous progress accomplished in the fight against breast cancer can be attributed in particular to the outstanding contributions of generous donors and committed partners such as Angèle Dubeau, Groupe Analekta inc. and Distribution Sélect. Together we must continue to work relentlessly to help women, their survivors and their loved ones so that one day the hope for a life without breast cancer can become a reality.
Enjoy, Stream & Download this Sergio Mendes Podcast with the composer discussing his album - Magic.
"The sound of Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes has been a summer soundtrack for generations of listeners." - NPR
In a career that spans more than half a century, Sérgio Mendes is an old hand at creating a unique sonic blend that electrifies a mass global audience. His knack for delivering hit after hit has made him the most successful Brazilian musician of his time. A grand conceptualizer, his well-polished talents as a pianist, composer, bandleader, vocalist and producer make him a truly singular artist. With Magic, his debut recording for the storied OKeh label, he triumphs once again, delivering a timely update on the infectious mix of Brazilian rhythms and contemporary styles from his homeland, the U.S. and elsewhere that make the Mendessound instantly recognizable.
Magic, spotlights the distinct talents of a large cast of both emerging and established Brazilian and North American musicians, vocalists, composers and producers. The eclectic line-up of multi-faceted collaborators underscores how Mendes has been so successful at forging fruitful partnerships since he emerged as a young jazz pianist in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1960s. Present to help Magic radiate its special distinctive charm are such one-of-a-kind artists as will.i.am, putting his producer's genius to work on one track, Grammy® Award-nominated singer Janelle Monáe and Grammy® Award-winning singer John Legend. Among Mendes' Brazilian guests are vocalists Milton Nascimento, Carlinhos Brown, Ana Carolina, Seu Jorge, Maria Gadú, and Gracinha Leporace, Mendes' lovely wife and a noted vocalist from the bossa nova days. Also on hand is guitarist Guinga, one of Brazil's most accomplished string masters and composers. Recording sessions in Los Angeles, Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro involved a host of top-flight musicians from both countries.
"I like to do things that are kind of bold, fresh and unique. That gives me a lot of pleasure," Mendes says of the creative process that has been central to his success. "I'm very curious and intuitive, and I also love to learn new things – I have no formula. I believe in the magic of the encounter… and that is what my life has been about, and also this album. For me, the most important thing is the melody. Then the arrangement. It's all about how you present the song. That plays a big role in what I do."
On Magic, the three-time Grammy® Award-winner taps the entire range of music styles he has explored, from samba jazz to hip-hop. The session's focal point is the exuberant "One Nation." "When I began the album last year," Mendes notes, "I went to Salvador to work with Carlinhos Brown and write a song for the World Cup. It represents the joy, the rhythm and the excitement of fútbol as seen through a Brazilian eye." "Atlântica," by one of Mendes' favorite composers, is an example of what the musician looks for to perform. "When Guinga played that song for me two years ago, I couldn't get the melody out of my head," he comments. "The harmonies and chord changes are incredible. The beautiful thing about the album is that I have songs from composers like Guinga and Toninho Horta and my friend Milton Nascimento, who wrote his tune just for this album."
Maria Gadú, a young singer, guitarist and composer from São Paulo, is another Magic revelation. "I met her about three years ago and said ‘let's do a song together!' What a wonderful experience it was working with her." And, although he included songs like "Só Eu," a melodic beauty by the late maestro Moacir Santos, his theory teacher in Rio 50 years ago, Mendes also contributed more original works than on any previous album. "The songwriting aspect of this album gives me tremendous pleasure," he adds.
Enjoy, Stream & Download these soundbites from Alice Cooper discussing his narration of - Peter and the Wolf in Hollywood.
Deutsche Grammophon & Giants Are Small Partner For "Peter and the Wolf in Hollywood"
Description: C:\Users\Bettina\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\DB5ZQ7K9\Official_GAS_logo (002).jpgA Bold New Multi-Media Interpretation Of The Children's Classic Includes New DG Recording & IPad App with Narration By Rock Icon Alice Cooper - Available November 13
New York production company Giants Are Small and Deutsche Grammophon/UMC proudly present Peter and the Wolf in Hollywood -- an unforgettable journey of classical music, visual wonder, and digital play that bring aninvigorating new perspective to Prokofiev's classic. Audiences of all ages will be able to experience the beloved story of the resourceful Russian boy in multiple complementary formats: digital album, CD, and the richly immersive, interactive experience of an iPad app designed especially for children (age 5-8). All will be available on November 13.
The album was recorded by Deutsche Grammophon with one of the world's leading youth orchestras, the National Youth Orchestra of Germany, directed by acclaimed conductor Alexander Shelley.
Giants Are Small, whose previous work was called "spectacular" by New York Magazine are the boutique studio that created this imaginative take on Peter and the Wolf. Hailed by critics and audiences alike for lavish stage shows that come alive, they are known for their signature fusion of theatre, live filmmaking, puppetry and music. Peter and the Wolf in Hollywood is co-directed by live animation masters Doug Fitch and Edouard Getaz.
Prokofiev's tale is set in modern-day Los Angeles and anchored with a thrilling prequel – set off by the wolf's escape from the local zoo – that takes Peter on a journey of robot building, a helicopter chase, and some melancholic introspection, all before he enters the forbidden meadow where he finally captures the wolf.
Giants Are Small's trademark style combining magical visuals, touching characters, and tone-perfect comic timing opens a fresh view of Peter's adventure - and a fresh hearing of Prokofiev's classic score, which is performed in full, preceded by a wide selection of works by classical music legends such as Wagner, Schumann, Mahler, and Satie.
Alice Cooper says that narrating Peter and the Wolf in Hollywood took him back to his childhood. "I first heard this back in Detroit, when I was six or seven years old. My mom put the record on and I was instantly transported to another world," he recalls. "And it has been huge fun for me to do something new after nearly 50 years in the business." He's also delighted with the story's modern-day twist. "I love the fact that it's moved on, and that Peter has come to Los Angeles to meet his grandfather, who turns out to be an old hippie! That gives the story a fresh dynamic. And I like that he's not in the least bit terrified by the wolf, when everybody else is freaking out."
The Peter and the Wolf in Hollywood app is aimed at deepening children's engagement with both the music and the story. For each character in the story, the app offers a game that emphasizes the personality conveyed by the musical theme. At each key turning point in the story, the child can help Peter in his daring quest to rescue the wolf that has escaped from the zoo.The result is an album and app with a humorous and fresh take on a much-loved classic, exploring themes of family and friendship, courage and heroism, and set against the backdrop of today's media-saturated celebrity world. A bonus section, featuring short videos, explores the making of the project, including how the music was recorded, and the fascinating creative process behind the visuals of the app.
Enjoy, Stream & Download this Matt Haimovitz - Bach Cello Suites Podcast. Below is Press Release
Fifteen years after his pivotal first recording of the Cello Suites by J.S. Bach, which launched the newborn Oxingale Records, Matt Haimovitz returns with a profoundly transformed interpretation inspired and informed by an authoritative manuscript copy by Anna Magdalena, Bach's second wife. In this second foray into the period-instrument sphere – following his revelatory recording of the complete Beethoven Sonatas and Variations with Christopher O'Riley – Haimovitz performs the Suites on baroque cello as well as cello piccolo, the five-string instrument for which Suite VI was likely intended. While on the surface, Anna Magdalena's version provides seemingly little guidance, the manuscript ultimately reveals interpretive insights and an idiomatic grammar to articulation and phrasing. The manuscript becomes a holy testament for Haimovitz in his new document of the Cello Suites.
From Haimovitz's liner notes: The original manuscript of J.S. Bach's 6 Suites for Cello Solo has been lost to history. Our only apostles are Johann Peter Kellner, an acquaintance of Bach, and Anna Magdalena, Bach's second wife. Hers is a faithful copy of the original... more and more I turned to Anna Magdalena's manuscript as particularly valuable, becoming increasingly convinced that hers is closest in spirit to the original. With humility, and no small dose of courage, I continue on my journey with Bach and The Cello Suites, studying the gospel according to Anna Magdalena.
SIX NEW COMMISSIONS: Overtures to Bach - Celebrating his evolving perspective on Bach, Haimovitz builds a bridge to our time with Overtures to Bach, a series of six new commissions, each one introducing one of the six Cello Suites. Haimovitz has commissioned a new Overture from composers Philip Glass, Du Yun, Vijay Iyer, Roberto Sierra, Mohammed Fairouz, and Luna Pearl Woolf.
The six new Overtures to Bach aim to both anticipate and reflect each of the Suites, expanding on the multitude of spiritual, multicultural, and vernacular references found in the Bach. Philip Glass seamlessly connects to the first suite, while Du Yun's The Veronica quotes Serbian chant and Christian imagery for the second. Vijay Iyer's Run responds to Bach's third suite with a virtuosic display celebrating the resonance of the instrument and the composer's jazz roots. Then, for the fourth suite,Roberto Sierra's La Memoria morphs Bach's motives into Latin forms and rhythms. Inspiration comes even further afield from Mohammed Fairouz, whose Gabriel finds a Sufi melody to anticipate the fifth suite, and from Luna Pearl Woolf, who responds to the sixth suite and the cello piccolo with Lili'uokalani, a work inspired by pre-Western Hawaiian chant. The six Overtures to Bach will be recorded for release on the PENTATONE Oxingale Series in spring 2016.