Relevant Tones
385 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 21 ratingsA podcast about the most fascinating time in classical music history: right now.
Relevant Tones features interviews with and music by some of the most creative figures in contemporary classical music, themed shows exploring new trends in classical music and frequent live streamed shows featuring conversations and music performances.
Hosted and produced by Seth Boustead, Austin Williams, Stephen Anthony Rawson and Matt Dotson.
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Episodes
George Flynn Part 1
November 17, 2012 19:00 - 57 minutes - 79.5 MBGeorge Flynn chaired Musicianship and Composition at DePaul University (Chicago) for 25 years, and continues to direct DePaul’s professional contemporary performance series, “New Music Depaul” as well as Chicago’s “New Music at the Green Mill” series. He has composed over 100 works in all media, including over five hours of piano solo music, the latter performed by international pianists as well as Chicago pianists Stuart Leitch and Frank Abbinanti. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced b...
George Flynn Volume 1
November 17, 2012 19:00 - 57 minutes - 79.5 MBGeorge Flynn chaired Musicianship and Composition at DePaul University (Chicago) for 25 years, and continues to direct DePaul’s professional contemporary performance series, “New Music Depaul” as well as Chicago’s “New Music at the Green Mill” series. He has composed over 100 works in all media, including over five hours of piano solo music, the latter performed by international pianists as well as Chicago pianists Stuart Leitch and Frank Abbinanti. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced b...
Maya Beiser
October 27, 2012 17:00 - 57 minutes - 79.4 MBThis week we’re featuring cellist Maya Beiser‘s latest CD with composer and pianist Michael Harrison, Time Loops. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Michael Harrison: Just Ancient Loops, I Harrison: Time Loops Bach/Gounod: Ave Maria Harrison: Raga Prelude I (Yaman) Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel Harrison: Hijaz, Young People’s Chorus of New York City/Núñez; Beiser, vc.
Lisa Bielawa
October 12, 2012 17:00 - 57 minutes - 79.3 MBComposer-vocalist Lisa Bielawa is a 2009 Rome Prize winner in Musical Composition. She takes inspiration for her work from literary sources and close artistic collaborations. Gramophone reports, “Bielawa is gaining gale force as a composer, churning out impeccably groomed works that at once evoke the layered precision of Vermeer and the conscious recklessness of Jackson Pollock,” and The New York Times describes her music as, “ruminative, pointillistic and harmonically slightly tart...
The Atlanta School
September 27, 2012 17:00 - 57 minutes - 78.8 MBConductor Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra have created a thriving community of composers who have come to be known as “The Atlanta School”. They include Jennifer Higdon, Christopher Theofanidis, Osvaldo Golijov, and Michael Gandolfi, and this week we’ll listen to their music. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Michael Gandolfi: The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, I-III Christopher Theofanidis: Drumsound Rises from The Here & Now Osvaldo Golijov: Secon...
Just Intonation
September 22, 2012 17:00 - 58 minutes - 80.9 MBToday we leave the world of equal-temperament behind and explore various contemporary pieces written for instruments in just intonation. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Terry Riley: The Harp of New Albion– Premonition Rag (excerpt), Terry Riley, p. Michael Harrison: Just Ancient Loops, II, Maya Beiser, vc. Terry Riley: The Harp of New Albion– Cadence on the Wind (excerpt), Terry Riley, p. Lou Harrison: Serenade for Guitar– Air, David Tannenbaum, guitar John Adams...
Chicago Fall Concert Season Preview 2012
September 15, 2012 17:00 - 58 minutes - 80.5 MBSeth previews some of the fantastic upcoming performances from Chicago new music groups, including CUBE, Access Contemporary Music, Dal Niente, and more. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Chinary Ung: Laughter Passes Over the Earth & Flying Mirrors fr. Seven Mirrors – Ensemble Dal Niente Sebastian Currier: Ethereal & Charged from Static Access Contemporary Music Jimmy López: Avec Swing – CUBE Stacy Garrop: Thunderwalker, II – Chicago Composers Orchestra Jam...
John Cage Centennial
September 01, 2012 17:00 - 58 minutes - 80.7 MBIn anticipation of John Cage’s 100th Birthday, Relevant Tones examines his life and music. Two members of Chicago-based ensemble Third Coast Percussion, Robert Dillon and David Skidmore, join us in the studio to share anecdotes about their experiences playing Cage’s works. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters
Anna Clyne
August 25, 2012 16:00 - 59 minutes - 81.6 MBCSO composer-in-residence Anna Clyne comes to our studio to talk to us about her new compositions and the artists who inspired them. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters
Starting From Scratch
August 19, 2012 16:00 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MBThis week’s Relevant Tones focuses on composers who have tried to step outside the box, redefine their definitions of music, and start over without limitations. We’ll be examining the works of Alvin Lucier, Chris Preissing, James Tenney, Lou Harrison, and more. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Alvin Lucier: I am sitting in a room (excerpt) James Tenney: Cellogram, William Jason Raynovich, Cello Lou Harrison: Cornish Lancaran, Musicians of the Gamelan Si Betty, Ber...
Bang on a Can at 25 Part 3
July 28, 2012 23:00 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MBJoin us this week for the third part of our foray into the Bang on a Can Marathons. We’ll be focusing on Michael Gordon and Julia Wolfe, two of the co-founders of the Bang on a Can organization. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Gordon: Timber, Mvt. 1 (excerpt), Slagwerk Den Haag Gordon: For Madeline, Bang on a Can All-Stars Wolfe: Lad, Part I From Dark Full Ride, Matthew Welch (Bagpipe) Wolfe: Dig Deep, Ethel Frank Zappa: Zombie Woof, Asphalt Orchestra
Bang on a Can at 25 Part 1
July 14, 2012 23:00 - 58 minutes - 80.5 MBSeth brings back his findings and experiences from the Bang on a Can Marathon in New York City. The Bang on a Can Marathon is a yearly celebration of new musical styles and ideas, designed to bring diverse performances to a wide public audience. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Louis Andriessen: De Staat (excerpt), Bang on a Can All-Stars Milton Babbitt: Vision and Prayer (excerpt), Bethany Beardslee, soprano Steve Reich: Four Organs (excerpt), Steve Chambers, P...
Spectral Music
July 07, 2012 05:00 - 58 minutes - 80.4 MBThis week on Relevant Tones, we’ll delve into the music of Gerard Grisey and Tristan Murail, two composers who base their compositions on mathematic spectral analyses of the overtone series. Grisey and Murail’s compositions originated the style of Spectral Music. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Gerard Grisey: Partiels (excerpt), WDR Sinfonieorchester of Cologne; Stefan Asbury Gerard Grisey: Talea (excerpt), Ensemble RechercheAbout Ensemble Recherche Gerard Grisey...
Lincoln Trio Live Performance
July 01, 2012 03:00 - 58 minutes - 79.8 MBThis week, we’ll be broadcasting a live performance of the Lincoln Trio, a Chicago-based ensemble featuring Desirée Ruhstrat on violin, David Cunliffe on cello, and Marta Aznavoorian on piano. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Stacy Garrop: Silver Dagger Lera Auerbach: Trio, for violin, cello, and piano; Prelude Laura Elise Schwendinger: C’e La Lune Questa Sera Jennifer Higdon: Piano Trio Pierre Jalbert: Life Cycle
Pierre Boulez Notations
June 24, 2012 03:00 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MBIn his Notations, Pierre Boulez composed twelve short piano miniatures that contain a cosmos of sound and potentiality. After decades at the helm of the avant-garde, Boulez has set to work unlocking those inner possibilities through thoughtful orchestration and elaboration. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Olivier Messaien: Vingt regards sur l’enfant Jésus, Mvt. II, Peter Serkin, Piano Anton Von Webern: Variations for Piano, Op. 27, Mvt. III, Peter Serkin, Piano ...
Bang on a Can at 25 Part 2
June 21, 2012 23:00 - 58 minutes - 81 MBDuring this week’s Relevant Tones, Seth Boustead continues to share more music and interviews from the Bang on a Can Marathon 2012. Part II features composers Evan Ziporyn and David Lang, two galvanizing forces in the Bang on a Can Marathons. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Evan Ziporyn: Tire Fire, Mvts. 1, 4, 5, Gamelan Galak Tika Evan Ziporyn: Music from Shadowbang, Bang on a Can All-Stars David Lang: Cheating, Lying, Stealing, Bang on a Can All-Stars David Lan...
Weekly Readings
June 17, 2012 03:00 - 58 minutes - 79.9 MBStarting in 2004 Access Contemporary Music has read and recorded a piece of music by a living composer every week and posted it to their website. We sample just a few of the highlights from the past eight years of this remarkable program. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Malcolm Dedman: Dispelling the Darkness, Chie Yoshinaka, violin Bryan Page: Kick the Duck, Richard Sladek, piano Javier Torres Maldonado: Reflejo Espiral, Alicia Poot, flute, Matthew Peters, perc...
Classical Remixes
June 10, 2012 02:00 - 56 minutes - 78.2 MBThis week, we’ll listen to how composers are using samples and remixes of recordings to generate an entirely new sound palette. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Luciano Berio: Sinfonia for Eight Voices and Orchestra – excerpt Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ChaillyLuciano Berio John Matthias/Nick Ryan: Cortical Songs John Matthias and Nick Ryan Thom Yorke: Neuron Trigger RemixThom Yorke Jem Finer: The Squid’s Terror of Dry Land Graham Reynolds: The Difference Eng...
Douglas Cuomo and Arjuna's Dilemma
June 02, 2012 23:00 - 59 minutes - 81.5 MBBased on the Bhagavad Gita, a Sanskrit text that delves into the discussion between the divine Krishna and earthbound Arjuna, Douglas Cuomo’s Arjuna’s Dilemma draws from both Indian and western musical traditions to create a compelling musical drama. Cuomo joins Seth in the studio to talk about his composition. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Scene 1, The Dilemma Gathering Forces My Limbs Fail Oh Krishna Scene 2, The Answer My Head Turns The Answer Part I T...
Chicago Composers Orchestra
May 29, 2012 22:00 - 51 minutes - 71.4 MBSeth talks with the founders of the Chicago Composers Orchestra about their work and mission and upcoming U.S. premiere of Chen Yi’s viola concerto. All pieces conducted by Matthew Kaspar. Brian Baxter: Roots Run Deep Randall West: Elements for Orchestra Chen Yi: Xian Shi (Concerto for Viola and Orchestra), Michael Hall, viola
Gabriela Lena Frank
May 19, 2012 22:00 - 58 minutes - 80.6 MBGabriela Lena Frank talks with Seth about her travels, music, professional life and the contemporary classical music field. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Toyos and Tarqueada from Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout, Chiara String Quartet Jungle Jaunt from Latin American Dances, Utah Symphony Orchestra/Keith Lockhart Harawi Para Colquipocro fr. Ritmos Anchinos, Silk Road Ensemble Quijotadas for string quartet, II- Seguidilla para la Mancha, ALIAS Ensemble Adagio para...
Speedy Delivery
May 13, 2012 02:00 - 57 minutes - 79.5 MBThis week we dive into our mailbag to listen to some recent new music releases sent to Relevant Tones. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Sunbin Kim: Whirlwind, Palisades Virtuosi James MacMillan: Seraph, I BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Jason Wright Wingate: Symphony No. 2 Movement of the Vaulted Chambers The Twittering Machine Hermitage Orchestra de l’invisible/Wingateabout Jason Wright Wingate Michael Nyman: Songs for Tony, I&IV sonic.art Saxophone Quartet Ron...
Rise of the Electric Guitar
May 05, 2012 20:00 - 57 minutes - 79.2 MBThe electric guitar and classical music may seem like strange bedfellows, but almost as soon as the instrument was invented, composers devised ways to take advantage of its sonic possibilities. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Bob Dylan: Maggie’s Farm Charlie Christian: Solo Flight (excerpt) Leonard Bernstein: Simple Song from Mass Donald Erb: Trio for Violin, Electric Guitar and Cello (excerpt) Morton Feldman: Straits of Magellan George Crumb: La Guitarra from ...
Jacob TV
April 20, 2012 20:00 - 58 minutes - 80.5 MBDutch composer Jacob TV joins us in the studio to talk about the upcoming premiere of his ambitious multi media opera The News. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Playlist ◦ Trailer to “The News” (1:40) ◦ Lipstick (9:38) ◦ Grab It! (1:39) ◦ Garden of Love (7:17) ◦ I was like WOW (excerpt) (4:00) ◦ Giant If & Corroto fr. The News (8:05) All performances by members of Fulcrum Point
Gabriel Prokofiev
April 14, 2012 20:00 - 58 minutes - 80.9 MBLondon-based DJ, composer and entrepreneur Gabriel Prokofiev talks with Seth about composing and performing for a 21st century audience, family legacies, and the use of sampling in classical music. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Concerto for Turntable and Orchestra (excerpts) — Heritage Orchestra/Jules Buckley; DJ Yoda, turntable Piano Book No. 1 (exceprts) — Génia, p. Float Dance — Peter Gregson, vc. Suite for Global Junk — Joby Burgess, percussion Strin...
Eighth Blackbird
April 07, 2012 19:00 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MBFresh off their 2012 Grammy win, the Chicago ensemble eighth blackbird stops by to discuss their latest album, recent premieres and performances across the globe. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Jennifer Higdon: Zaka Thomas Albert: Thirteen Ways (excerpt) Frederic Rzewski: Les Moutons De Panurge Steve Reich: Double Sextet (excerpt) Jennifer Higdon: Concerto for Sextet and Orchestra, On a Wire Steven Mackey: Lonely Motel (excerpt)
Mystical Minimalism Part III: Henryk Gorecki
March 30, 2012 19:00 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MBOne of Poland’s most significant 20th century composers, Henryk Górecki led a quiet revolution against the Soviet authorities through his inimitable style of mystical minimalism. We’ll dedicate an hour to his music and life. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Symphony No. 3 (excerpts)— London Sinfonietta, David Zinman, Conductor, Dawn Upshaw, Piano Preludes (excerpts) — Stephen de Pledge, p. Scontri — Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra Beatus Vir (excerpts) ...
Mystical Minimalism Part II: John Tavener
March 22, 2012 19:00 - 58 minutes - 80.1 MBOur series on the Mystic Minimalists continues with John Tavener, whose encounters with Eastern thought changed him into one of the most spiritually-connected composers to ever write music. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters The Protecting Veil (excerpt), LSO/Rozhdestvensky; Isserlis, vc. The Whale, I, London Sinfonietta/Tavener Little Requiem for Father Malachy Lynch (excerpt) English Chamber Orchestra & Westminster Abbey Choir/Martin Neary Akethist of Thanksgivin...
Mystical Minimalism Part I: Arvo Párt
February 27, 2012 20:00 - 57 minutes - 78.6 MBThe first in a three-part series looking at composers whose simple but remarkable music transports many listeners to a deeply spiritual place. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Pärt: Miserere (excerpts), Hilliard Ensemble/Hillier Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Piano, Op. 23, V Gould, p. Pärt: Sonatina, Op. 1 No. 2 (excerpt), Stephen de Pledge, p. Pärt: Perpetuum Mobile, Bamberg Symphony Orch/N. Järvi Pärt: Collage on the Theme B-A-C-H, Estonian Nat’l Symphony Orchestr...
Sebastian Currier
February 23, 2012 19:00 - 58 minutes - 80 MBNew York-based composer Sebastian Currier visits to talk about his music and work, including recent collaborations with Anne-Sophie Mutter. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Quiet Time, Cassatt String Quartet Time Machines, Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Alan Gilbert, New York Philharmonic
The Far Reach of Radiohead
February 01, 2012 20:00 - 57 minutes - 79 MBCrossover between classical and rock musicians was common in the 1970’s but has taken a bit of a break until recently. Now instead of composers influencing rock musicians like Brian Eno, a rock band is having a huge influence on a diverse array of composers around the globe. The music of Radiohead has been arranged by countless composers and has yielded fascinating results. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Andrew Walker and the Entropy Ensemble: There There Radio...
Return to Improvisation
December 20, 2011 19:00 - 58 minutes - 80.5 MBSomething of a lost art, improvisation in classical music is making a comeback in a big way thanks to composers like Steven Snowden, Don Malone, and Aaron Johnson. Teaming up with fantastic performers, they prove that improvisation very much has a place in the modern concert hall. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Playlist ◦ Bach/Montero: Toccata in d minor, Gabriela Montero, p.EMI 64647 ◦ Song of Cerberus, Ens./Thompson Dane recordings 0062 ◦ ...
Modern Piano
November 25, 2011 19:00 - 59 minutes - 81.1 MBMost pianos have 88 keys, but the notes that they produce are just the beginning of the sonic possibilities available to the keyboardist. This week we’ll listen to how boundary-shattering composers from John Cage to Conlon Nancarrow unlocked and exploited keyboard instruments’ aural potential. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Playlist ◦ Cage: The Perilous Night; Marcus Hinterhauser, p. ◦ Satie: La Piège de Medusa (excerpt); Alexandre Tharaud, p. ...
George Flynn
November 24, 2011 19:00 - 56 minutes - 77.6 MBSeth talks with Chicago composer and pianist George Flynn. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters
Michael Daugherty's Metropolis Symphony
October 25, 2011 18:00 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBIt’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a symphony! In the first Relevant Tones episode, Seth talks with Michael Daugherty about his Grammy Award-winning Metropolis Symphony, based on the myth of Superman. Hosted by Seth Boustead Produced by Jesse McQuarters Michael Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony Nashville Symphony Orchestra; Giancarlo Guerrero, Conductor