Extra Eclectic

Canadian composer Colin McPhee was the first Westerner to begin exploring the traditional music of Indonesia in the 1930s, and his best known work, "Tabuh Tabuhan" helped set the stage for the exploration of world-music sounds in classical music thereafter. Guest host Bill Morelock showcases McPhee’s work on this edition of the program.

June is Pride Month, and Steve Seel features a few different proudly out composers and performers on this episode of Extra Eclectic, including guitarist Sharon Isbin — who came out at 18 and who has long been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights.

Devonte Hynes has performed under the band monikers Lightspeed Champion and Blood Orange, but as a classical musician, he's collaborated with the likes of Philip Glass and written film and television soundtracks. We hear some of Hynes music on this week's episode, along with selections from Michael Nyman, Tansy Davies, and Sarah Kirkland Snider.

John Adams’ jazz-inflected Saxophone Concerto is featured on this week’s Extra Eclectic, as well as works by Judd Greenstein, Aaron Jay Kernis, and more.

Composer Derek Bermel’s homage to Bela Bartok, “A Shout, A Whisper, A Trace” is one of Steve Seel’s focal points on this week’s episode, as well as more of the “bowed piano” music of Stephen Scott.

Jennifer Higdon’s Viola Concerto won the Grammy in 2018 for Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Steve Seel showcases the work on this week’s show.

Hear composer John Luther Adams' "Become River" as well as works by 20th century mavericks Olivier Messiaen, Jacob Druckman, and Colin McPhee on this week’s Extra Eclectic with Steve Seel.

Philip Glass said that after he heard pianist Simone Dinnerstein play, he knew he had to write a new piano concerto for her. His Piano Concerto No. 3 was the result, and it's one of the main works featured on this week's show with Steve Seel.

Host Steve Seel pays tribute to the closure of Mills College in Oakland, California, after 163 years, with Lou Harrison's music on this week's Extra Eclectic. He also showcases Aaron Dessner's new Concerto for Two Pianos, written for sisters Katia and Marielle Labeque.

Stephen Scott's Bowed Piano Ensemble jumps to the fore in this week's episode of Extra Eclectic. Our music director, Joe Goetz, joins host Steve Seel to share his memories of performing in the group and to play some adventurous music.