Modern classical music embraces the saxophone

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel has more from the 2024 BBC Proms festival, including ‘Stravaganza’ — a new work by Karl Jenkins written for saxophonist Jess Gillam — and an adventurous piece by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Listen now!

The music is exultant on this week’s show, as host Steve Seel brings us John Adams’ ‘Hallelujah Junction’ and we visit the 2024 BBC Proms Festival for a live recording of Wynton Marsalis’ ‘Herald, Holler and Hallelujah.’ Listen now!

This week, ‘Extra Eclectic’ begins its weekly visits to the biggest classical music celebration in the world, the BBC Proms — with highlights from the British summertime festival’s rich offerings of contemporary music performances. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

‘You Come Here Often?’ It's not a question, but the name of the piano piece by Michael Tilson Thomas that opens this week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ which nods to gathering places with John Adams’ Saxophone Concerto, Paul Schoenfield’s ‘Cafe Music’ and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

The momentum is palpable on this week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ as host Steve Seel brings us works that hum along with motor-like rhythms. We enjoy Nico Muhly’s ‘Motion,’ Alex Shapiro’s ‘Perpetual Spark,’ Philip Glass’ ‘Music in Similar Motion’ and more. Listen now!

It’s music for two this week on ‘Extra Eclectic,’ as Steve Seel features works for two players, or two soloists with orchestra. Selections include pieces by Steve Reich, Jessie Montgomery and Richard Danielpour. Listen now!

This week on Extra Eclectic, host Steve Seel brings us percussive sounds with an emphasis on vibraphones, bells, marimbas, and yes, the piano. We hear works from Takashi Yoshimatsu, John Luther Adams, and more.

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel features music by Black American composers with an added undercurrent on the theme of unity. We hear works from Carlos Simon’s ‘Warmth of Other Suns’ to Valerie Coleman’s ‘Umoja: Anthem of Unity’ and more.

It’s hard to believe that nights are already getting a bit longer again! On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we’ll hear Meredith Monk’s ‘Nightfall,’ Johann Johannsson’s ‘Good Night, Day,’ Caroline Shaw’s ‘Who Turns Out The Light’ and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we celebrate Independence Day. Host Steve Seel brings us two hours of music by American composers. Laurie Anderson’s ‘Statue of Liberty,’ Alex Berko’s ‘Sacred Place’ and John Adams’ ‘Shaker Loops’ are among the selections. Listen now!