It’s an annual tradition: Extra Eclectic’s Winter Solstice episode, with modern classical sounds to compliment the longest nights of the year and the traditions and rituals of warmth that accompany them. Steve Seel features selections from Donnacha Dennehy’s suite Land of Winter, Eric Whitacre’s Nox Aurumque, Mary Lattimore’s electric harp piece The Quiet at Night, and much more. And if you enjoy this week’s show, be sure to listen to Steve’s one-hour seasonal special that features much more modern music in this same vein: In Winter's Glow, from American Public Media.
Playlist
For Now I Am Winter
Composer: Olafur Arnalds
Orchestra/Ensemble: Voces8
London/Decca 25736
Land of Winter: December
Composer: Donnacha Dennehy
Conductor: Alan Pierson
Orchestra/Ensemble: Alarm Will Sound
Nonesuch 78994
Land of Winter: June and July
Composer: Donnacha Dennehy
Conductor: Alan Pierson
Orchestra/Ensemble: Alarm Will Sound
Nonesuch 78994
Nox Aurumque
Composer: Eric Whitacre
Conductor: Eric Whitacre
Orchestra/Ensemble: Eric Whitacre Singers
London/Decca 14850
While an Angel Falls into a Doze...
Composer: Takashi Yoshimatsu
Conductor: Sachio Fujioka
Orchestra/Ensemble: Manchester Camerata
Chandos 9652
The Quiet at Night
Composer: Mary Lattimore
Soloists: Mary Lattimore, harp
Ghostly 260
Night Song
Composer: Wayne Barlow
Conductor: Howard Hanson
Orchestra/Ensemble: Eastman Philharmonia
Mercury 434347
Winter
Composer: Rebecca Dale
Conductor: Angele Dubeau
Orchestra/Ensemble: La Pieta
Soloists: Angele Dubeau, violin
Analekta 8754
Song for Octave
Composer: Bryce Dessner
Soloists: Mari Samuelsen, violin
DG 4865773
Within Her Arms
Composer: Anna Clyne
Conductor: Eric Jacobsen
Orchestra/Ensemble: The Knights
Sony 31713
Reflection
Composer: Sufjan Stevens
Soloists: Katia Labeque, piano
DG 4876947
Incantation of Vowels
Composer: Zibuokle Martinaityte
Conductor: Sigvards Klava
Orchestra/Ensemble: Latvian Radio Choir
Ondine 1447
Fridur
Composer: Linda Buckley
Soloists: Isabelle O'Connell, piano
NMC 258
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