I Care if You Listen

Austin TX Offers New Sounds at the Gershwin Hotel

David Pearson — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:30:44 PST

The Fast Forward Austin new music festival brought the noise to NYC with a concert February 23rd at the Contagious Sounds Series. The Bel Cuore Saxophone Quartet proved itself as an ensemble with a broad sound palette, a down to earth stage presence, and tremendous communication and spontaneity. Their selections highlighted the numerous qualities of [...]

5 questions to Joan La Barbara (composer, performer, educator)

Thomas Deneuville — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:05:09 PST

This weekend’s Ne(xt)works’ Music Without Dance—a multi-event festival focusing on recent and historical musical works originally created to be heard with choreographed movement—was the perfect excuse to interview Joan La Barbara and talk about dance, as well as Phase Two of Storefront Diva… Your name is usually associated with a life-long relationship with voice but you [...]

Arvo Pärt Spans the Millenial Divide with Timeless Gems (Naxos)

Rob Wendt — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:30:30 PST

Pärt Piano Music by Naxos features pianist Ralph van Raat interpreting the Estonian composer’s music spanning over four decades. This retrospective takes us on a stylistic journey that is truly millennial in scope, while remaining reverent in spirit. The first of the Zwei Sonatinen, Op. 1 (1958), shares much of the language of Pärt’s elder [...]

Hanging out with Timothy Andres | Hang #3

Thomas Deneuville — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:15:26 PST

For this Hang #3, Timothy Andres welcomed us in his Brooklyn apartment. We talked about his Nonesuch album (Shy and Mighty), about popular music, typefaces and fresh mozzarella. Here is the interview: Watch this video on YouTube Embedded with WP YouTube Lyte. And here is a beautiful recording of Timothy playing At the River (2011) dedicated [...]

5 question to Nicole Lizee (Composer)

Paul Kilbey — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:30:33 PST

In Death to Kosmische you have the string quartet use a stylophone and an omnichord. In the past you’ve used an Atari 2600 games console. Is your fascination with the sound of these old electronic instruments, or with the technology, or both? Both. My fascination with old electronics stems from my childhood. My father is an electronics collector/retailer/repairman and our house [...]

Crouch End Festival Chorus/David Temple: Barbican, London

Steven Berryman — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:30:17 PST

The Crouch End Festival Chorus, directed by David Temple, has established itself as a leading chorus with work that spans classical and popular idioms and a great deal of recording. Recent work includes Noel Gallagher’s new solo album, television and film scores and the concert at the Barbican this evening demonstrates the Chorus’ dedication to [...]

Claire Chase releases Terrestre on New Focus Recordings

David Pearson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:22:27 PST

On her new album Terrestre, Claire Chase achieves every woodwind player’s fantasy: playing with a perfect response, solid tone, and in total command of her instrument. Her selection of some of the most difficult music composed for flute in the recent past and present demonstrates her technical prowess and determination to present her instrument’s capacity [...]

Premiere Commission 10th anniversary concert at Le Poisson Rouge

Matt Weber — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:10:16 PST

The Premiere Commission 10th Anniversary Concert at Le Poisson Rouge, February 13th, 2012, featured one New York premiere and three world premieres, as well as more established pieces. Unlike some contemporary classical concerts, this evening at LPR featured a small array of instruments, including only piano, string quartet (the very “hot” Brooklyn Rider), soprano, and, [...]

A Far Cry, Slow Six and This Will Destroy You at Ecstatic Music Festival

Evan Burke — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:25:25 PST

Music is often colorfully compared to alchemy. Both arts involve the careful meeting of scientific logic and emotive, mystical chaos. The musician takes sounds that can be expressed mathematically, orders them in a way that can be analyzed logically, and produces something that, hopefully, will elicit some kind of emotional, intellectual, or spiritual reaction from [...]

Hanging out with Leah Kardos at Steinway Hall | Hang #2

Thomas Deneuville — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:30:51 PST

Leah Kardos was in town this week and I am so happy I got to hang out with her (and her friend Liz). The location I picked to meet and record her solo piano performance was the Henry Z. Steinway room at Steinway Hall (thank you!). The rest is here: Watch this video on YouTube Embedded with [...]