The Piano Puzzler

American composer Derrick Skye considers his music 'transcultural,' where different cultural traditions blend into entirely new artistic forms. Drawing from his West African, Native American, and European roots, Skye believes that if he can harmonize disparate cultures within a score, maybe society can do the same. Join us for a Basel Sinfonietta performance of Derrick Skye's 'Prisms, Cycles, Leaps.'

She creates vibrant soundscapes that address important contemporary issues. On a visceral level, her music excites and captivates listeners. As an educator, she's committed to giving back by sharing her passion with the next generation of composers. On today's show, Valerie Kahler speaks with Gabriela Ortiz—our 2026 PT Classical Woman of the Year!

"Of a Spring Morning" is one of the last pieces Lili Boulanger composed before her death at age 24. Though she was essentially on her deathbed, the music doesn’t even hint at mortality. It’s all dewy grass, tender buds, and blossoms, all visible through a light mist. We'll hear this gem by Boulanger on today's show.

To celebrate a hundred years of broadcasting, Polish Radio commissioned ten new works from the country's top composers. Join us today to hear Hanna Kulenty’s Violin Concerto No. 3. By manipulating the tempo of nature through looping, flowing melodies, Kulenty aims for a metaphysical "purification of the soul." Michał Klauza conducts the Polish Radio Orchestra with violinist Marcin Markowicz at a concert in Warsaw.

Composer Viet Cuong recently took an inventive approach to a piece commissioned by Houston-based ROCO. He mapped his family members' astrological signs—Virgo, Aries, Sagittarius, and Leo—onto ROCO’s seating chart; the star placements determined a small ensemble that interacts with the rest of the chamber orchestra, essentially creating a concerto grosso. In today’s episode of PT, we’ll hear the result of this creative process: Constellations by Viet Cuong.

Inspired by the play of light and shadow in Renaissance art, Giya Kancheli’s 'Chiaroscuro' translates the visual techniques of masters like Caravaggio into music. Kancheli uses high-contrast dynamics to craft a musical scene of depth and emotion, bringing the "light" and "dark" of the orchestra to life. On today's show, Andrey Boreyko conducts the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra with violinist Veriko Tchumburidze in a performance of 'Chiaroscuro' from Katowice, Poland.

Henriette Renié transformed the harp's role in the 20th century. Inspired by a dark poem about dancing elves and a knight’s heartbreak, Renié composed a piece in 1901 to demonstrate that the harp could handle dramatic, symphonic storytelling beyond simple accompaniment. Join us today to hear harpist Tjasha Gafner perform Renié's 'Légende' at a concert in Lucerne, Switzerland.

During the pandemic lockdown, the silence of the world's orchestras prompted composer Bryce Dessner to reflect on the fragility of culture and how music can become a fading memory. But, he also thought about how our memories of music can blend with our current experiences to create new, original sounds. On today’s show, conductor Semyon Bychkov leads the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert performance of 'Mari,' by Bryce Dessner.

Composer Conni Ellisor understands that the desire to belong sometimes needs a reminder. Her personal refrain—"I have a right to be here"—serves as the basis of an orchestral piece she debuted in 2024. On today's show, we’ll hear JoAnn Falletta lead Houston’s ROCO in a performance of A Woman Without Apology by Conni Ellisor.

In 2022, the Apollo Chamber Players commissioned a work by composer Wang Jie. Wang Jie, also trained as an organist, wrote the piece for the unusual combination of pipe organ and string quartet. On today's show, we'll hear the Apollo Chamber Players and organist Daryl Robinson play The Night When You See Again by Wang Jie.