Bermel Honors Bartok

Bela Bartok’s final years were a challenge, as he adjusted to his new life in New York City. Composer Derek Bermel’s “A Shout, A Whisper, A Trace” conveys his mixed emotions about Bartok’s struggles as they contrast with own love of his native city. Steve Seel also features more of the “bowed piano” music of Stephen Scott, as well as the harrowing string quartet, “Glitter, Doom, Shards, Memory” by Shulamit Ran. 

Steve Seel possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at public radio stations around the country. Steve came to Minnesota Public Radio in 1999 to be a part of its nationally-syndicated classical music programming. In 2005, he became one of the founding voices on MPR's eclectic station The Current, and has hosted various time slots from mornings to late nights, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos. 
 
Steve is an avid reader of political and social commentary as well, and he emcees The Current's popular Policy and a Pint community series, featuring discussions with noted scholars, politicians, community leaders, authors and big thinkers on important issues of the day. Steve is also a basement composer obsessed with all things both minimalist and slow, and might actually be incapable of writing anything that exceeds 75 beats-per-minute.


MPR Photo

Steve Seel

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.
