Extra Eclectic - Jan. 4, 2023

What's the best way to begin a new year, musically? On an "up" note, of course. This week on Extra Eclectic, Steve Seel shares a variety of upbeat and positive pieces for his first program of 2023. We hear works with lots of forward motion from Jessie Montgomery, Jennifer Higdon, John Adams, Shara Nova and more. Then we’ll end with a few pieces to inspire some possible New Year's resolutions, including Louis Cole's 

Third Sound Ensemble (Orchestra/Ensemble)

Project W: Works by Diverse Women Composers (Album)

Philip Glass: Complete String Quartets (Album)

Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble (Orchestra/Ensemble)

Concerto For Violin and Percussion Orchestra

Works for Violin and Percussion Orchestra (Album)

New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble (Orchestra/Ensemble)

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

What's the best way to begin a new year, musically? On an "up" note, of course. This week on Extra Eclectic, Steve Seel shares a variety of upbeat and positive pieces for his first program of 2023. 


Setting the tone