Steve Reich: The soul of minimalism

Maya Beiser has been called “queen of the avant-garde cello,” with her adventurous and idiosyncratic performances and recordings. We listen to selections from her new release, ‘Salt,’ on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ Listen now with host Steve Seel!

We’re looking skyward on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ with music celebrating the sun, the stars and even the aurora. We hear Max Richter’s music from the film ‘Ad Astra,’ Jacob ter Velduis’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (‘Sky Falling’), Olivia Bellis’ ‘Limina Luminis’ and much more. 

Ballet as we know it may have first emerged in the Italian Renaissance, but even today, modern composers are still writing for the art form. On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we hear a number of contemporary ballet scores. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

Forms of repetition are explored on this week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ We hear selections including ‘Divine Objects’ from Johann Johannsson’s ‘Drone Mass,’ the ‘Chaconni’ from Jennifer Higdon’s Violin Concerto, John Corigliano’s ‘Fantasia on an Ostinato’ and much more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ guest host Bonnie North shares a program of modern dance music, including polonaises by Thomas Ades, excerpts from Wynton Marsalis’ ‘Blues Symphony,’ Stephen Jaffe’s ‘Light Dances’ and more. Listen now!

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ guest host Jake Armerding shares selections by American composers in observance of Independence Day. Listen now!

In 2016, pianist Jonathan Biss and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra launched ‘Beethoven/5,’ commissioning five composers to write new piano concertos, each inspired by one of Beethoven’s. We hear two of those works on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ Listen now!

Iconoclastic and massively influential American composer Terry Riley celebrates his 90th birthday on June 24, and we honor him this week on ‘Extra Eclectic’ by devoting the entire first hour to a cross-section of his output. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

Contemporary composers with Middle Eastern roots provide a lively tapestry on this week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ We hear Layale Chaker’s ‘Ya Fajr’ from ‘Mkhammas Suite,’ Reza Vali’s Calligraphy No. 16, ‘Isfahan’ and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

The summer solstice is almost upon us, so Steve Seel brings us a rhapsody on summer themes on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’: Donnacha Dennehy’s ‘June’ and ‘July’ from ‘Land of Winter,’ Peteris Vasks’ ‘Summer Dances,’ and Brian Eno’s ‘Music for Airports.’ Listen now!