Extra Eclectic - March 29, 2023

Composer Scott Johnson, who forged his own original style based on the rhythmic and melodic components of recorded speech, died this past Friday at 70. It comes as a tragic irony, as Johnson was perhaps the other primary modern composer associated with mastering this technique besides Steve Reich — whose works incorporating the technique were featured on our show just last week. In Johnson's honor, Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel features his poignant work 

 performed by the Kronos Quartet on this week's show. 

Chorale For Nanine with Birds (Hommage A Messiaen)

Blues Dialogues: Music By Black Composers (Album)

Chiara String Quartet (Orchestra/Ensemble)

BBC Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra/Ensemble)

United Strings of Europe (Orchestra/Ensemble)

Steve Seel is the host of YourClassical’s weekly SymphonyCast and the trailblazing music show Extra Eclectic. He possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at radio stations around the country. Steve began his love affair with public radio at 24 working whatever shifts he could at his hometown station of WUSF-FM in Tampa, Florida, and from there worked his way to snowy Buffalo, New York, and its renowned classical station WNED-FM, where he hosted middays and the weekly experimental-music show Present Tense.  In 2005, Steve became one of the founding voices on Minnesota Public Radio's eclectic station, the Current. While there, he hosted afternoons and mornings, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos. Steve is 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.


Steve Seel

Composer Scott Johnson a composer and guitarist died this past Friday at 70. In Johnson's honor, Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel features his poignant work ‘Soliloquy’ performed by the Kronos Quartet on this week's show. 


Composer and guitarist Scott Johnson dies at 70