Poster Scott Johnson
Composer and guitarist Scott Johnson.
Provided
Extra Eclectic

Composer and guitarist Scott Johnson dies at 70

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

Episode Playlist

Chorale For Nanine with Birds (Hommage A Messiaen)
Gerald Levinson (Composer)
Now Your Colors Sing (Album)
Marcantonio Barone, Piano (Soloist)
Duration: 4:36
Blues Dialogues: Blues Feeling
Dolores White (Composer)
Blues Dialogues: Music By Black Composers (Album)
Rachel Barton Pine, Violin (Soloist)
Duration: 3:24
Still Life with Avalanche
Missy Mazzoli (Composer)
Meanwhile (Album)
Eighth Blackbird (Orchestra/Ensemble)
Duration: 8:46
Cantus In Memory of Benjamin Britten
Arvo Part (Composer)
Angele Dubeau (Conductor)
Arvo Part: Portrait (Album)
La Pieta (Orchestra/Ensemble)
Duration: 7:08
Celeste
Brian Eno/Roger Eno (Composer)
Study of the Invisible (Album)
Vanessa Wagner, Piano (Soloist)
Duration: 4:39
The Quiet at Night
Mary Lattimore (Composer)
At the Dam (Album)
Mary Lattimore, Harp (Soloist)
Duration: 4:13
The Night Gatherers
Judd Greenstein (Composer)
First Things First (Album)
Chiara String Quartet (Orchestra/Ensemble)
Nadia Sirota, Viola (Soloist)
Duration: 12:54
Ink Dark Moon
Joby Talbot (Composer)
Ben Gernon (Conductor)
The Moon and The Forest (Album)
BBC Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra/Ensemble)
Milos Karadaglic, Guitar (Soloist)
Duration: 23:25
Lua Descolorida (Colorless Moon)
Osvaldo Golijov (Composer)
Julian Azkoul (Conductor)
Renewal (Album)
United Strings of Europe (Orchestra/Ensemble)
Ruby Hughes, Soprano (Soloist)
Duration: 6:23

 

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES
Eternity and beyond

Eternity and beyond

While classical music can sometimes be about frivolous things, this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ is concerned strictly with ideas on a higher plane. Host Steve Seel brings us Olivia Belli’s ‘Limina Luminis,’ Arvo Pärt’s ‘Tabula Rasa’ and more. Listen now!

1:58:59
The American Vanguard

The American Vanguard

On the latest episode of Extra Eclectic, host Steve Seel showcases the music of giants such as Philip Glass, Meredith Monk and Steve Reich: composers who introduced fresh thinking into the genre and opened the concert hall to new audiences. Listen now!

1:58:59
Folk music inspirations

Folk music inspirations

We continue our month-long celebration of American music on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ by looking at how contemporary composers reference American folk idioms in their works, including bluegrass, hymns and lullabies. Selections include music by Daron Hagen, Jennifer Higdon and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

1:58:58
Elements of jazz

Elements of jazz

Steve Seel presents another week of purely American sounds on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ and this time, it’s works written by musicians associated primarily with jazz. We hear works by Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny and more.

1:58:58
An American Mirror

An American Mirror

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel extends the 250th anniversary celebrations with two hours of works by contemporary American composers, including Derrick Skye, Jennifer Higdon, Jessie Montgomery, Shelley Washington, Curtis Stewart and more. Listen now!

1:58:59
International and domestic music

International and domestic music

This episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ highlights international composers and cross-cultural collaborations with works by Gabriela Ortiz, Johann Johannsson and more. In the second hour, host Steve Seel begins a tribute to contemporary American classical music ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. Listen now!

1:58:59
Music for the summer solstice

Music for the summer solstice

Host Steve Seel features contemporary classical sounds for summer on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ including Jonathan Bailey Holland’s ‘Halcyon Sun,’ Peteris Vasks’ ‘Music for a Summer Evening,’ and the late Michael Tilson Thomas’ ‘Sunset Soliloquy.’ Listen now!

1:58:59
Cross-cultural collaborations

Cross-cultural collaborations

On this episode of Extra Eclectic, Steve Seel brings us examples of composers and performers reaching across cultural lines, including Terry Riley’s ‘The Cusp of Magic,’ Dan Visconti’s ‘Native Tongues’ and more. Listen now!

1:58:58
Extra-musical elements

Extra-musical elements

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we hear works featuring unorthodox instruments and compositional approaches, including Echo Collective’s ‘Unknown Gates’ and Molly Joyce’s ‘It Has Not Taken Long for You to Break.’ Listen now with host Steve Seel!

1:58:59
Rounds, canons and reflections

Rounds, canons and reflections

“Row, row, row your boat,” “Frere Jacques”: rounds are familiar to us all. Make a round a little more complex, and you might get a canon or a fugue. On the latest episode of Extra Eclectic, host Steve Seel explores a host of such works. Listen now!

1:58:59
VIEW ALL EPISODES
YourClassical Radio
00:00
Infinity:NaN