Extra Eclectic - April 13

Composer Caroline Mallonee was fascinated by the concept of whistler waves — electromagnetic pulses produced by lightning strikes that occur at extremely low, almost inaudible frequencies. Her composition 

 conveys this mysterious natural phenomenon in a piece for cello and orchestra, and it's one of the works that host Steve Seel features on this week's episode of 

. Also showcased: poignant music by Canadian composer Jocelyn Morlock, who died March 27 at 53, and 

, by Kile Smith, whose choral music has been described as "sublimely, ecstatically beautiful."

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

Listen to this week’s episode of Extra Eclectic with host Steve Seel as he features composer Caroline Mallonee’s mysterious ‘Whistler Waves.’


Caroline Mallonee amplifies the quietest of sounds