Poster Judith Weir
Composer Judith Weir's work 'Begin Afresh' premiered at the 2023 BBC Proms Festival on Aug. 24.
Provided
Extra Eclectic

Celebrating the changing of seasons

Like this?

Log in to share your opinion with YourClassical and add it to your profile.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this song! We have added it to a personal playlist for you.

Editor’s note: Audio for this program is no longer available due to rights restrictions.

Composer Judith Weir serves as master of the king's music in the U.K. — the first woman to hold the title. On this week's show, Steve Seel showcases the world premiere of her work Begin Afresh, which took place at the 2023 BBC Proms Festival on Aug. 24. It's a piece that Weir says was inspired by the trees and plants that she observed during the changing seasons over the course of a year. Also on the show is a sampling from pianist Awadagin Pratt's new release, Still Point, featuring six commissions written for him to play with the orchestra A Far Cry and the vocal group Roomful of Teeth.

Butterflying
Elena Kats-Chernin
Ragtime & Blue
Nicola Sweeney, violin
4:22

Sky
Jane Antonia Cornish
Sierra
Vicky Chow, piano
8:13

Begin Afresh
Judith Weir
Concert Recording
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo, conductor
16:28

Still Point
Judd Greenstein
Stillpoint
A Far Cry Orchestra
Awadagin Pratt, piano
12:38

Eternity's Sunrise
Howard Skempton
HOWARD SKEMPTON: Man and Bat, Piano Concerto, The Moon is Flashing, Eternity's Sunrise
Ensemble 360
9:13

In Our Softening
Sophia Subbayya Vastek
In Our Softening
Sophia Subbayya Vastek, piano
4:46

To Become (Divenire)
Ludovico Einaudi
Ludovico Einaudi: Portrait
La Pieta
Angele Dubeau, conductor
Angele Dubeau, violin
7:02

If I Were a Swan
Kevin Puts
Puts: Symphony No. 4
Conspirare
Craig Hella Johnson, conductor
6:23

Flute Concerto
Huw Watkins
Huw Watkins: Flute Concerto, Violin Concerto, Symphony
Halle Orchestra
Ryan Wigglesworth, conductor
Adam Walker, flute
22:09

Shimmer
Alex Weiser
8-Track
Ashley Bathgate, cello
12:35

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
Guest host Valerie Kahler features Needham’s ‘Shades of Green’
1:58:59
What goes around comes around

What goes around comes around

On this week's Extra Eclectic, Steve Seel showcases modern works that use rounds and "looping" phrases in their structure, as well as music that celebrates the fall season with modern works that have an autumnal air. Listen now!

1:58:59
The tonal 20th century

The tonal 20th century

After the “12-tone” school obliterated traditional ideas of harmony during the 20th century, a younger generation of composers brought conventional harmonic notions back. Host Steve Seel features music by Philip Glass, Julie Mandel and more on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ Listen now!

1:58:58
Sounds for an autumn night

Sounds for an autumn night

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ Toru Takemitsu’s ‘A String Around Autumn’ is the centerpiece of an hour that sets the tone for the coming of fall, with additional music by Xavi Torres and Michael Harrison. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

1:58:57
Women composers bring the fire

Women composers bring the fire

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel features a selection from Julia Wolfe’s ‘Fire in My Mouth’ in an hour devoted to contemporary women composers, which also showcases music by Meredith Monk, Paola Prestini, Gala Flagello and more. Listen now!

1:58:59
A celebration of Black composers

A celebration of Black composers

Julius Eastman’s Symphony No. 2 (‘The Faithful Friend: The Lover Friend’s Loe for the Beloved’) is this week’s ‘Extra Eclectic’ highlight from the 2024 BBC Proms Festival and it kicks off an hour of works by African-American composers from the 20th and 21st centuries. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

1:58:56
Soundtracks on the cutting edge

Soundtracks on the cutting edge

On this edition of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we hear highlights from a concert at the 2024 BBC Proms celebrating creative cinematic sounds, including music by Son Lux from ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once,’ Bryce Dessner from ‘Sing Sing’ and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

1:58:59
Modern music thrives at the Proms

Modern music thrives at the Proms

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel has more from the 2024 BBC Proms festival, including ‘Stravaganza’ — a new work by Karl Jenkins written for saxophonist Jess Gillam — and an adventurous piece by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Listen now!

1:58:59
Getting in the spirit

Getting in the spirit

The music is exultant on this week’s show, as host Steve Seel brings us John Adams’ ‘Hallelujah Junction’ and we visit the 2024 BBC Proms Festival for a live recording of Wynton Marsalis’ ‘Herald, Holler and Hallelujah.’ Listen now!

We're off to The Proms!

We're off to The Proms!

This week, ‘Extra Eclectic’ begins its weekly visits to the biggest classical music celebration in the world, the BBC Proms — with highlights from the British summertime festival’s rich offerings of contemporary music performances. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

VIEW ALL EPISODES

We can help you find classical music you'll love

  • Take a 2 minute quiz to share your taste
  • We'll recommend YourClassical programming just for you
  • Discover the power and joy of classical music
Man playing violin