Modern classical music embraces the saxophone

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!

On this week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ Your Classical Fellow Anna Tessman guest-curates a playlist showcasing modern classical works featuring electronic sounds and textures — often integrated with traditional acoustic instruments. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

Composers from Southeast Asia and Oceania (and those influenced by their music) are the focus on this week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ Steve Seel plays Eunike Tanzil’s ‘Serenade’ and Su Lian Tan‘s ‘Legend of Kintamani,’ as well as works by Lou Harrison and Colin McPhee. Listen now!

This week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ is a musical garden, with contemporary classical works about flowers, rain, and sun. Steve Seel plays us Yoko Kanno’s ‘Flowers Will Bloom,’ Takashi Yoshimatsu’s piano concerto ‘Memo Flora,’ Terry Riley’s ‘Sun Rings,’ Caroline Shaw’s ‘Let the Soil Play its Simple Part’ and much more. Listen now!

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ whimsy is on the docket! Host Steve Seel features Missy Mazzoli’s ‘Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres),’ Caroline Shaw’s ‘The Observatory,’ Christopher Cerrone's ‘Ode to Joy’ and Laurie Spiegel’s ‘The Unquestioned Answer.’ Listen now!