Poster Composer Reena Esmail.
This episode of 'Extra Eclectic' features music by Reena Esmail.
Courtesy of the artist.
Extra Eclectic

Recent discoveries and new favorites

Extra Eclectic - Oct. 15, 2025

No, 2025 isn’t over, but that’s not stopping us from pausing to take stock in some of our favorite releases and recent discoveries of the year on the latest episode of Extra Eclectic. Steve Seel shares the Ember Trio’s new recording of Saans by Reena Esmail, the Black Oak Ensemble’s performance of Shirley Thompson’s Dance of the Night Sky and pianist James McVinne’s reading of Gabriella Smith’s terrific, piece Imaginary Pancake. We also enjoy a number of works by Arvo Pärt as we continue to celebrate the composer’s 90th birthday this year.

Playlist

Credo: 4th movement
Composer: David Sanford
Orchestra/Ensemble: Meridian Arts Ensemble
8bells 20

Silhouette
Composer: Arvo Pärt
Conductor: Paavo Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble: Estonian Festival Orchestra
Alpha 1158

In My Blue
Composer: Tamar Sagiv
Soloists: Tamar Sagiv, cello
Dorian 70041

Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in the Mirror)
Composer: Arvo Pärt
Soloists: Sasha Boldachev, harp
PentaTone 7517

Dance of the Night Sky
Composer: Shirley Thompson
Orchestra/Ensemble: Black Oak Ensemble
Cedille 237

Imaginary Pancake
Composer: Gabriella Smith
Soloists: James McVinnie, piano
Pentatone 7404

Echorus
Composer: Philip Glass
Orchestra/Ensemble: Academy Virtuosi
Soloists: Anne Akiko Meyers, violin
Platoon 2025

Lamento d’Arianna
Composer: Claudio Monteverdi
Soloists: Maya Beiser, cello
Islandia 16

Saans
Composer: Reena Esmail
Orchestra/Ensemble: Ember
Azica 71383

Katarsis
Composer: Andrew Smith
Orchestra/Ensemble: New York Polyphony
Bis 2719

Lost One
Composer: Austin Wulliman
Orchestra/Ensemble: JACK Quartet
Dorian 70037

Organum Light
Composer: Dobrinka Tabakova
Conductor: Julian Azkoul
Orchestra/Ensemble: United Strings of Europe
Bis 2739

Stone/Like Stillness
Composer: Peter Garland
Soloists: Carson Cooman, organ
Cold Blue 70

Swansong
Composer: Arvo Pärt
Conductor: Paavo Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble: Estonian Festival Orchestra
Alpha 1158

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