Poster Caroline Shaw
Caroline Shaw's 'Watermark' is featured on this episode of 'Extra Eclectic.'
Kait Moreno
Extra Eclectic

Beats, Bach and Beethoven

Extra Eclectic - May 11, 2026

Identity theft in classical music? Not quite. Composers have quoted, borrowed from, and paid tribute to earlier composers for centuries, and Steve Seel brings us some contemporary examples on this episode of Extra Eclectic. A new release from Greg Saunier and Curt Sydnor sets movements from Bach’s Goldberg Variations for synthesizer and drums, and Caroline Shaw’s Watermark offers a kind of “remix” of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3. In the second hour, Steve returns to a favorite topic — the intersection of classical music and indie rock — with music by Greg Saunier, Bryce Dessner, Devonte Hynes and Anna Meredith.

Playlist

By Beauteous Softness (After H. Purcell)
Composer: Thomas Ades
Soloists: Ruby Hughes, soprano
Bis 2568

Ora pro nobis
Composer: George Rochberg
Soloists: Daniele Ruggieri, flute
Brilliant 95753

Goldberg Variations: Canon a la neuvieme (Variation 27)
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Orchestra/Ensemble: Bach Artillerie
Ernest Jenning 873344

Watermark
Composer: Caroline Shaw
Conductor: Malin Broman
Orchestra/Ensemble: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Soloists: Jonathan Biss, piano
Orchid 100433

Goldberg Variations: Canon a la tierce (Variation 9)
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Orchestra/Ensemble: Bach Artillerie
Ernest Jenning 873344

The Ringing World
Composer: Adrian Knight
Orchestra/Ensemble: Bearthoven
Cantaloupe 21129

A Short Tribute to Teenage Fanclub
Composer: Anna Meredith
Orchestra/Ensemble: Ligeti Quartet
Mercury KX 4845720

Goldberg Variations: Canon a la seconde (Variation 6)
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Orchestra/Ensemble: Bach Artillerie
Ernest Jenning 873344

Deerhoof Chamber Variations
Composer: Greg Saunier
Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble Dal Niente
New Amsterdam 76

Electric Counterpoint: Fast
Composer: Steve Reich
Soloists: Bryce Dessner, guitar
DG 4876947

Aheym
Composer: Bryce Dessner
Orchestra/Ensemble: Kronos Quartet
Anti 87296

Perfectly Voiceless
Composer: Devonte Hynes
Orchestra/Ensemble: Third Coast Percussion
Cedille 192

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