Poster Man with a beard in front of a brick background
Composer Jeffrey Mumford
Molly Sheridan
Extra Eclectic

A spring meditation

Extra Eclectic - May 18, 2026

With spring in full bloom, Steve Seel brings us a bounty of “green sounds” in the first hour of this episode of Extra Eclectic, from Jeffrey Mumford’s verdant cycles of deepening spring to Clint Needham’s String Quartet No. 1, (Shades of Green). In the second hour, it’s music for meditation and the deep breathing that can accompany it, including Daniel Bjarnason’s Air to Breath and Erland Cooper’s Carve the Runes Then Be Content With Silence.

Playlist

Spring
Composer: Huw Watkins
Soloists: Krysia Osostowicz, violin
Somm 181

Varsog (Breath of Spring)
Composer: Henning Sommerro
Conductor: Christian Kluxen
Orchestra/Ensemble: Arctic Philharmonic
Soloists: Eldbjorg Hemsing, violin
Sony 93608

String Quartet No. 11 “Reykjavik”: Spring Song and Dance
Composer: Elena Ruehr
Orchestra/Ensemble: Quartet ES
Avie 2798

verdant cycles of deepening spring
Composer: Jeffrey Mumford
Conductor: Allen Tinkham
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chicago Composers’ Orchestra
Soloists: Christine Wu, violin
Albany 1948

String Quartet No. 1 “Shades of Green”
Composer: Clint Needham
Orchestra/Ensemble: Poiesis Quartet
Bright Shiny Things 213

Breathturn: Part 1
Composer: John Zorn
Soloists: Mika Stoltzman, marimba
Avie 2807

Tsuki no Waka
Composer: Akemi Naito
Orchestra/Ensemble: New York Polyphony
Bis 2719

Abstractions
Composer: Anna Clyne
Conductor: Marin Alsop
Orchestra/Ensemble: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Naxos 574620

Air to Breath
Composer: Daniel Bjarnason
Soloists: Gyda Valtysdottir, cello
Dorian 70012

Carve the Runes Then Be Content With Silence: walking through heather and peat
Composer: Erland Cooper
Orchestra/Ensemble: Studio Collective
Soloists: Daniel Pioro, violin
Mercury KX 6576069

A child said, what is the grass
Composer: Toivo Tulev
Conductor: Donald Nally
Orchestra/Ensemble: The Crossing
Navona 6303

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Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

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Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

A spring meditation

A spring meditation

With spring in full bloom, Steve Seel brings us a bounty of “green sounds” in the first hour of this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ from Jeffrey Mumford’s ‘verdant cycles of deepening spring’ to Clint Needham’s String Quartet No. 1 (‘Shades of Green’). Listen now!

1:58:59
Beats, Bach and Beethoven

Beats, Bach and Beethoven

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.’ Featured composers include Caroline Shaw, Greg Saunier and Curt Sydnor. Listen now!

1:58:59
May the fourth

May the fourth

This annual “Star Wars Day” provides the inspiration for the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ with works about space and stars. Steve Seel also pays tribute to composer Michael Harrison, who died on April 17, with a performance of his ‘Just Constellations.’ Listen now!

1:58:58
Earth, teach me quiet

Earth, teach me quiet

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we consider the planet we call home from several different vantage points with music by Eriks Esenvalds, Martin Bresnick, Reena Esmail and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

1:58:59
The natural world

The natural world

Host Steve Seel continues our celebration of Earth Month on Extra Eclectic with a nod to composers who are passionate about the protection of nature’s fragile ecosystems: Steven Stucky, Scott Lee, Gabriela Montero and more. Listen now!

1:58:59
Celebrating Earth Month

Celebrating Earth Month

To celebrate Earth Month, host Steve Seel brings us modern works on themes of water on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ including Anna Clyne’s ‘Restless Oceans,’ Jake Runestad’s ‘Waves,’ and Maya Beiser’s setting of Olivier Messiaen’s ‘Water’ from his ‘Fete des Belles Eaux.’ Listen now!

1:58:59
The passage of time

The passage of time

It’s a rhapsodic reflection on the idea of time in the first hour of the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ Host Steve Seel shares Chris Rogerson’s ‘Thirty Thousand Days,’ Paul Fowler’s ‘Breath’ and other selections. Listen now!

1:58:59
Women lead the way

Women lead the way

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we wrap Women’s History Month with another program showcasing how women composers are leading classical music into the future. Selections include music by Gabriela Ortiz, Allision Loggins-Hull and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

1:58:55
Lullabies for everyone

Lullabies for everyone

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ enjoy music of nocturnal calm and comfort — often in the form of lullabies, but sometimes, dreams and night-time journeys. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

1:58:59
It's playtime!

It's playtime!

On this week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ contemporary composers explore themes of childhood. Selections include music by Angelica Negron, Thomas Ades, Shara Nova and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

1:58:59
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