Poster A woman sits at a grand piano in a dark long-sleeved shirt and glasses credit Mara Arteaga
Composer Gabriela Ortiz is Performance Today's 2026 Woman of the Year.
Mara Arteaga
Extra Eclectic

International and domestic music

Extra Eclectic - June 29, 2026

The first hour of this episode of Extra Eclectic highlights international composers and cross-cultural collaborations, including Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’ Six Pieces for Violeta — honoring Chilean singer and musician Violeta Parra — as well as works by Shane Shanahan, Arooj Aftab and Johann Johannsson. In the second hour, host Steve Seel begins our tribute to contemporary American classical music as we look forward to the Fourth of July holiday next weekend, including works by Caroline Shaw, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Nico Muhly and more. Listen now!

Playlist

Englaborn
Composer: Johann Johannsson
Soloists: Alice Sara Ott, piano
DG 4867514

Audacity
Composer: Shane Shanahan
Soloists: Ariana Kim, violin
Saffron Soul 519061

Our Friend Adam
Composer: Ryan Brown
Orchestra/Ensemble: SOLI Chamber Ensemble
Soloists: D.J. Sparr, electric guitar
SOLI Sound Works 3038

Six Pieces for Violeta
Composer: Gabriela Ortiz
Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Soloists: Joanne Pearce Martin, piano
Platoon 2026

Udhero Na
Composer: Arooj Aftab
Soloists: Ashley Jackson, harp
London/Decca 4879986

The Book of Never: Names of things I once believed...
Composer: Aaron Helgeson
Conductor: Donald Nally
Orchestra/Ensemble: The Crossing
Navona 6871

Goiza Larrunen
Composer: Bryce Dessner
Soloists: Marielle Labeque, piano
DG 4848960

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

Forward Into Light
Composer: Sarah Kirkland Snider
Conductor: Andrew Cyr
Orchestra/Ensemble: Metropolis Ensemble
New Amsterdam

The Light After
Composer: Caroline Shaw/Andrew Yee
Soloists: Caroline Shaw, vocals
Platoon 30842

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

Recordare, Domine
Composer: Nico Muhly
Orchestra/Ensemble: Tallis Scholars
Linn 790

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Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

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Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

Questions and answers

Questions and answers

Host Steve Seel poses a lot of musical questions on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ and you’ll have to decide if you hear any answers. Charles Ives’ ‘The Unanswered Question’ is “answered” by Laurie Spiegel’s work ‘The Unquestioned Answer.’

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Eternity and beyond

Eternity and beyond

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The American Vanguard

The American Vanguard

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Folk music inspirations

Folk music inspirations

We continue our month-long celebration of American music on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ by looking at how contemporary composers reference American folk idioms in their works, including bluegrass, hymns and lullabies. Selections include music by Daron Hagen, Jennifer Higdon and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

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An American Mirror

An American Mirror

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1:58:59
International and domestic music

International and domestic music

This episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ highlights international composers and cross-cultural collaborations with works by Gabriela Ortiz, Johann Johannsson and more. In the second hour, host Steve Seel begins a tribute to contemporary American classical music ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. Listen now!

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Music for the summer solstice

Music for the summer solstice

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1:58:59
Cross-cultural collaborations

Cross-cultural collaborations

On this episode of Extra Eclectic, Steve Seel brings us examples of composers and performers reaching across cultural lines, including Terry Riley’s ‘The Cusp of Magic,’ Dan Visconti’s ‘Native Tongues’ and more. Listen now!

1:58:58
Extra-musical elements

Extra-musical elements

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we hear works featuring unorthodox instruments and compositional approaches, including Echo Collective’s ‘Unknown Gates’ and Molly Joyce’s ‘It Has Not Taken Long for You to Break.’ Listen now with host Steve Seel!

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