Poster Close-up black-and-white portrait of composer Philip Glass
Philip Glass' 'Tirol Concerto'
Jay Gabler
Extra Eclectic

The American Vanguard

Extra Eclectic - July 27, 2026

On the latest episode of Extra Eclectic, we close out our month-long celebration of 20th- and 21st-century American classical music with a focus on some of the composers who introduced fresh thinking into the genre while also opening up the concert hall to new audiences. Host Steve Seel showcases the music of giants such as Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, and Steve Reich, while also featuring works by Michael Daugherty and Stephen Scott. Listen now!

Playlist

Duet
Composer: Steve Reich
Conductor: Daniel Hope
Orchestra/Ensemble: Basel Chamber Orchestra
Soloists: Daniel Hope, violin
DG 4795305

Ellis Island
Composer: Meredith Monk
Soloists: James McVinnie, organ
Pentatone 7404

Tirol Concerto
Composer: Philip Glass
Orchestra/Ensemble: Baroklyn
Soloists: Simone Dinnerstein, piano
Naive 9238

Apartment House 1776: Harmony No. 19. New York
Composer: John Cage
Orchestra/Ensemble: Arditti String Quartet
Mode 144

New York Drones
Composer: Stephen Scott
Orchestra/Ensemble: The Bowed Piano Ensemble
Navona 5937

This Land Sings: Marfa Lights
Composer: Michael Daugherty
Conductor: David Alan Miller
Orchestra/Ensemble: Dogs of Desire
Soloists: Eric Berlin, flugelhorn
Naxos 559889

Inspired By Joni Mitchell: Big Yellow Taxi
Composer: Curtis Stewart
Soloists: Lin-Chi Chuang, violin
Bright Shiny Things 243

This Land Sings: selections
Composer: Michael Daugherty
Conductor: David Alan Miller
Orchestra/Ensemble: Dogs of Desire
Soloists: Annika Socolofsky, soprano
Naxos 559889

Joan Baez Suite
Composer: John Duarte
Soloists: Sharon Isbin, guitar
Sony 45456

Kedron
Composer: Traditional/Sam Amidon
Conductor: Pekka Kuusisto
Orchestra/Ensemble: Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
Soloists: Sam Amidon, vocals
Platoon 2026

Saro
Composer: Traditional/Sam Amidon
Conductor: Pekka Kuusisto
Orchestra/Ensemble: Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
Soloists: Sam Amidon, vocals
Platoon 2026

Silver Dagger
Composer: Stacy Garrop
Orchestra/Ensemble: Heare Ensemble
Innova 40

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Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

The American Vanguard

The American Vanguard

On the latest episode of Extra Eclectic, host Steve Seel showcases the music of giants such as Philip Glass, Meredith Monk and Steve Reich: composers who introduced fresh thinking into the genre and opened the concert hall to new audiences. Listen now!

1:58:59
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!

1:58:58
Elements of jazz

Elements of jazz

Steve Seel presents another week of purely American sounds on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ and this time, it’s works written by musicians associated primarily with jazz. We hear works by Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny and more.

1:58:58
An American Mirror

An American Mirror

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel extends the 250th anniversary celebrations with two hours of works by contemporary American composers, including Derrick Skye, Jennifer Higdon, Jessie Montgomery, Shelley Washington, Curtis Stewart and more. Listen now!

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!

1:58:59
Music for the summer solstice

Music for the summer solstice

Host Steve Seel features contemporary classical sounds for summer on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ including Jonathan Bailey Holland’s ‘Halcyon Sun,’ Peteris Vasks’ ‘Music for a Summer Evening,’ and the late Michael Tilson Thomas’ ‘Sunset Soliloquy.’ Listen now!

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!

1:58:59
Rounds, canons and reflections

Rounds, canons and reflections

“Row, row, row your boat,” “Frere Jacques”: rounds are familiar to us all. Make a round a little more complex, and you might get a canon or a fugue. On the latest episode of Extra Eclectic, host Steve Seel explores a host of such works. Listen now!

1:58:59
Feathered friends

Feathered friends

Get your binoculars out for this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’! Host Steve Seel brings us two hours of new classical works about birds, including Jennifer Higdon’s ‘An Exaltation of Larks,’ John Luther Adams’ ‘Strange Birds Passing’ and Jocelyn Morlock’s ‘Oiseaux Bleus et Sauvages.’ Listen now!

1:58:59
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