Extra Eclectic

Philip Glass’ Piano Concerto No. 3 was born after he was wowed by pianist Simone Dinnerstein’s talent on the keys when she played Bach and Schubert. Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel features Glass’ work in the first hour of this week's program. In the second hour, he features a selection of "lullabies" by composers Nico Muhly, Paula Matthusen, David Lang and David Biedenbender. 

Musical thoughts on America, travel, and the idea of home.

As the nights grow longer and cooler, Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel takes the opportunity to sample from the wealth of modern classical works that perfectly complement the mood of an autumnal evening.

In this half-hour interview, Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel sits down with Minnesota guitarist and composer Steve Tibbetts, who doesn't make “classical music” by any stretch of the imagination — nor is it jazz or rock. Seel talks with him on the occasion of the release of ‘Hellbound Train,’ a new two-disc showcase of what Tibbetts describes as his style of ‘post-modern neo-primitivism.’

Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel speaks with composer Missy Mazzoli ahead of Journey North Opera Company's staging of the Minnesota premiere of ‘Proving Up,’ taking place Nov. 11-13 at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis. 

Iranian-Kurdish composer Kayhan Kalhor is an internationally acclaimed virtuoso on the kamancheh, a traditional Iranian bowed string instrument. Listen to his music and more on this week's episode of Extra Eclectic, with host Steve Seel.

Composer and performer Molly Joyce’s music is primarily concerned with disability as a creative source, stemming from an auto accident that deformed her left hand. Listen to her music and more on this week's episode of Extra Eclectic, with guest host Ward Jacobson.

Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina's ‘Fairytale Poem’ can be seen as an allegory for life under an oppressive regime and how a child's piece of chalk can be a metaphor for imagination unchained from such constraints. Listen with host Steve Seel as he features it on this week’s episode of Extra Eclectic.

Anna Thorvaldsdottir's ‘Aeriality’ seems to express both stasis and motion at the same time. The Washington Post called it "a big, spinning planet of a work that contains multitudes." Listen with host Steve Seel as he features it on this week's show.

Joan Tower’s ‘Still/Rapids’ imagines a boat on calming waters that then gets pulled into turbulent waters. Stay afloat this week with host Steve Seel as he features that work on this week's episode of Extra Eclectic, as well as music by Sasha Matson and Toru Takemitsu.