Sounds of the Spirit

Steve Seel possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at public radio stations around the country. Steve came to Minnesota Public Radio in 1999 to be a part of its nationally-syndicated classical music programming. In 2005, he became one of the founding voices on MPR's eclectic station The Current, and has hosted various time slots from mornings to late nights, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos. 
 
Steve is an avid reader of political and social commentary as well, and he emcees The Current's popular Policy and a Pint community series, featuring discussions with noted scholars, politicians, community leaders, authors and big thinkers on important issues of the day. Steve is also a basement composer obsessed with all things both minimalist and slow, and might actually be incapable of writing anything that exceeds 75 beats-per-minute.


Steve Seel

Selections of a spiritual nature fill this week’s show.


Accentus Music -- from "The Lost Paradise," an upcoming documentary about Arvo Pärt by Günter Atteln

Tansy Davies' "What Did We See?"

English composer Tansy Davies has written more than one work dealing with September 11. This week, Steve Seel plays her piece, “What Did We See?” as well as selections from the new release by the Attacca Quartet, “Real Life.” 


A woman with short blonde hair in a grey t-shirt.

Courtesy of the artist. 

New Music for Double Bass

Bassist Edgar Meyer’s Quintet for Bass and Strings is featured, as well as works by Veljo Tormis, Peteris Vasks, and more. Scott Blankenship hosts. 


Jim McGuire

An American Canvas

It’s two hours of contemporary American sounds this week, as we look forward to the July 4th holiday.


An American flag by artist Jasper Johns. 

Anthony Delanoix / Unsplash

Open Minded Approaches

It’s an exploration of composers “getting outside” some of the standard assumptions and approaches of Western classical music on this weeks show - including a few examples of non-Western tuning and alternate scales.


a smartphone depicting a thinking emoji image

Markus Winkler / Unsplash 

Ideas from Indonesia

Canadian composer Colin McPhee was the first Westerner to begin exploring the traditional music of Indonesia in the 1930s, and his best known work, "Tabuh Tabuhan" helped set the stage for the exploration of world-music sounds in classical music thereafter. Guest host Bill Morelock showcases McPhee’s work on this edition of the program.


Wikipedia

Out in Front

June is Pride Month, and Steve Seel features a few different proudly out composers and performers on this week’s show, including guitarist Sharon Isbin — who came out at the age of 18 and who has long been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights.


Photo courtesy the artist

Devonte Hynes Defies Description

Devonte Hynes has performed under the band monikers Lightspeed Champion and Blood Orange, but as a classical musician, he's collaborated with the likes of Philip Glass and written film and television soundtracks. We hear some of Hynes music on this week's episode, along with selections from Michael Nyman, Tansy Davies, and Sarah Kirkland Snider.


Nick Harwood

John Adams' Saxophone Concerto

John Adams’ jazz-inflected Saxophone Concerto is featured on this week’s Extra Eclectic, as well as works by Judd Greenstein, Aaron Jay Kernis, and more.


John Adams' latest album is inspired by Beethoven

Deborah O'Grady

Bermel Honors Bartok

Composer Derek Bermel’s homage to Bela Bartok, “A Shout, A Whisper, A Trace” is one of Steve Seel’s focal points on this week’s episode, as well as more of the “bowed piano” music of Stephen Scott.
