• VIDEO: Protect Yourself From Infection

    VIDEO: Protect Yourself From Infection

    Bang on a Can composer David Lang doesn’t purport to be a prophet. At least not so far as I know. But you gotta hand it to him, the piece he wrote for the Philadelphia-based choral ensemble The Crossing last year is a little bit on the nose. “I had no idea when I wrote […]

  • "New Music" Isn't A Bad Word 🤬

    Missy Mazzoli had this to tweet last week: I’m proud to announce: the culmination of my tenure as composer-in-residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra…the world premiere of my newest orchestral work. It’s called Beethoven 4 & 7. 😉 https://t.co/dkhm1UTOuE — Missy Mazzoli (@missymazzoli) February 18, 2020 To save you a click, this is what one […]

  • Playlist: December 1, 2019

    Playlist: December 1, 2019

    It’s a pretty wintry Sunday in Sacremento (55 and rain) – so this week’s playlist is complete with a hygge vibe.

  • Strange Bedfellows and Sonic Diversity Make Big Ears the Go To Festival of the Year

    Strange Bedfellows and Sonic Diversity Make Big Ears the Go To Festival of the Year

    Big Ears is, in fact, a cornucopia of experimental, groundbreaking artists, a kind of sonic choose-your-own-adventure. You might recognize a few names on the docket and some may even surprise you in their notoriety and connection to pop culture like a certain bassist for one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, but that’s where the familiarity ends.

  • Oregon Symphony’s New “Open Music” Series to Open with Caroline Shaw

    Oregon Symphony’s New “Open Music” Series to Open with Caroline Shaw

    Kahane says Shaw is “an absolute dream guest for our first concert: she is brilliant, kind, relentlessly creative, and an eloquent advocate not only for her own work, but for any art that’s important to her.”

  • Stravinsky’s Old Home Selling for $4 Million

    Stravinsky’s Old Home Selling for $4 Million

    Interested in buying Stravinsky’s old West Hollywood home? Then read on! It’s on the market… for $4 million!

  • New Century Shines In Glass Premiere

    New Century Shines In Glass Premiere

    I almost didn’t go. I wasn’t feeling great last Wednesday when New Century Chamber Orchestra played the Mondavi Center in Davis. It’s a bummer because I’d always wanted to see them perform. They were debuting a new piece by Philip Glass with pianist Simone Dinnerstein as the soloist.

  • A Violin Concerto That Is So Much More

    A Violin Concerto That Is So Much More

    I wasn’t in the mood for Philip Glass’ violin concerto today, but I put in on the turntable anyway. By about a minute in, I was hooked… again. I dare say, every time I put that record on the record player I stop what I’m doing and get lost in the work’s musical soundscape.

  • My Girls

    My Girls

    What stands out most about (Gwyneth) Walker’s treble-voice compositions is her choice of enriched poetry pertaining to diverse female experiences. With music to highlight the energy and prowess of the text, Gwyneth Walker brings new life and empowerment to the world of women’s vocal music.

  • Arvo Pärt Turns 82 Today

    Arvo Pärt Turns 82 Today

    The BBC Symphony Orchestra performs Arvo Pärt’s Cantus In Memorium Benjamin Britten. Pärt turns 82 today.