Fred Hersch: Just Hear What Happens Next
Though his formal education includes study at the New England Conservatory, Fred Hersch readily points out how the on-the-bandstand schooling he received in jazz clubs like Bradley’s in New York prepared him to be the musician is today. In the course of our conversation, we spoke about this journey and all that has come in its wake, but returned again and again to the idea of taking chances, trying things out, seeing what happens if—Hersch seemingly unbowed by the anxieties such open-ended performance situations bring into play. Later, he came at it head-on: “I think there has to be a certain element of danger in jazz, or it isn’t really jazz.”
Pierre Jalbert: All Music Great and Small
Whether it is an orchestral work or a composition for chamber ensemble, Pierre Jalbert professes his affection for musical forms both large and small, and especially enjoys the back-and-forth of creating a work for large forces immediately followed by a smaller one. His compositions, which are vibrant and tautly constructed with thoughtfulness and precision often contrast slow music suggesting a sense of “suspended time” with fast, highly syncopated material that propels the work forward.
Charles Fox: Ready to Take a Chance
In addition to the megahit records (“Killing Me Softly”, “I Got a Name”), TV themes (Happy Days, Love Boat), and film scores (Barbarella, 9 to 5), Charles Fox has composed extensively for jazz and Latin bands as well as chorus, orchestra, and ballet. He’s probably the only person on the planet who can boast connections to both Nadia Boulanger and Barry Manilow!
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Goose Bumps in the Candy Shop
Although Ellen Taaffe Zwilich has received more accolades than most living composers—the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Music and the first composer chair at Carnegie Hall, as well as the only living composer ever mentioned in a Peanuts® comic strip—she believes that the pinnacle of success is hearing a wonderful performance of one of her compositions.
John Hollenbeck: Reveling in the Unknown
Composer and drummer John Hollenbeck seems most content when faced with musical uncertainty. In this article he discusses his composing process, the challenges of organizing tours both in the U.S. and abroad, his thoughts on genre definitions, and the role of spirituality in his music.
Stephen Schwartz and Lauren Flanigan: Corners of the Sky
Composer/librettist Stephen Schwartz and lead soprano Lauren Flanigan describe how they came to work together on Séance on a Wet Afternoon. Read the interview…
John Luther Adams: The Music of a True Place
In many cases, the aural images John Luther Adams creates can be directly traced to the powerful natural world that surrounds him in his home state of Alaska, a landscape that has undeniably left its imprint on his work. More broadly, however, Adams uses composition as a way to explore and understand the world around him, regardless of borders real and imagined.
Barbara Benary: Mother of Lion
Gamelan Son of Lion founder Barbara Benary’s generous approach to music-making is akin to parenthood. Read the interview…
Mikel Rouse: The Way I Am
Mikel Rouse has been making extremely complex music using the language of contemporary popular culture decades before “bandsembles.”
An Interview with Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon
The music of Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon is, for me, a satisfying challenge that requires the player to engage in intent chamber music—his own part is only a small portion of his concern, as at every moment an intricate contrapuntal structure is being advanced.
Phill Niblock: Connecting the Dots
Phill Niblock’s music sounds like it is from another planet. Read the interview…
Christopher Theofanidis: Wider Than a Concept, Deeper Than a Sound
Christopher Theofanidis is a composer focused on the big picture. Whether scored for a full compliment of choral and orchestral musicians or a more conservative troupe of chamber players, his music carries aspects of his expansive approach to life and listening. Read the interview…
Henry Threadgill: No Compromise
Surprise, but not compromise, is a fundamental component to Henry Threadgill’s aesthetic.
Imani Winds: Terra Incognita
Hearing the five members of Imani Winds talk about their history together and what keeps them going is like walking in on a great party. Read the interview…
Who Is Bunita Marcus?
The story of Bunita Marcus has been one of new music’s great mysteries. Read the interview…
Augusta Read Thomas: Perfect Clarity
Descriptors like “extremely specific” and “incredibly nuanced” become touchstones when speaking with Augusta Read Thomas about her life and work and the inspiration that drives it all.
George E. Lewis: The Story's Being Told
In the arts, you’ll come across a lot of multi-talented people, but not many who can boast the depth of accomplishment in as many areas as George E. Lewis. Read the interview…
John Kander: Passing Through Curtains
John Kander has been composing music for challenging, thought-provoking theatrical productions for half a century and is eager to keep working. Read the interview…
Kyle Gann: On Both Sides of the Fence
Kyle Gann has been able to write so effectively and authoritatively about the composers of our time because he is also a composer himself. Read more…
Vijay Iyer: Hybrid Sensibility
Vijay Iyer’s music might have some rigorous concepts behind it, but the end goal is always a direct and visceral engagement with the audience. Read more…
Margaret Brouwer: Multiple Planes
Margaret Brouwer’s unapologetically polystylistic compositions are a personal response to centuries of music. Read the interview…
Larry Polansky: Open Source
As an extremely prolific DIY publisher, editor, music software developer, theorist, musicologist, and composer, Larry Polansky has had a major impact on contemporary music as well as how it is made and disseminated. Read the interview…
Roger Reynolds: The Benefits of Being Outside the Loops
Although Roger Reynolds has been based in California for the last 40 years, his Midwest upbringing and formative experiences in both Europe and Asia have given him a world view that knows no boundaries. Read the interview…
Rinde Eckert: In Search of the Dream You Can't Imagine
From the challenges of collaboration to the boundaries of imagination, Rinde Eckert shows us why it’s often more about an open mind than an open checkbook, more about always trusting than always being right. Read the interview…
