| 21. |
Brian Eno (b. 1948, England)
Three Variations on Pachelbel's Canon (1975) [19'31"]
The Cockpit Ensemble / Gavin Bryars
Tracks 2-4, Brian Eno: Discreet Music {Editions EG 303} |
|
|
One of the standards of classical radio transformed by experimental composer Brian Eno whose influences stretches from the British post-minimalists to the whole art rock and new wave movements in popular music.This might at first appear to be a strange choice for inclusion on this list, but Eno's very large audience in the alternative rock music world could become fans of classical radio through exposure to a piece like this.
|
|
| 22. |
Graham Fitkin (b. 1963, England)
Log (1990) [17'24"]
Piano Circus
Track 1, Graham Fitkin: Log/Line/Loud {Decca/Argo 436 100} |
|
|
Amazingly tuneful and energetic music for six digital pianos.
|
|
| 23. |
Kaija Saariaho (b. 1952, Finland)
Lonh [From Afar] (1996) [15'46"]
Dawn Upshaw + electronics
Track 1, Kaija Saariaho: Private Gardens {Ondine 906} |
|
|
Dawn Upshaw - the voice of Gorecki's 3rd - in a haunted electronic dreamscape created by Finland's greatest woman composer. Not as risky as you might assume.
|
|
| 24. |
Somei Satoh (b. 1947, Japan)
Ruika (1990) [20'22"]
Masuhara Kanda-cello, String Ensemble Endless / Toshiyuki Uzuka
Track 1, Somei Satoh: Toward The Night {New Albion 056} |
|
|
Forget that this piece features a solo cello, it is unbelievably gorgeous. Yes, I know, it's 22 seconds too long. If you don't have time for it, play the equally gorgeous 1988 Homa [Track 3 - 14'28"]. Featuring the beautiful clear-toned soprano voice of Kyoko Sato accompanied by a string orchestra, it might be Japan's answer to Gorecki's 3rd. Don't be afraid.
|
|
| 25. |
John Harle (b. 1956, England)
Mistress Mine (1994-5) [17'20"]
Elvis Costello-vocal, John Harle-saxophones, Balanescu Quartet, The John Harle Band
Tracks 1-4, John Harle: Terror and Maginificence {Decca/Argo 452 605} |
|
|
Yes, I know, vocals aren't supposed to work on classical radio. Yet, vocals work on popular music radio. Why? Millions of people buy albums by Elvis Costello. Might the opportunity to hear him sing contemporary classical arts songs based on Shakespeare be something that would make Costello fans tune in to classical radio since we know that Shakespeare songs won't be played on pop radio? Plus, they're gorgeous. (Note: If the wild free jazz-like saxophone intro scares you off, go immediately to track 2.)
|
|
| 15 Under 15 (26-30) |
|
| 26. |
René Eespere (b. 1953, Estonia)
Trivium (1991) [12'46"]
Camerata Tallinn: Jaon Öun - flute, Ulrika Kristian - violin, Heiki MŠtlik - guitar
Track 1, Estonian Chamber Music - Camerata Tallinn {Finlandia 95705} |
|
|
Everyone who thinks Arvo Pärt's music is centuries behind the times has never visited Tallinn, the 12th century capital of Estonia containing neighborhoods that have remained unchanged for 800 years. Pärt is also not alone among his countrymen in creating music inspired by this medieval environment. Eespere's trio for flute, violin and guitar is unearthly beautiful!
|
|
| 27. |
Michael Nyman (b. 1944, England)
Memorial (1985, rev. 1989) [11'58"]
The Michael Nyman Band
Track 1, Michael Nyman: The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover {Virgin Venture 55} |
|
|
The line of demarkation between music for the concert hall and music for film has never been as blurry as it is with the Michael Nyman soundtracks for Peter Greenaway films. Greenaway would let Nyman write the music first and then cut the film to match it rather than vice versa. He also frequently used pre-existing concert works by Nyman in his soundtracks as in the case of Memorial which was originally composed to mourn the deaths of 39 Italian soccer fans at a stadium in Brussels in 1985. Dirgelike yet wild, this is one of Nyman's most thought-provoking scores.
|
|
| 28. |
Kevin Volans (b. 1949, South Africa)
Mbira (1980) [10'47"]
Kevin Volans & Deborah James-harpsichords, Robyn Schulkowsky-percussion
Track 6, Kevin Volans: White Man Sleeps {United 88034} |
|
|
A strange meeting place between baroque European and Zimbabwean traditions and minimalism. Strange and wonderful.
|
|
| 29. |
Giovanni Sollima (b. 1962, Italy)
Il Tracciato di Marta (1995) [14'40"]
Ensemble Soni Ventorum / Giovanni Sollima - cello and conductor
Track 6, Giovanni Sollima: Spasimo [Giungla NR 4218] |
|
|
Sollima is a remarkable cellist and post-minimalist composer from Sicily. This CD might be rather hard to find, but look for it. You won't regret it. And, yes, it features a solo cello!
|
|
| 30. |
Karlheinz Stockhausen (b. 1928, Germany)
Gesang der Jünglinge [Song of the Youths] (1956) [12'54"]
Electronic Music Studio of West German Radio, Cologne
Track 1, Stockhausen: Electronic Music [Deutsche Grammophon LP 138 881] |
|
|
The name Karlheinz Stockhausen is nowadays used by many people in the music industry to describe music that is not listener-friendly and most certainly verboten on the radio. This very action-packed tape piece based on the sound of a little boy's voice might bury that myth. Once upon a time every piece of music that Stockhausen wrote was recorded by Deutsche Grammophon, a label now associated by most people with high quality recordings of standard repertoire exclusively. And, his face made the cover of the Beatles' watershed 1967 LP, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Stockhausen's impact on today's electronica popular music scene can not be overestimated. Maybe it's time to pull out this old LP from your record library; unfortunately it has yet to be re-issued on CD to the best of my knowledge.
10 more reasons
|
