Relevant Tones

A palimpsest is a manuscript whose original text has been scraped or washed away and overwritten with a new one, often many times over.  The original text is still present but visible only in fragments.

This concept has inspired composers to overlay music in similar ways to fascinating effect. We feature a small sample of musical palimpsests. Music by Kevin Ernste, George Benjamin, Paul Novak and Gabriel Kahane.

Texu Kim writes music that's fun, often humorous yet sophisticated, detailed and connected to his South Korean heritage in fascinating ways.

He's also the only composer we know to offer "major-league cuteness” (Broadway World) while also demonstrating “surprising scope.” (San Diego Story)

Access Contemporary Music's Sonic Walkabout is a fun way to explore a neighborhood and see and hear it as never before.

ACM commissioned composers to write music inspired by historic and cultural sites in Chicago's Wicker Park and Lakeview neighborhoods and combined their musical creations with narrative storytelling. Music by Amy Wurtz, Amos Gillespie, Seth Boustead, Kyle Gregory Price, Trevor Patricia Watkin and Jonathan Hannau.

Trailblazing composer Louis Andriessen was one of the most influential composers of his generation.  Sadly, Andriessen passed away on July 1st of this year.  We talked to him in 2014 about his life in music and featured some of his best-known pieces.

They're on 60 Minutes, they're in the New York Times, they're the subject of an eagerly awaited report to Congress.  UFOs haven't been this hot since the '90's.  We feature music inspired by these celestial mysteries. Music by Michael Daugherty, Katherine Young and Philip Glass.

In honor of Children's Day in the US we feature music written for and by kids of all ages.  Concept and research by Stephen Anthony Rawson, hosted by Seth Boustead.  Music by Karen Tanaka, Meredith Monk, inti figgis-vizueta and Osvaldo Golijov. 

Laura Elise Schwendinger is a composer whose strongly personal style of music is filled with kinetic energy and slow-burning intensity.  Feature music includes High Wire Act, Chiaroscuro Azzurro, Waking Dream and Esprimere for Cello and Orchestra. 

Originally aired December 27, 2014. Produced by Jesse McQuarters

Hailed by The Guardian as “a cellist of power and grace” who possesses “mature artistry and willingness to go to the brink,” cellist Seth Parker Woods has established a reputation as a versatile artist straddling several genres.

We talk with him and feature several of his collaborative projects.

We commemorate the 135th anniversary of the death of great poet Emily Dickinson by featuring some of our favorite musical settings of her poems as well as music inspired by her. Music by Emily Lau, John Adams, Judith Weir and Lee Hoiby.

Access Contemporary Music presents the 16th annual Sound of Silent Film Festival featuring newly commissioned scores performed live to modern silent films in every genre. We chat with a few of the filmmakers and composers and play some great music.