Relevant Tones

Composer Brent Michael Davids discusses his powerful new work Requiem for America: Singing for the Invisible People—a sweeping musical reckoning with the genocidal foundations of the United States, told through Indigenous voices.

Blending Native American musical traditions with orchestral forces, the piece confronts history through texts both personal and political, culminating in a message of resilience: “We Are Still Here.”

We also feature a selection of Davids’s music, offering a deeper window into his singular artistic voice and lifelong mission to center Native perspectives in contemporary classical music.

Esteemed composer Bernard Rands has passed away, a huge loss to our musical community. We honor his memory by re-airing this interview with host Seth Boustead from September 2017.

Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Bernard Rands reflects on a remarkable career spanning more than a hundred published works and recordings.

In this conversation with Relevant Tones, he shares insights into his musical language, creative process, and the ideas that have shaped his work

Produced by Sarah Zwinklis

Relevant Tones returns after our hiatus to bring you some of our favorite albums (and concerts) of the year.

It was a great year for music!

Hosted by Seth Boustead, Matthew Dosland, Stephen Anthony Rawson and Austin Williams.

MUSIC

For Adrienne I by Martin Gendelman

What Stories We Tell by George Hurd

Study No. 1 by Jessie Montgomery

Yanga by Gabriela Ortiz

At Which Point No. 1: Prologue by Wang Lu

Groung (Crane) by Mary Kouyoumdijian

More Mania by the Dirty Projectors

Thoka by Aniima

Moraine Lake by Frank Horvat

At the World’s Edge is a chamber music festival inspired by its roots in the Southern Alps of New Zealand and forging ties to Chicago and beyond.

Host Seth Boustead talks with violinist and founding Artistic Director Benjamin Baker about his vision for the festival and features music the festival has commissioned.

MUSIC

Yabo by Salina Fisher

String Trio No. 2 by Huw Watkins (excerpt)

Mata Au by Salina Fisher

Four Postcards by Gareth Farr

Host Austin Williams and composer guest Neil Quigley chat about Neil’s music and its relationship to speculative history.

Neil explains how his relationship to the Kilkenny Electroacoustic Research Laboratory is largely based in that practice. Among many other projects Neil created this love letter to his hometown and lans to wrap up the anthology in the coming year or so.

Check more of Neil’s work at his band camp:

Set List

1. Helga Hölzel ( Neil Quigley ) - Early Impulse Study 1 - St. Mary's Cathedral (1968)

2. Kenny Phelan  ( Neil Quigley ) - A Psychogeographic sonification of Fairy Forts located near the banks of the Three Sisters  I, II, III

3. Tony Quinn ( Neil Quigley ) - Footing

4. Physique -   French Lick, Indiana

5. Physique -  Desperate Housewives S04E05

6. Physique - Wunder-Baum

Join host Austin Williams as he speaks to members of the Coalescent Saxophone Quartet. The quartet consists of members Nathan Bogert, Michael Shults, Nick Zoulek, and Drew Whiting; each of which are incredibly accomplished musicians in their own right.

The quartet has recently released a new album (The Wall Between Us) of works for sax quartet. Austin asks the ensemble questions about codifying the saxophone quartet in the new classical music chamber zeitgeist and what that means.

There is also lovely conversation about the instrument itself and the role it plays in the new classical music world. Please check out the new album and each individual artist, you will not be disappointed!

Zack Browning - Unrelenting UniverseChen Yi -  Distance Can't Keep Us Two ApartEmma O’Halloran: Night MusicEvan Williams - Quartet for SaxophonesMartin Bresnick: Mending Time 

Join host Austin Williams and new music ensemble Hot Second ( Rebecca McDaniel Percussion and Dylan Feldpausch Violin/Viola) as we discuss their unique ensemble and its take on new music in Chicago.

The conversation consists of thoughtful insights on how an ensemble can think outside of the traditional cannon and use influences from pop and other styles to help shape the sound they work with.

A unique aspect of the ensemble is the incredibly vibrant collaboration that occurs between Rebecca and Dylan, to the point where they are writing and improvising their own music in real time.MUSIC
Gabriela Ortiz: "Atlas-Pumas”

José Martínez: Instructions for Playing, III, V

Dylan Feldpausch: “Quartz"

Esperanza Spalding, arr. Hot Second: "Formwela 4"

2023 and the first anthology has just been published by New Music Shelf.

This extraordinary album features world-premiere recordings of art songs commissioned by Strickling who says: "These twenty songs, from composers and poets of diverse backgrounds, are exceptional in their beauty, depth, quality, and range of emotional expression."

Host Seth Boustead talks with Strickling and features several songs from the album.

MUSIC

Email to Odessa by Dennis Tobenski

Peony by Ed Windels

Thanks a Latte by Lori Laitman

This Ode is Mine by Bess McCrary

Not Quite Stars by Juhi Bansal

Las Palmeras by Reinaldo Moya

Song of Solitude by H. Leslie Adams

Wind Carry Me by James Primosch

Cohosts Austin Williams and Stephen Rawson share what they have been listening to recently. Austin shares about an anthology of Irish Electroacoustic music that he became privy to recently and Stephen has a wide variety of vocal and chamber music that comes up.

Stephen and Austin also reminisce about their time they shared as music students in undergrad along with their hometown pride of some of the fantastic music that comes from the Twin Cities area. If you like what you hear drop a line, we love to hear from our listeners!

Music: Physique - Wunder-Baum

Neil Quigley -  sketches in reaction to an exhibition, Hesitation and Breath

Du Yun - Angel's Bone, Scene I: A Prism, A Video, A Flurry

Cassandra Miller - Warblework: Swainson’s Thrush

Happy Apple - Vanity Plate

Gabriella Smith - Lost Coast II

Chiayu Hsu is an active composer of contemporary concert music and associate professor of composition at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Born in Banciao, Taiwan, Chiayu frequently explores ideas of cultural fusion. She derives inspiration from places, poems, myths, and images. Particularly, the combination of Chinese elements and western techniques is a hallmark of her music.

Chiayu’s works have been performed by numerous orchestras and chamber groups worldwide. Last year, her solo clarinet piece was featured on Eric Schultz’s album POLYGLOT.

Host Stephen Anthony Rawson talks with Chiayu about several works from her catalogue, her musical language, traveling, and more!