Betsy Jolas is one of the most significant composers of her generation, and remains a vital force in contemporary European music. Now in her 90s, she continues to create a steady stream of important new works. Jolas’s substantial catalogue is known for its subtle lyricism, depth, and refinement; yet it is also informed by a staggering erudition, and highly personal view of the history of music. The daughter of Eugène and Maria Jolas, publishers of the influential literary magazine Transition, she was close to many key modernist figures — painters, writers, musicians— throughout the 20th century: James Joyce (whom she knew as a girl), Edgard Varèse, Henri Dutilleux, Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Joan Mitchell and many others, some of whom are mentioned in this interview.

We freely discussed the following topics:
• Her recent collaboration with Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic
• Her studies with Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messaien
• Postwar musical life in Paris
• Her relationship with Pierre Boulez and the Domaine Musical
• Writing for the voice
• Being a female composer in the postwar period and beyond
• The technicalities of harmony and harmonic rhythm
• The conception of Quatuor II, one of her most celebrated works


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Edition Impronta, publisher of Samuel Andreyev’s scores
Betsy Jolas on Soundcloud
View the video of our discussion

EPISODE CREDITS
Spoken introduction: Maya Rasmussen
Podcast artwork photograph © 2019 Philippe Stirnweiss

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Adam Neely has a hugely successful YouTube channel devoted to music theory. In this episode, Adam and Samuel Andreyev discuss the role of today's social media and communications technologies in the world of music. They also talk about why the Casio Rapman is so important.

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST
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LINKS
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Edition Impronta, publisher of Samuel Andreyev’s scores

EPISODE CREDITS
Spoken introduction: Maya Rasmussen
Podcast artwork photograph © 2019 Philippe Stirnweiss

Support the show

Van Dyke Parks' music is situated at the crossroads of vernacular and art music. He has pursued his rich and utterly original musical vision over the course of an extraordinary career that now spans over 60 years. Samuel Andreyev interviews Van Dyke about his career and musical philosophy, as well as the fertile meeting of vernacular and art music.

View the video of our discussion

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST
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LINKS
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Edition Impronta, publisher of Samuel Andreyev’s scores

EPISODE CREDITS
Spoken introduction: Maya Rasmussen
Podcast artwork photograph © 2019 Philippe Stirnweiss

Support the show

In this episode, Samuel Andreyev responds to a YouTube viewer's question: how can contemporary composers (and other artists) earn a living? He offers some practical advice as a response to this difficult, and perpetual problem.

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST
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LINKS
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Edition Impronta, publisher of Samuel Andreyev’s scores

EPISODE CREDITS
Spoken introduction: Maya Rasmussen
Podcast artwork photograph © 2019 Philippe Stirnweiss
Introduction music: Samuel Andreyev's Piano Piece N° 2, performed by Trami Nguyen

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On April 28, 2017, I took a break from lecturing at UC Berkeley, California, and sat down for an extended discussion with drummer, arranger, composer and singer, John 'Drumbo' French. I wanted to understand the strange, unique and complex working process that led to the creation of the legendary 1969 album, Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. A great deal of misinformation, exaggerations and superficial comments have obscured the truth for far too long. No one on the planet knows more about this music and was more intimately involved in its creation than John French, and what he had to say is of great historic interest. Thank you to John for agreeing to this discussion.

View the video of our discussion

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST
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LINKS
YouTube channel
Official Website
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Edition Impronta, publisher of Samuel Andreyev’s scores

EPISODE CREDITS
Spoken introduction: Maya Rasmussen
Podcast artwork photograph © 2019 Philippe Stirnweiss
Introduction music: Samuel Andreyev's Piano Piece N° 2, performed by Trami Nguyen

Support the show

In this episode, Samuel Andreyev presents a lecture at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. The lecture deals with how he solved a compositional problem, as well as the challenge of integrating timbre into the language of contemporary music.

View the video of the lecture

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST
Patreon
Donorbox

LINKS
YouTube channel
Official Website
Twitter
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Edition Impronta, publisher of Samuel Andreyev’s scores

EPISODE CREDITS
Spoken introduction: Maya Rasmussen
Podcast artwork photograph © 2019 Philippe Stirnweiss
Introduction music: Samuel Andreyev's Piano Piece N° 2, performed by Trami Nguyen

Support the show