Radio Eclectus presents a retrospective of some of 2021's most noteworthy albums of radical new music, focusing on longform selections, including orchestral works by Gubaidulina, Jarrell and Harbison, a microtonal string quartet by Haas, Braxton channeling Scelsi, John King channeling Bach, William Parker and Wadada Leo Smith in novel trio formats, and briefer excursions by Giles Swayne, Beatriz Ferreyra, Fred Frith with Ikue Mori, and the Russian chamber improv group Acoustic Fringe. Check out hosts Michael Schell's companion article at Sequenza21 (direct URL is https://tinyurl.com/Schell2021), and use it as a tour guide for this snapshot of the current global praxis of Western art music.
Annotated playlist and photo credits with Comments.
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Annotated playlist for show #102
Intro and SET 1: Orchestral passion [0:00]
1. [2:05] Sofia Gubaidulina: The Wrath of God. From Dialog: Ich und Du, The Wrath of God, The Light of the End (Deutsche Grammophon, 2021) with Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Andris Nelsons (conductor). NOTE: Composed 2019
2. [19:03] John Harbison: Diotima. From Diotima (BMOP/sound, 2021) with Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose (conductor), Joel Gordon (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1976, first recording
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SET 2: King channels Bach, Braxton channels Scelsi [38:50]
1. [42:11] John King: C-H-A-C-O-N-N-E. From Wild At Heart (Sono Luminus, 2021) with Pauline Kim Harris (violin), Daniel Shores (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2013
3. [57:08] Anthony Braxton: Composition Nos. 418, 419, 420 (excerpts). From 12 Comp (ZIM) 2017 (Firehouse 12, 2021) with Anthony Braxton ZIM Septet: Anthony Braxton (reeds), Taylor Ho Bynum (brass), Dan Peck (tuba), Jacqueline Kerrod, Miriam Overlach (harps), Adam Matlock (accordion, aerophones), Jean Cook (violin), Shaun Crook, James Dunn (recording engineers)
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SET 3: More of the best of 2021 [1:17:19]
1. [1:22:28] Beatriz Ferreyra: Jingle Bayle’s. From Canto+ (Room40, 2021). NOTE: Realized 2012
2. [1:26:55] Wadada Leo Smith, Douglas R. Ewart, Mike Reed: Super Moon Rising. From Sun Beans of Shimmering Light (Astral Spirits, 2021) with Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet), Douglas R. Ewart (flute), Mike Reed (drums), Dave Zuchowski (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded 2015 at Constellation, Chicago
3. [1:37:17] Fred Frith, Ikue Mori: Good For What. From A Mountain Doesn't Know It's Tall (Intakt Records, 2021) with Fred Frith (home-made instruments, various toys and objects), Ikue Mori (laptop electronics), Peter Hardt (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded 2015
4. [1:39:54] Fred Frith, Ikue Mori: A Thief Breaks into an Empty House. From A Mountain Doesn't Know It's Tall (as above)
5. [1:42:09] Acoustic Fringe: Waltz For The Fairies. From Theater (Fancy Music, 2020) with Goat's Notes Acoustic Fringe: Anna Chekasina (violin), Maria Logofet (violin), Sergey Poltavsky (viola), Vladimir Kudryavtsev (double bass), Gregory Sandomirsky (piano, percussion), Maxim Khaikin (recording engineer)
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SET 4: Music of dreams and memories [1:48:15]
1. [1:52:45] Giles Swayne: Farewell, Op. 151. From Relationships (Resonus Classics, 2021) with Malu Lin (violin), Giles Swayne (piano), Nick Graham (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1997
2. [1:56:57] Michael Jarrell: 4 Eindrücke. From Émergences-Résurgences (BIS, 2021) with Renaud Capuçon (violin), Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, Pascal Rophé (conductor), Hans Kipfer (sound engineer). NOTE: Composed 2019
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SET 5: Parker and Haas [2:16:58]
1. [2:19:48] William Parker: The Wall Tumbles Down. From Mayan Space Station (AUM Fidelity, 2021) with William Parker (bass), Ava Mendoza (electric guitar), Gerald Cleaver (drums), Jim Clouse (recording engineer)
2. [2:33:37] Georg Friedrich Haas: String Quartet No. 4. From Ein Schattenspiel, String Quartets No. 4 & 7 (NEOS, 2021) with Arditti Quartet, Thomas Hummel, Reinhold Braig (sound direction). NOTE: Composed 2003, first recording
Photo credits: William Parker via the artist, Beatriz Ferreyra via Persistence of Sound, Sofia Gubaidulina by Priska Ketterer, Michael Jarrell by Maurice Weiss/Ostkreuz, Mike Reed/Wadada Leo Smith/Douglas Ewart by Michael Jackson, John Harbison by Julian Bullitt, Georg Friedrich Haas via Ricordi, Anthony Braxton by Edu Hawkins, Fred Frith via Flickr, Pauline Kim Harris via the artist.