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European composers return to the spotlight as we dive into the premiere recording of Kaija Saariaho’s second opera, Adriana Mater—an opportunity to hear the lingering influence of Sibelius amid her usual blend of spectralism and impressionism, all in service to a somber wartime story of violence, vengeance and forgiveness. We also pay our respects to the late Alexander Goehr, and mark the 90th birthday of his fellow Manchester icon Peter Maxwell Davies, who capped a lifetime of musical exploration and republican political leanings with a decade spent in official service to…Queen Elizabeth II, whose great-great-great-grandfather is depicted in his most famous work which, through its premiere recording, catapulted both Max and Julius Eastman to the top of the avant-garde. An Angélica Negrón miniature, a historical gem by Dewey Redman, and new releases by Christopher Cerrone, Matthew Shlomowitz, Ge Gan-ru, Ivo Perelman and Fred Frith (in a postminimalist mood) round out the playlist.
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Flotation Device 2024-09-08: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Explorations in musical wonders [0:00]
1. [1:39] Christopher Cerrone: Sonata for Violin and Piano - 1. Fast and focused, with gradually increasing intensity. From Fluid Dynamics (Orchid Classics, 2024) with Rachel Lee Priday (violin), David Kaplan (piano), David Sabee, Dave West, John Winters (recording engineers)
2. [6:08] Matthew Shlomowitz: Quasi Sarabande. From Explorations in Polytonality and Other Musical Wonders, Volumes 2 and 4 (Carrier, 2024) with Apsara: Katelijne Lanneau, Ines Rasbach, Tomma Wessel (recorders), Rainer Arndt (recording engineer)
3. [9:21] Ivo Perelman Quartet: Entrainment. From Water Music (RogueArt, 2024) with Ivo Perelman (tenor saxophone), Matthew Shipp (piano), Mark Helias (double bass), Tom Rainey (drums), Jim Clouse (recording engineer, Park West Studio)
4. [16:13] Ge Gan-Ru 葛甘孺: Twelve Etudes for Extended Piano - 4. Muted. From Piano Music • 2 (Grand Piano, 2024) with Yiming Zhang (piano). NOTE: Composed 2019–23
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SET 2: Alexander Goehr (1932–2024) [20:37]
1. [23:29] Alexander Goehr: Piano Trio, Op. 20 - 1. Con anima. From Little Symphony et al (Argo, 1973, reissued 2008 by Lyrita) with Orion Trio: Peter Thomas (violin), Sharon McKinley (cello), Ian Brown (piano), Tryggvi Tryggvason (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1966
2. [34:03] Voice break with Lin-Manuel Miranda: You'll Be Back
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SET 3: Maxwell Davies at 90 [35:25]
1. [37:00] Peter Maxwell Davies: Eight Songs for a Mad King (excerpts). From Eight Songs for a Mad King (Unicorn 1971 and Nonesuch 1973, reissued as Miss Donnithorne's Maggot/Eight Songs for a Mad King by Unicorn-Kanchana 1987) with Julius Eastman (baritone), The Fires of London, Peter Maxwell Davies (conductor). NOTE: Premiered 1969, recorded October 1970. A modern video staging featuring Kelvin Thomas and Psappha Ensemble can be viewed at https://youtu.be/m6357vL9TPg
2. [54:39] Outro with Peter Maxwell Davies: Farewell to Stromness
3. [59:52] Angélica Negrón: Ruta Panorámica. From 20 for 2020 (Avie, 2022) with Inbal Segev (cello), Julien Labro (bandoneon), Ryan Streber (recording engineer)
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SET 4: 50 years ago in the avant-garde [1:05:11]
1. [1:06:48] Dewey Redman: Seeds and Deeds. From Coincide (Impulse!, 1974, reissued 1998 on The Ear of the Behearer) with Dewey Redman (tenor saxophone), Ted Daniel (trumpet), Leroy Jenkins (violin), Sirone (bass, wood flute), Eddie Moore (drums). NOTE: Recorded September 9–10, 1974 in New York
2. [1:11:40] Fred Frith: Snakes and Ladders. From A Miscellany of Mishaps (Bandcamp, 2024) with Bang on a Can All-Stars: Evan Ziporyn (clarinet), Ashley Bathgate (cello), Robert Black (bass), Vicky Chow (piano), Mark Stewart (guitar), David Cossin (percussion), Damon Whittemore (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2006, recorded live April 2, 2009 at Merkin Hall, New York for New Sounds With John Schaefer, WNYC
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SET 5: War, vengeance and redemption [1:26:54]
1. [1:30:27] Kaija Saariaho: Adriana Mater (excerpts). From Adriana Mater (Deutsche Grammophon, 2024) with Adriana: Fleur Barron (mezzo-soprano), Yonas: Nicholas Phan (tenor), Tsargo: Christopher Purves (bass-baritone), San Francisco Symphony and Chorus, Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). NOTE: Premiered April 3, 2006 at Opéra Bastille, Paris. Recorded live June 2023 in San Francisco. First recording
2. [1:55:17] Outro with Jean Sibelius: Luonnotar (Phyllis Bryn-Julson)
Photo credits: Fred Frith by Michael Hoefner, Alexander Goehr by Tom Hurley, Kaija Saariaho by Maarit Kytöharju, Christopher Cerrone by Jacob Blickenstaff, Peter Maxwell Davies in Orkney by Gunnie Moberg, Dewey Redman by Michael Hoefner, Matthew Shlomowitz via the artist, Jean Sibelius in 1939, Ivo Perelman Quartet (Perelman, Matthew Shipp, Mark Helias, Tom Rainey) via RogueArt, Ge Gan-ru via Columbia University, Adriana Mater in Paris 2006 by François Fogel, Angélica Negrón via the artist, Eight Songs for a Mad King by Peter Maxwell Davies