Anna Thorvaldsdottir joins us to talk about her two new premiere recordings—one for Claire Chase's Density 2036 project, the other for the Labèque sisters with Bryce Dessner and David Chalmin—as well as early influences, current projects…and Björk. We compare her visceral Scandinavian sonorism to Steve Reich’s uncharacteristically somber setting of the Hebrew traveler’s prayer that’s also just received its premiere recording. Reich’s echoes are discernible in a new work by Anzû Quartet’s Ken Thomson, while fresh improv by Adam O'Farrill, the Sam Newsome/Max Johnson duo and the Lașcu/La Berge/Hamilton trio, and a 50th anniversary look at acousmatic gems by Berio and Bayle plus an unusually "outside" track by the band Oregon, round out the playlist. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell, originally broadcast April 6, 2025.
Photo credits and annotated playlist in Comments.
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Flotation Device 2025-04-06: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Worldly travels [0:00]
1. [2:22] Steve Reich: Traveler’s Prayer. From Jacob's Ladder/Traveler's Prayer (Nonesuch, 2025) with Synergy Vocals: Amanda Morrison, Micaela Haslam (sopranos), Benedict Hymas, Will Wright (tenors), Colin Currie Group: Sam Walton, Owen Gunnell (percussion), Siwan Rhys (piano), Jonathan Morton, Greta Mutlu, Clio Gould, Beatrix Lovejoy (violins), Nicholas Bootiman, Meghan Cassidy (viola), Robin Michael, Zoe Martlew (cello), Colin Currie (conductor), Daniel Halford (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2021, premiered October 16, 2021 by Synergy Vocals, Colin Currie Group at Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. First recording
2. [14:48] Anna Thorvaldsdottir: Metacosmos. From Concurrence (Sono Luminus, 2019) with Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Daníel Bjarnason (conductor), Daniel Shores (recording engineer). NOTE: Premiered April 4, 2018 by New York Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonon at David Geffen Hall, New York
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SET 2: Anna Everywhere [28:00]
1. [30:35] Anna Thorvaldsdottir in conversation with Michael Schell
2. [41:55] Anna Thorvaldsdottir: Ubique (excerpts). From Ubique (Sono Lumimus, 2025) with Claire Chase (flutes), Katinka Kleijn, Seth Parker Woods (cellos), Cory Smythe (piano), Rick Jacobsohn (recording producer, Studio 9)
3. [59:31] Outro with George Crumb: Vox Balaenae (Trio O3)
4. [1:01:57] Ken Thomson: Uneasy - i. From Adjust (Cantaloupe, 2025) with Anzû Quartet: Ken Thomson (clarinet), Olivia De Prato (violin), Ashley Bathgate (cello), Karl Larson (piano), Alex Conroy (recording engineer, The Bunker Studio)
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SET 3: 50 years ago in modal improv [1:07:57]
1. [1:09:31] Oregon: Tryton's Horn. From In Concert (Vanguard, 1975) with Oregon: Paul McCandless (English horn, wooden flute), Glen Moore (violin, piano), Ralph Towner (12 string guitar, French horn, trumpet), Collin Walcott (clarinet, percussion), Jeff Zaraya (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded live April 8–9, 1975 at Vanguard Records' studio, New York
2. [1:14:35] Noriko Baba: Bestiarium Musicale - Bernace. From Bonbori (Kairos, 2025) with Ensemble Cairn: Cédric Jullion (flute), Ayumi Mori (clarinet), Cécile Brossard (viola), Alexa Ciciretti (cello), Christelle Sery (guitar), Caroline Cren (piano), Sylvain Lemêtre (percussion), Guillaume Bourgogne (conductor), Martin Antiphon (recording engineer)
3. [1:16:37] Adam O'Farrill: Speeding Blots of Ink (excerpt), Scratching the Surface of a Dream. From For These Streets (Out of Your Head, 2025) with Adam O’Farrill (trumpet, flugelhorn), David Leon (alto saxophone, flute), Kevin Sun (tenor saxophone, clarinet), Kalun Leung (trombone, euphonium), Mary Halvorson (guitar), Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Tyrone Allen II (double bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Eli Greenhoe (conductor), Chris Krasnow (recording engineer, The Bunker Studio)
4. [1:26:43] Anna Thorvaldsdottir: What Things Become. From Sonic Wires (Deutsche Grammophon, 2024) with Katia Labèque, Marielle Labèque (pianos), David Chalmin (electric guitar), Bryce Dessner (electric guitar, sound design)
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SET 4: 50 years ago in acousmatica [1:33:58]
1. [1:38:02] Sam Newsome, Max Johnson: Strangled Duck (excerpt). From Tubes (Unbroken Sounds, 2024) with Sam Newsome (soprano saxophone, horn preparations, toys), Max Johnson (double bass), Jason Borisoff (recording engineer, Conveyor)
2. [1:40:39] Anne La Berge, Tom Hamilton, Suzana Lașcu: Capsule, Vault (excerpts). From Threw, Thru & Through (Bandcamp, 2025) with Suzana Lașcu (voice), Anne La Berge (flute, Kyma System), Tom Hamilton (Nord Modular Keyboard, recording engineer)
3. [1:48:25] François Bayle: Grande Polyphonie (excerpts). From Grande Polyphonie (INA GRM, 1978). NOTE: Realized 1974, premiered April 7, 1975, at Maison de la Radio, ORTF (now Radio France), Paris
4. [1:56:32] Outro with Luciano Berio: Chants Parallèles
Photo credits: Berio at GRM via Centro Studi Luciano Berio, Anna Thorvaldsdottir by Saga Sigurdardottir, Steve Reich by Jesse Yang, François Bayle by Didier Allard, Noriko Baba by Kyoko Nagashima, Oregon (Glen Moore, Paul McCandless, Collin Walcott, Ralph Towner) via the artists, Anzû Quartet (Olivia De Prato, Karl Larson, Ashley Bathgate, Ken Thomson) by Markus Sepperer (accent), Adam O’Farrill by Tore Sætre, Suzana Lașcu by Jethro Bijleveld.