Maslanka, D – Give Us This Day, II – Illinois State University Symphonic Winds, cond. Stephen K. Steele
Part, A – Mein Weg – Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, cond. Tonu Kaljuste
Sur, D – Red Dust – Collage New Music
Sheppard, P – In-I: The Apotheosis – http://www.alt-classical.com/2009/12/23/philip-sheppard-in-i-the-apotheosis/
Hoiby, L – Toccata – Philip Amalong
Lang, D – stick figure – Sentieri Selvaggi, cond. Carlo Boccadoro
Hall, D – Escape Velocity – TCU Percussion Ensemble
Wheelock, D – Soliloquy – Matt Haimovitz
Laderman, E – Twelth Quartet: III – Alianza String Quartet

Hi all-

I’m trying to make some space on my shelves and in my studio locker of CDs and other things I simply don’t need.  Many of these I somehow got multiple copies of, or the radio station got a copy itself.  I can tell you that none of it sucks.  If you want any of it, just email me (douglas.laustsen@gmail.com) with your address and I’ll send it your way.  I’ll probably update this list on Wednesday when I’m back at the station:

Albany Records:
Anthony Brandt – The Birth of Something
Gilbert and Sullivan/The Ohio Light Opera – Ruddigore
Victor Herbert/Ohio Light Opera – Mlle Modiste
The Upton Trio – these are different times
Collage New Music peformers Donald Sur
Andres Cardenes – American Violin Concertos

Shamayim – Movie by Elliot Caplan, David Felder, and Nicholas Isherwood

A random Cantaloupe Music sampler

Mikel Rouse – Gravity Radio

the book “A Fine Romance” by David Lehman

I knew it would happen, but I definitely shot myself in the foot by saying “I have a few more discs coming in next week, but I don’t really see any of them cracking the top 10…”

In christmas shopping, I picked up an album that made a huge splash on its release, but I never got around to getting.  That album is Arvo Part’s In Principio.  It’s really good.  I’ve been listening to it pretty nonstop the last week.  That said, none of the other discs I think don’t make the grade.  So can I have 11 in my top 10?

Also, it is staggering how much excellent music there is out there being made and recorded in 2009.  The year seems to have ended with a bit of a bombshell in terms of the economic viability and public interest in the arts (bullet 2), but its important to keep in mind that its certainly not a result of inferior music.  I’m not sure what the problem is, but I’m certainly looking to read about it.

Also related on not live performance but radio, which I should say is interesting because of the source – the NYT sold their classical radio station to NPR recently.  The merger of WNYC’s music efforts (which made me want to just quit doing radio since, well, I was never going to be as good as the Evening Music crew), seems to be drawing a little ire, based on one commenter here.  Truth be told, I haven’t listened to the new WQXR much, as I’ve been spending my time following sports or listening to CDs.  The station which took over QXR’s frequency advertises heavily in the city I teach in. They’re asking me to Cambiate!  over to 96.3.  Maybe its just not in my rhythm, but it’s also possible the times I’ve made it way out to WQXR’s frequency I’ve been really bored by the music.  I don’t know.  I do owe it a fair shot.

Speaking of which… I have to say that live performance is not dead, if my school concert is any indication.  People *liked* it, and not just because their kids were in it.  Even more important, the kids really soaked up the experience, and I think I’ve managed to get at least a few new initiates addicted to the performing drug.  Now that the Winter Concert’s over, I’ll be spending a little more time here.  More Explorations coming up in February (once I have my show schedule and match up the preemption schedule I”ll start picking air dates).

Victoire at the Stone Live

Volume by Miss Mazzoli:

Off to a Youth Band Concert.  I have ear plugs ready to deploy.

I guarantee I’ll change my mind on this at least a dozen times, but this is my favorites list so far this year.  I have a few more discs coming in next week, but I don’t really see any of them cracking the top 10…

So I arrived to discover I had 45 extra minutes of air time tonight!  I used it well by playing Terry Riley’s In C (the awesome CBS recording with Riley from the late 60s).  I enjoyed it. I played it because  if you mosey on up to Wiliam Paterson University Monday night (11/30) at 7:30 pm, you’ll be able to catch a performance of In C by the school’s New Music Ensemble, led by Peter Jarvis.  Information here: http://www.wpunj.edu/College_of_Arts_and_Communications/music/index1.php?p=newmusic

Bach, JS – Contrapunctus VII – American Brass Quintet
Adams, J – Alleged Dances: 1 – London Sinfonietta
Ravel- Pavane for a Deceased Infanta – Georgian Festival Orchestra , cond. Vato Kaho
Lang, D – Anvil Chorus – from the film (untitled)
Sur, D – Berceuse for Violin and Piano – Collage New Music
Tirmer. L – Karankawa -Sinfonia Iuventus, cond. Dariusz Wisniewski
Harbison, J – North and South, Book II – Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, chamber ens
Brandt, A – Creeley Songs: The Rhythm – Karol Bennett, Brian Connelly
Herbert, V – Mlle. Modiste: Love me, love my dog – Ohio Light Opera

Hey- so I’m in a closet this week so I’m a little far from a computer to update my playlist… on it would be:

Beethoven’s SQ in A minor (middle movement) by the Emerson Quartet
Carson Cookman’s The Revelations of Divine Love
Andres Cardenes playing the Barber Concerto for Violin
and
Nancy van de Vate’s Nemo Act II

I’m really excited to let you all know about a give away we’re doing at WRSU.  We have four copies of Mikel Rouse’s new album Gravity Radio to give away on the air.  I’ll be giving away a copy this coming Wednesday (11/18) during the show sometime between 8 and 9 pm.  You just have to call in when we play a track from the album at 732-932-8800.

You can also get a copy ANOTHER way.  If you have a twitter account, all you’ll need to do is retweet my tweet about the album.  I’ll pick a user at random on Wednesday (again, 11/18) at 8pm. 

Good luck – I think the album’s pretty awesome!

Prosa – Gaude virgo gratiosa – Anonymous 4
Kinosian, M – The American Story: Cry in the Wilderness – The Upton Trio
Rouse, M – Gravity Radio: Wait for Me – Mikel Rouse
Copland, A – Violin Sonata: I Andante Semplice – Andres Cardens, Sinfonia Varsovia
Deatharage, I -Emozioni Classiche – Isaac Deatharage
Sur, D – A Neo-Platonic Epistrophe While Crossing Times Square – Collage new Music, cond. David Hoose
Adams, J – Gnarly Buttons: Put Yourn Loving Arms around Me – Michael Collins, London Sinfonietta
Harbison, J – Book or Hours and Seasons – Emily Lodine, Chicago Chamber Musicians

Brandt, A – The Birth of Something: Prologue – Karol Bennett, Michael Chioldi, Mala String Quartet, Blake Wilkins, cond. Jonathan Shames
Horwood, M – Percussionique No. 4 – Toronto Percussion Ensemble
Turner, K – Concerto fo Low Horn: mvmt 4 – Charles Putnam, Sinfonia Iuventus, cond. Dariusz Wisniewski
Anonymous – Alleluia: Quinque prudentes virgines – Anonymous 4
Mason, B – Higland Balls and Village Halls – Alarm Will Sound
Schoenberg, A – A Survivor from Warsaw – Daniel Olbrychski, Polish Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of Krakow,  cond. Szymon Kawalla, chor. Bronislawa Wietrzny
McConnell, Philip – Elegy fo Strings – Church of hte Painted Window Orchestra, cond. Joel Lish
Stravinksy, I – Violin Concerto in D: Toccata – Aruthur Grumiaux, Royal Concertgebouw Ochrestra, cond. Ernest Bour