Meet the Composer

Produced by Q2 Music and WQXR. Available as a Podcast on Q2 Music and iTunes.

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Paul Simon’s Curious Mind

Paul Simon has always been attracted to new kinds of sounds. His most recent work has brought him into the world of contemporary classical music. Jul 10, 2017

  • Nico Muhly: Community Theater

    Composer Nico Muhly is a rabid communicator whose personality factors massively in his work. Nico lives his life out loud, and his music is stunning, hilarious, touching, and brilliant. Dec 11, 2015

    Nico Muhly: Community Theater
  • Nico Muhly: I. Trial By Fire

    Nico grew up in Providence, but spent odd corridors of his youth abroad, acquiring languages quickly and setting the tone for his current, punishing travel schedule. Dec 11, 2015

    Nico Muhly: I. Trial By Fire
  • Nico Muhly: II. Working Together

    Nico has worked with film directors, librettists, clarinet players and choreographers, and has written arrangements for an impressive roster of bands and songwriters. Dec 11, 2015

    Nico Muhly: II. Working Together
  • Nico Muhly: Playlist

    Hear a piece of music you loved in the show? Click for a complete breakdown of all the music in Episode Ten – Nico Muhly: Community Theater. Dec 11, 2015

    Nico Muhly: Playlist
  • Nico Muhly: III. "u"

    Nico's community is a massive factor in his life. He is very much "in touch," sending emails from the profane to the profound to literally hundreds of people a day.  Dec 11, 2015

    Nico Muhly: III. "u"
  • Anna Thorvaldsdottir: Composing Is Second Nature

    Anna Thorvaldsdottir is an Icelandic composer whose work conjures entire environments of sound, surrounding the listener in a dark and forbidding landscape. Listen to the complete show. Nov 9, 2015

    Anna Thorvaldsdottir: Composing Is Second Nature
  • Anna Thorvaldsdottir: I. Small Town Living

    Anna grew up in a tiny town surrounded by incredible beauty — mountains, ocean — studying music under the guidance of her music-teacher mother and aunt.  Nov 9, 2015

    Anna Thorvaldsdottir: I. Small Town Living
  • Anna Thorvaldsdottir: II. Composing a Space

    Icelandic is a language of whispers and sub-audible subtlety. It is a sort of an ancient thing, it feels like it wasn’t workshopped as extensively as other European languages. Nov 9, 2015

    Anna Thorvaldsdottir: II. Composing a Space