Otto Luening was one of the first American composers to work with electronic tape music. His collaborations with Vladimir Ussachevsky led to the formation of the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, the first of its kind in America and a crucial breeding ground for many American electronic composers.

For Maverick Mixtapes, we've asked musicians from different musical backgrounds to curate an hour of music that they deemed best fit the ideal of an "American Maverick." Today's featured musician is composer and performer Angélica Negrón.

For Maverick Mixtapes, we've asked musicians from different musical backgrounds to curate an hour of music that they deemed best fit the ideal of an "American Maverick." Today's featured individual is radio personality John Schaefer, host of WNYC's New Sounds and Soundcheck.

Druckman discusses his role as the composer-in-residence at the New York Phiharmonic and the impetus behind the New Horizons contemporary music festival. He recounts the changing fortunes of interest in new music and opera, and how audiences and fellow composers have responded.

In this 2009 episode of WNYC's New Sounds, Terry Riley speaks with host John Schaefer about his landmark 1964 work In C which helped usher in the style known as minimalism.

Composer, violinist and songwriter Owen Pallett tells us about his interest in the music of Van Dyke Parks, "the spiritual godson of number-one American Maverick Charles Ives."

In this 1973 Composers' Forum with host Martin Bookspan, Lukas Foss chats about the many musical hats he wears and musical life in both Israel and America.

For Maverick Mixtapes, we asked musicians from different musical backgrounds to curate an hour of music that they deemed best fit the ideal of an "American Maverick." Today's featured musician is vocalist and composer Joan La Barbara.

In this 1997 New Sounds with host John Schaefer, Lou Harrison talks about composing for the Indonesian gamelan, the associated complexities of intonation and his recollections of instrument building and experimentation with fellow West Coast maverick, Harry Partch. 

For Maverick Mixtapes, we asked musicians from different musical backgrounds to curate an hour of music that they deemed best fit the ideal of an "American Maverick." Today's featured musician is composer, songwriter and producer Jherek Bischoff.

This month on Hammered! we invite three pianists to curate episodes focused on the 20th and 21st century's revolutionary composers. Listen in 11 am and 11 pm this week for episodes hosted by Jeremy Denk.

In this 1986 interview, the composer Steve Reich recounts his early success with Michael Tilson Thomas, describing the progression of initial discovery to the controversial performance of Four Organs.

For Maverick Mixtapes, we asked musicians from different musical backgrounds to curate an hour of music that they deemed best fit the ideal of an "American Maverick." Today's featured musician is composer and songwriter Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond.

We asked musicians from different musical backgrounds to curate an hour of music that they deemed best fit the ideal of an "American Maverick." Today's featured musician is flutist and concert curator Claire Chase.

This 2001 episode of WNYC's Spinning on Air marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Harry Partch. Host David Garland plays a mix of Partch's music and recorded speech, including introductions to and performances on Partch's exotic array of home-made instruments.