Otto Luening Plugs America into Electronic Music

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 ... Mar 30, 2012

Jacob Druckman on the State of Contemporary Music

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... Mar 29, 2012

Terry Riley Remembers In C

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. Mar 28, 2012

Lukas Foss on Street Sign Inspiration and Struggles With Bach

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.

Mar 27, 2012

Lou Harrison Tunes the Gamelan for Western Ears

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 inst... Mar 26, 2012

Steve Reich Remembers 'Riot' at Four Organs Premiere

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.

Mar 23, 2012

Harry Partch: Redefining the Possible at Every Turn

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, i... Mar 22, 2012

Frederic Rzewski and DIY Music-Making

In this 2002 episode of WNYC's Soundcheck, host John Schaefer talks to maverick American icon Frederic Rzewski as well as fellow pianist-composers Michael Hersch and Russian-born Lera... Mar 21, 2012

John Cage Provoked but Undisturbed

Cage slowly and deliberately lays out the development of his music. Mar 20, 2012

Leonard Bernstein Talks Aging and Emerging Dreams

In this 1985 interview, Leonard Bernstein describes the influences his early education had upon the formation of the Young People's Concerts and feeling "cursed with this need to teach."

Mar 19, 2012