Onwards and Upwards: Two Brand-New Shows

So! The good news is that I'll be hosting two brand-new shows that will debut later this fall. The bad news is this is my last week of regular hosting hours. I'm gonna miss our regula... Aug 20, 2012

The Pleasure (Notes From the Road)

When faced with a particularly lovely set of circumstances, say an amazing meal in an amazing place, a close friend of mine is wont to exclaim, "I have The Pleasure. " This is a pleas... Aug 13, 2012

A Few Irrelevant Questions

Last week we talked a little about jockishness in music, while sort of casually mentioning beauty. Maybe this topic is too nuts/obvious/irksome, but what are the categorical elements ... Aug 6, 2012

Amazing Physical and Mental Feats

Over the past few days, my obsessive Olympics-watching has been mostly gymnastics-focused. Watching these young human people execute the virtually impossible in an extremely high-pres... Jul 30, 2012

Greetings from Camp

I was so excited when Alarm Will Sound asked me to sub with them in Missouri for two weeks for their annual Mizzou New Music Summer Festival. In grand summer camp tradition, we have t... Jul 23, 2012

Clapping Music

For me, a serial weeper from a long line of weepers, curtain calls are perhaps the most consistently moving element of performances. Works of art that address the behavior of a crowd ... Jul 16, 2012

Using the Room: Music and Spacialization

Inspired by The New York Philharmonic's groundbreaking "Philharmonic 360" show, Nadia Sirota presents week of music in which a sense of space, or "spacialization," is as crucial to the performance as the music itself.

Jul 9, 2012

Video Made The Radio Star

Probably as a result of sitting on the couch at age twelve or so for HOURS soaking in music videos from MTV and VH1, music and video will forever be tied together for me. From a quick... Jul 2, 2012

On Language

One of the more provocative concepts introduced to me by a music teacher in my youth had to do with the Hungarian language and accent patterns in the music of Bartok. This week we con... Jun 25, 2012

Controversies and a Conversation

Living legend Elliott Carter discusses his musical legacy, including his recently premiered commission at the Met Museum with Nadia Sirota, who also offers recordings of past CONTACT! performances.

Jun 18, 2012