The composer Stanley Grill joins me for a conversation about his beautiful compositions with a focus on some of his award-winning albums including The Mystic Trumpeter and Two Symphonies. Every composer’s path is unique and I was curious to learn about his personal career and creative choices which have sometimes gone counter to what people expect of a composer, and why his accidental career outside of music helped him in many ways. You’ll hear about some of his formative experiences and influences, including the legacy of Abby Whiteside’s piano pedagogy, the songs of Charles Ives, and some interesting lesser known composers he’s been researching including Gernsheim and Mayakovsky. All the music you’ll hear is Stanley Grill’s and is linked on his web site including scores.

ALL THE LINKS!

Show notes take you to Stanley's music, scores, suggested episodes, podcast merch, newsletter sign up, YouTube video version, transcript on my blog, and how you can support this independent podcast.

(00:00) Intro

(01:30) The Mystic Trumpeter with clips, Walt Whitman

(09:04) Schenker and the importance of musical architecture, Abby Whiteside

(15:47) Two Symphonies album with clip of 4th mvt Symphony for Peace music for peace project

(19:48) writing for brass, Bruckner orchestration, Summer with clip of 3rd mvt

(22:43) Stanley’s contrapuntal style, emphasis on getting his music recorded

(28:57) chamber music including string trios with clip of Sinfonia 4, tribute to Bach

(31:26) childhood love of music

(34:50) suggested episodes and ways to follow and support this independent podcast

(35:36) Abby Whiteside pedagogy

(40:03) Charles Ives, Mahler, studying composition, decision to get a job outside of music

(46:17) New York Transit Authority and other work outside music

(54:14) Symphony of Sighs with clip

(58:15) family background, Gernsheim, Mayaskovski, AI scraping blog post, composing

Andrew Arceci is an Early Music Specialist who performs on the viol family and is also a founding member of Floyd’s Row ensemble. You’ll be hearing music excerpted from their new album The Carlisle Sessions and also from Andrew’s earlier album with soprano Elizabeth Hungerford Love and Lust of wonderful music from the 16th and 17th centuries. Andrew also speaks about the tragic loss of his father, a prominent paediatric oncologist and how Andrew established the remarkable Winchendon Music Festival in Massachusetts, which features series of free concerts of jazz, early music, classical, and world music with established artists.

It was fascinating to learn about Andrew’s path from jazz and classical bass to art history and early music scholarship which he studied at the Peabody Conservatory, The Julliard School and the University of Oxford. Andrew got into some fascinating specifics about the intricacies of reading different forms of notation while playing in different temperaments on many different instruments. On a personal note, he shared the joys of his nomadic life with his wife the violinist Asako Takeuchi, and some of the experiences they have shared living in Italy and Japan with their children.

For Andrew's projects, the music featured in this episode, other suggested episodes, YouTube video, transcript, podcast merch, newsletter and more: All the links

(00:00) Intro

(02:34) Italian heritage

(03:23) Floyd’s Row “The Carlisle Sessions” with clips from tracks 1, 5, 2

(12:20) Andrew’s art history background, discovering early music and viol family

(18:37) Floyd’s Row “The Carlisle Sessions” with clips from track 3, and 4, balancing family life, George Lernis percussion

(23:25) background in jazz, improv elements in early music, lute tablature, continuo

(27:25) Winchendon Music Festival, loss of his father

(36:20) Love and Lust with Elizabeth Hungerford with clips of Tobacco, Death, Life

(44:38) suggested episodes and ways to support this podcast

(45:35) Hume, Mark Cudek, Love and Lust project with clip of Amarilli track 5

(48:21) viola da gamba and viol family with clip of She Loves it Well and Chi Passa Per ‘sta Strada

(01:00:28) languages, Japan, Italy

(01:05:11) composing and arranging, music direction, art, Floyd’s Row

(01:14:35) balancing touring, projects and home life

Rupert Guenther is an Australian improvising violinist and pedagogue. Some of the music you’ll be hearing is excerpted from his 5 albums commissioned from the ABC. You’ll hear stories from his varied career, in both Australia and Vienna, and influences and mentors from Melvyn Cann, Terje Moe Hansen, Igor Ozim and Allan Zavod. He shares his approach to creating fully improvised music as a classically trained violinist and how he teaches his students to ground their playing with his reflective approach.

You can also watch the video on my YouTube. Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast, and other episodes you’ll enjoy: All the links!

photo: Anne Errey

(00:00) Intro

(01:43) Guildhall experience with clip of track 2 from New Letters to Esterhazy Sonata I

(07:09) Terje Moe Hansen, Rupert’s first teachers

(11:50) ABC commissions, remembering Melvyn Cann with clips track 3 and 1 from Sonata I The Moxbournienna Sonatas

(19:03) playing with amplification with clip Sticks and Branches from Amplified Soundscapes for solo violin, benefits of improv

(24:30) Igor Ozim, Brian Finlayson, Helfried Fister, Vienna

(39:17) linked episodes and ways to support this independent podcast

(40:30) Rolling Stones, Melbourne exposure to global music with clip of track 2 The Moxbournienna Sonata I

(46:33) how busking helped connect with audiences with clip “Meeting Lao Tau from New Sacred Music vol. 2

(52:03) approach to teaching, getting over stage fright through improvisation, Conservatorium of Intuitive Music, with clip of track 4 New Letters to Esterhazy Sonata I

(01:07:32) Allan Zavod

(01:23:52) Cosmology projects, teaching improvisation

(01:23:52) meditation and teaching

Conversations with Musicians with Leah Roseman is available wherever you listen to podcasts. The video and transcript are linked here on my website, where you can check out my episodes catalog and sign up for Sneak Peeks for upcoming guests: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/jeremy-mastrangelo

This week’s guest is violinist Jeremy Mastrangelo, who’s a wonderful colleague of mine in Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. He’s known in our greenroom as a great storyteller, onstage as an excellent musician, and having heard him give brilliant masterclasses I can attest to his excellence as an educator as well. This episode is infused with Jeremy’s wit and wisdom as well as a couple of beautiful violin performances. We talk about violin shopping in Cremona, teenage life at Interlochen Academy, the difficulties and joys of a career as an orchestral musician, family, and the benefits of deepening our understanding of the composers we play. You will find that one of the wonderful stories in this episode reveals an unexpected discovery!

This independant podcast needs your support. Can you help with $3? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks so much!

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:11) Jeremy’s brother Dave, his childhood starting violin

(10:31) Bach Aria from Goldberg Variations

(13:23) Dave Mastrangelo arrangements

(15:05) orchestra audition process

(19:11) working conditions, collective agreements, Syracuse orchestra experience, Sara Mastrangelo

(27:21) please support the podcast!

(28:00) different roles and chairs in the orchestra

(30:31) Interlochen

(34:13) intro to Piazzolla etude

(35:45) Piazzolla Tango Etude no. 3

(39:34) dealing with uncertainty, pandemic Syracuse then Ottawa with Pinchas Zukerman

(45:37) ideal orchestra experiences, role of conductor and players

(50:15) Cremona with wife Sara, Italian heritage, Vittorio Villa

(55:54) Jeremy’s violin teachers Rafail Sobolevsky, Bill Preucil, Hal Grossman, Paul Kantor

(01:03:26) Rafail Sobolevsky story

(01:10:13) Sally Thomas, James Ehnes

(01:14:12) cooking

(01:16:07) great books about composers and performers

(01:20:37) solo experiences, stress dreams, benefits of knowing more about the composers

(01:28:16) one final orchestra story

Avi Kishna is a Dutch sarod player based in Amsterdam, of Indo-Surinamese heritage. You’ll get to know the sarod as an instrument and hear Avi’s perspectives on Dutch society and his interesting collaborations. Among his mentors is his inspiring father, Ramdew Kishna, a multi-talented musician, director, and painter, who played a pivotal role in shaping Avi's musical journey along with his guru, Koustuv Ray. As a young man, Avi embarked on a successful career as in sales and marketing, but during this time he pushed music aside, and I found it deeply touching to hear how he was able to come back to music with the wisdom of having left such an important part of himself behind. You’ll hear about Avi’s project working with schools in Amsterdam to help provide music programs in underserved communities and this episode features some of his sarod music. Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel, and I’ve also linked the transcript here to my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/avi-kishna

Can you buy this podcaster a coffee to support this series? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks!

Here you'll find the links to Avi's projects like Raga Reflections, where to stream and buy his music, upcoming performances, including a video with dancer Shailesh Bahoran (which we talk about): https://www.sarodbyavi.com/

Link to Muziek Educatie Centrum Amsterdam: https://www.muziekeducatiecentrum.nl/jeugd-fonds-sport-cultuur-amsterdam

Follow me on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/leahroseman

Episode with sitar player Mohamed Assani: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/mohamed-assani

Episode with bansuri player Milind Date:

https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/milind-date-bansuri-player

Complete Catalog of Episodes: https://www.leahroseman.com/about

Newsletter sign-up: https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(03:42) the sarod

(11:57) Indo-Surinamese heritage and history

(16:16) South Asian music in the Netherlands

(19:38) dancer Shailesh Bahoran

(25:00) excerpt from While She Sleeps

(28:06) bringing different music together, Soundscape Sessions

(38:01) please support this podcast!

(38:39) Ramdew Kishna, Avi’s father

(43:27) racism and inclusion

(50:53) sarod guru Gungun Kaustuv Ray

(56:14) learning from others

(57:56) Raga Reflections

(01:04:19) Darbari

(01:08:00) sales and marketing career, return to music

(01:13:05) giving back through music education

Ashley Kahn is a Grammy-winning music historian, author, professor and producer. He joins me to discuss his wonderful new book, Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland. You’ll hear about Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with whom Ashley toured, and many of the musicians who helped define the Graceland sound, including Bakithi Kumalo, Ray Phiri, producer Ray Halee and insights into Paul Simon’s songwriting process. You’ll hear Ashley read several excerpts from the book and reflect on how Graceland the album and later as a touring project affected the musicians living under Apartheid, and also those in exile like Hugh Masekela. He also speaks about several of his other projects including his books about the music of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane and as co-writer of Carlos Santana’s award-winning autobiography “The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light “. A recipient of many awards and honours, Ashley has a broad and fascinating career in the music industry and is a professor at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU TISCH. In the show notes, there’s a gallery of photos, so you may want to check those out.

All the links in the show notes!

You can also watch the video on my YouTube, the show notes also linked several suggested episodes.

(00:00) Intro

(03:17) Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Joseph Shabalala

(11:37) Ashley reading from “Days of Miracle and Wonder” about Paul Simon’s songwriting process

(13:56) Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Isicathamiya, Apartheid

(20:01) defining sounds of Graceland, Bakithi Kumalo fretless bass, Isaac Mtshali, Vusi Khumalo, Ray Phiri

(24:34) Ashley reading from “Days of Miracle and Wonder” about what makes an album a classic

(26:42) Paul Simon’s lyrics

(33:14) Ashley reading from “Days of Miracle and Wonder” about Paul Simon

(34:00) Verna Gillis

(37:11) Lorne Michaels, Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Saturday Night Live, Ray Halee

(47:54) suggested episodes and ways to support and follow this podcast

(49:11) cultural boycott, anti-Apartheid movement and Graceland

(58:40) Ashley’s career as a music historian and author, Miles Davis, John Coltrane

(01:05:50) Carlos Santana with Ashley reading from “The Universal Tone”

(01:14:13) professor at NYU, advice for his students and young musicians

JoVia Armstrong is a an award-winning percussionist, composer and educator whose work blends rhythm, technology, and experimental composition. This year she was voted as one of the best percussionists in the world by DownBeat Magazine’s 74th Annual Critics Poll. She leads the electroacoustic ensemble Eunoia Society which explores sound as a healing tool and you’ll be hearing music from their first two albums, The Antidote Suite and Inception, which are linked in the show notes for you. In fact, I found out about JoVia when I interviewed Leslie De Shazor a couple of years ago for this podcast, and my episode with her is linked for you along with a few other suggested episodes.

Today you’ll learn about JoVia’s collaborators and mentors including Nicole Mitchell and Francisco Mora Catlett as well as her development as a musician with the encouragement of her family. JoVia spoke with me about the importance of mentoring youth, self-reflection and self-care. She is currently Assistant Professor of music at the University of Virginia, where she teaches in the Composition and Computer Technology Program while researching the intersection of Black contemplative music, technology and urban space.

You can also watch this video on my YouTube, and I’ve also linked the transcript. It'ss a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links, including JoVia Armstrong, the albums featured in this episode, how you can support this podcast, podcast merch and other episodes you’ll enjoy: All the links!

(00:00) Intro

(03:10) keyboards, Leslie DeShazor, her teaching at the University of Virginia, managers

(14:09) Eunoia Society, elements of contemplative music with clip of Meditations on Oya from The Antidote Suite

(18:38) Nicole Mitchell, Black Earth SWAY

(24:00) The Antidote Suite, Bridget Cooks, with clip of Breathe

(29:44) grad school in California, sisters, remembering Joyce

(37:30) cajon, Francisco Mora Catlett, suggested episodes and ways to support this independent podcast

(37:41) Elizabeth Catlett, Francisco Mora Catlett, cajon, Musique Noire

(45:20) The Antidote Suite, about Shades and Shapes with clip of the music, Herbie Hancock influence

(50:49) working with women, self-reflection, reverb and caves, self-care

(01:05:08) Inception album, Eunoia Society, problem with audiences in classical music concerts, clips of track 1 and 2

(01:13:16) supportive parents, mentoring youth

Cellist Coleman Itzkoff joins Leah Roseman to discuss his multi-disciplinary career spanning baroque music, contemporary ballet, and theatre. Discover the surprising links between his youth as a competitive skateboarder and his physical artistry on stage. He shares insights into co-founding AMOC, accessing peak creativity, and how family and mentors shaped his unique path. You can also watch the video on my YouTube - Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links. CLICK for ALL the LINKS!

photo: Titilayo Ayangade

(00:00) Intro

(02:12) musical family, aunt Kris Yenney, PACO

(07:46) AMOC Matthew Aucoin, with clip of “Dual” from live performance with Lizzie Burns

(13:56) first dance experience with Or Schraiber, AMOC

(19:38) Procession, dancing, Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber, Lost Mountain, NACO

(33:44) Dall’Abaco caprices, baroque cello with clips of No. 6 and 1

(39:24) other linked episodes and ways to support this independent podcast

(40:27) experimentation with endpins and standing, skateboarding

(48:22) Coleman’s youth with musician parents, Greenwood Music Camp, skateboarding skills and music

(55:54) accessing more creativity and ease, earplugs, polyvagal theory, meditation

(01:04:48) Ruckus early music, 12th Night

(01:07:53) variety in his career, Cerrone concerto, Anthony Marwood

(01:10:06) Sonic Alchemy album, Peteris Vasks, Mina Gajič

(01:12:42) Broken Theater, Or Schraiber

(01:15:21) teachers Eric Kim, Desmond Hoebig, Ralph Kirschbaum, Timothy Eddy