Steve Seel

As recently as 20 years ago, the phrase "female composer" brought to mind a short-list of familiar names -- a handful of women who had managed to smash the gates of what had been a male-dominated fortress for centuries. While the contributions of the likes of Amy Beach, Joan Tower, and Libby Larsen have been immense toward putting cracks in the classical glass ceiling, the burgeoning number of women composers today have created an exponentially growing world of musical discovery - to the point when unfamiliar names are happily becoming the norm. Steve Seel samples a handful of them this week as our observation of Women's History Month continues.

Guest host: Melissa Ousley Melissa Ousley brings her expansive knowledge of music to the program this week, and her sensitive ear and attention to the details for all of her selections comes through. John Cage's "In a Landscape" serves as an example of how Cage perhaps had a greater impact on music of the 20th century than any other composer, through his emphasis on silence, space, and Eastern philosophies. John Adams' "Hallelujah Junction" for two pianos takes the contrapuntal minimalism of the 1970s to dizzying new heights, and Jesse Montgomery's "Coincident Dances" depicts what the composer calls the "profoundly multicultural experience" of living in New York City.

Guest host: Ward Jacobsen The official beginning of spring is right around the corner, and this week on Extra Eclectic, things are beginning to thaw -- and the water is flowing again. We hear James Stephenson's "Liquid Melancholy," selections from "Rivers" by Ann Southam, and Mason Bates' celebrated work for orchestra and electronics, "Liquid Interface." Ward Jacobsen guest hosts this week, and he also features music by John Tavener, Keith Jarret, and more.

When John Adams decided to write a saxophone concerto, he first listened to some that previous composers had written, but he found that they didn't speak to him. Instead, he decided he'd get out his favorite jazz records for inspiration - from Charlie Parker and Eric Dophy to Wayne Shorter. The result was a concerto that was influenced more by jazz than classical music. Steve plays Adams' work and some others that have prominent rhythmic elements or "dance" themes in this week's episode (beginning the program with a piece by Andre Previn, who died this week at the age of 89).

Steve Seel showcases the play between light and shadow, with contemporary classical works on those themes. Nocturnes and night travels contrast with works like "The Light" by Philip Glass, and he's even got a piece called "Shadow Light" by Elena Rhuer that touches on both ideas. Plus, does the phrase "desert island" conjure up images of sunlight and palm trees in your imagination? Well, what does it feel like to be stranded on a desert island ... at night? Erkki-Sven Tuur's "Insula Deserta" suggests what it might be like to be shipwrecked after the sun goes down.

Oftentimes, when the air is chilly, the sky is clear. And so it can be possible to enjoy some good star-gazing ... as long as your skin can take the cold. On this episode, Steve Seel features modern classical works on themes of stars and heavenly observation ... from "Polaris" by Thomas Ades to Joel Pucket's "The Shadow of Sirius" to the gorgeous "Musica Celestis" by Aaron Jay Kernis and more. In the second hour, Steve explores new classical works on the subject of love, in honor of Valentine's Day.

Ever listened to the music in a restaurant and wondered, 'Who picked this?' Musician and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto certainly has. Read more about the history and concept of what makes for good 'dinner music.'

Brian Eno made his primary fame in rock music, but to consider him simply a "rock producer" is one of the biggest mistakes you could make. His influence on subsequent generations of musical free-thinkers in classical, jazz, electronic, and avant-garde music has been incalculable.

This week Dominick Argento turns 90, and Classical MPR celebrates his life with a special spotlight on his contributions to contemporary classical music.

Policy and a Pint: Moving Our Mental Health System Forward asks what are the barriers to meeting the demand for mental health treatment and supports when parity, funding, and the needed workforce is in short supply? And what can we do about it?

Cellist Maya Beiser's passion for staking out new territory in classical music is peerless in the equal respect she gives all the musical genres she brings into her fold. Classical host Steve Seel talked with Beiser about her new CD, 'TranceClassical,' which includes some adventurous interpretations of Bach, rock and more.

'For me, a kid who was into the disparate and non-converging worlds of rock and classical music, Steve Reich represented a merging of practically everything that I loved,' writes classical host Steve Seel. As Steve Reich turns 80, Seel writes about Reich's influence on himself and ' legions upon legions of musical grandchildren.'

For Policy and a Pint: Next Generation Leaders, host Steve Seel is joined by young Minnesotans in public office for a lively discussion about why they decided to serve, what they have learned and why it is more important now than ever that young people step in to be the voices that will shape Minnesota's future.

Steven Mackey was a virtuosic electric guitarist who couldn't read music -- until he was transformed on hearing a Beethoven string quartet. Now hailed as one of modern classical's most exciting composers, Mackey spoke to Steve Seel ahead of the world premiere of Mackey's 'Orpheus Unsung'.

Policy and a Pint: Water, Water Everywhere, But... asks, what is the state of water in the Twin Cities? Host Steve Seel is joined by guest panelists for a lively discussion about what each of us can do in our own community to improve the odds that clean, abundant fresh water will continue to buoy our quality of life.

Policy and a Pint: Using Technology to Solve Community Problems asks, what makes Minnesotans connect across an ever-growing virtual space? Host Steve Seel is joined by guest panelists for a lively discussion about tackling systemic challenges like homelessness and creating better public services through technology.

Policy and a Pint: Using Technology to Solve Community Problems asks, what makes Minnesotans connect across an ever-growing virtual space? Host Steve Seel is joined by guest panelists for a lively discussion about tackling systemic challenges like homelessness and creating better public services through technology.

Composer Derek Bermel boasts an impressive list of musical inspirations, making him one of today's most celebrated modern composers. Bermel spoke to Classical MPR's Steve Seel ahead of their Music in the Making conversation at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St. Paul on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Policy and a Pint: Authenticity and the Search for "Real" in Politics asks, what are the most important qualities in a presidential candidate? voters seem to be demanding that candidates are who they say they are, that they "level" with the American people. Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have little in common, but they are both striking a chord with voters.

The next season of Music in the Making (formerly Composer Conversations) kicks off November 4, 7 p.m. in the UBS Forum! Classical MPR's Steve Seel hosts a discussion with composer Michael Hersch and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja.