Modern Notebook for May 25

Modern Notebook for May 25 - 31, 2025

Photo: composer Deirdre McKay (photo courtesy of the artist).

On the next Modern Notebook with Tyler Kline: What does space sound like? Deirdre McKay’s Mr Shah Stares to the Heavens captures the tension between cosmic silence and the richness of sound on Earth — a quiet meditation through music.

Then: Full of driving rhythms and striking textures, Errollyn Wallen’s Violin Concerto is bold and unpredictable. A single, extended movement gives the violinist room to push against every boundary.

Also featuring music by Marilyn Bliss, Gabriela Lena Frank, Ma Sicong, Carle J. Wirshba, Matthew Aucoin, André Mehmari, Amy Brandon, Jamie Tweed, Charles Ross, and Maria Kaoutzani; and performances by Belfiato Quintet, Brooklyn Rider, violinist Julia Glenn, pianist Konstantinos Valianatos, Musici Ireland, Calliope Brass, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, pianist Andree-Ann Deschenes, Alkali Collective, violinist Phillipe Quint, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Slide Action, violist Katherine Wren, and ~Nois.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Recent Shows

Modern Notebook for November 30 - December 6, 2025

By Tyler Kline • November 27, 2025

On the final episode of Modern Notebook with Tyler Kline: Hideaki Aomori’s Split stretches the bass clarinet to its limits, exploring the full breadth of its sound world. This hour also features Baljinder Sekhon’s Drifting Seeds for cello and harp, along with music by Anna Mieke, Vivian Fung, and more. Then: chamber music by Jessica Ackerley called Spark Surge — one of the highlights of the final hour. You’ll also hear Fumiko Miyachi’s piano duo Up, Down, Top, Bottom, Strange Charm , alongside music by Shirish Korde, Oliver Knussen, and others. Also in this episode: music by Tania León performed by pianist Isabel Dobarro; Claire Victoria Roberts performed by the National Youth Choir of Great Britain; Judd Greenstein performed by NOW Ensemble; Justin H. Bush performed by saxophonist Timothy McAllister and pianist Liz Ames; and flutist Tessa Brinckman performing music by Shirish Korde.