#4895, Music for the Summer Solstice
Celebrate the beginning of summer with solstice music from Montreal-based saxophonist Allison Burik, New York-based Lithuanian composer Zibuokle Martinaityte, English composer Joby Talbot;- with “Summer” from a post-rock four seasons by Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs); plus, German composer Max Richter reworks and channels his inner Vivaldi.
Hear Montreal-based saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and improviser Allison Burik in music from their recent record, Realm. Burik layers textural phrases of alto sax and bass clarinet, field recordings (especially those captured during their residency in Skagaströnd, Iceland), and subtle electronic treatments, on their three-part piece, Solstice. Listen also to German keyboardist, composer, and producer Max Richter’s take on Vivaldi. The New Four Seasons features violinist Elena Urioste and the musicians of Chineke! Orchestra, and uses gut strings and vintage synthesizers to create a “grittier, more punk rock sound,” (DG liner notes.)
Then, hear a post-rock four seasons: “Summer”, from Nick Zinner, perhaps best known as the guitarist from the veteran indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It’s from his 41 Strings, a set of 4 pieces of symphonic post-rock, one for each season of the year. Listen to another take on the four seasons, Sielunmaisema, a cello concerto in four movements, by New York-based Lithuanian composer Zibuokle Martinaityte, featuring cellist Rokas Vaitkevičius as the soloist.
There’s also atmospheric music featuring piano from the Polish composer, pianist, and vocalist Hania Rani, from her 2020 album, Home. Plus, hear the New York-based shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player James Nyoraku Schlefer, from his Solstice Spirit. And more. - Caryn Havlik
#4895, Music for the Summer Solstice (First aired 6/20/2024)
ARTIST: Richard Thompson
WORK: Sumer Is Icumen In [1:21]
RECORDING: 1000 Years of Popular Music
SOURCE: Beeswing Records
INFO: https://www.richardthompson-music.com
ARTIST: Allison Burik
WORK: Solstice I (Dreams and Memories) [2:14]
RECORDING: Realm
SOURCE/INFO: https://allisonburik.bandcamp.com/album/realm
ARTIST: Allison Burik
WORK: Solstice II (Cycles) [2:05]
RECORDING: Realm
SOURCE/INFO: https://allisonburik.bandcamp.com/album/realm
ARTIST: Allison Burik
WORK: Solstice III (The Promise) [1:11]
RECORDING: Realm
SOURCE/INFO: https://allisonburik.bandcamp.com/album/realm
ARTIST: Björk
WORK: Solstice [4:41]
RECORDING: Biophilia
SOURCE: Nonesuch 528728
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Tom Kerstens' G Plus ensemble
WORK: Joby Talbot: First Day of Summer [4:01]
RECORDING: Real World 25
SOURCE: Real World Records - #CDRW 203 (3 CD Set)
INFO: realworldrecords.com
ARTIST: Clarice Jensen
WORK: Summer [2:19]
RECORDING: Ainu Mosir
SOURCE: FatCat
INFO: https://claricejensen.bandcamp.com/album/ainu-mosir
ARTIST: Nick Zinner, et al
WORK: Summer [5:10]
RECORDING: 41 Strings
SOURCE: Chaikin Records
INFO: nickzinner.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Max Richter, Elena Urioste, Chineke! Orchestra
WORK: Summer 3 [3:19]
RECORDING: The New Four Seasons - Vivaldi Recomposed
SOURCE: Deutsche Grammophon
INFO: deutschegrammophon.com
ARTIST: Hania Rani
WORK: Summer [5:22]
RECORDING: Home
SOURCE: Gondwana Records
INFO: haniarani.bandcamp.com/album/home
ARTIST: Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra; Karolis Variakojis, conductor
WORK: Sielunmaisema: III. Summer [9:21]
RECORDING: Zibuokle Martinaityte : Ex Tenebris Lux
SOURCE: Ondine
INFO: https://ondine.lnk.to/ODE14032OW | zibuokle.com
ARTIST: James Nyoraku Schlefer
WORK: Solstice Spirit, suite of excerpts [6:27]
RECORDING: Solstice Spirit: Japanese Shakuhachi Flute
SOURCE: Sparkling Beatnik SBR 0001
INFO: Available via Amazon.com, AppleMusic, Spotify
