Modern Notebook for July 6, 2025
By Tyler Kline
July 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM EDT
On the next Modern Notebook with Tyler Kline: Field recordings, flowing strings, and blues-infused melodies shape Trevor Weston’s Legacy Works. These reimagined spirituals, from There is a Balm in Gilead to Run to Jesus, blur the lines between tradition and transformation.
Then: What does up sound like? D. Riley Nicholson explores the idea from every angle in his piece UP — spiraling up the circle of fifths, building energy, and tumbling through dizzying piano textures that never stop climbing.
Also featured this week are composers Molly Heron, Makoto Shinohara, Rich Shemaria, John Adams, Gity Razaz, Andrew Norman, Leilehua Lanzilotti, Paula Matthusen, and Shuying Li. Performers include Science Ficta, Duo AYA, Calliope Brass, ECCE Ensemble, James McVinnie, Duo Noire, Simone Porter, Teagan Faran, Sarah Cahill, Regina Myers, Bang on a Can All Stars, and Joshua Anderson with Four Corners Ensemble.
It’s Sunday night from 8 to 10 on Classical WSMR 89.1 & 103.9 or stream it at wsmr.org.
Hour 1
Canon No. 3 by Molly Heron
Makoto Shinohara’s Kassouga
Pandora's Magic Castle by Rich Shemaria
Trevor Weston’s Legacy Works
China Gates by John Adams
Gity Razaz’s 4 Haikus
Sabina by Andrew Norman (1080x1080, AR: 1.0)
Hour 2
Leilehua Lanzilotti’s koʻu inoa
UP by D. Riley Nicholson
Paula Matthusen’s the ontology of an echo
American Variations by Shuying Li (1080x1080, AR: 1.0)
Each week, Tyler Kline journeys into new territory and demystifies the music of living composers on Modern Notebook. Listen for a wide variety of exciting music that engages and inspires, along with the stories behind each piece and the latest releases from today’s contemporary classical artists. Discover what’s in store on Modern Notebook.
Then: What does up sound like? D. Riley Nicholson explores the idea from every angle in his piece UP — spiraling up the circle of fifths, building energy, and tumbling through dizzying piano textures that never stop climbing.
Also featured this week are composers Molly Heron, Makoto Shinohara, Rich Shemaria, John Adams, Gity Razaz, Andrew Norman, Leilehua Lanzilotti, Paula Matthusen, and Shuying Li. Performers include Science Ficta, Duo AYA, Calliope Brass, ECCE Ensemble, James McVinnie, Duo Noire, Simone Porter, Teagan Faran, Sarah Cahill, Regina Myers, Bang on a Can All Stars, and Joshua Anderson with Four Corners Ensemble.
It’s Sunday night from 8 to 10 on Classical WSMR 89.1 & 103.9 or stream it at wsmr.org.
Hour 1
Canon No. 3 by Molly Heron
Makoto Shinohara’s Kassouga
Pandora's Magic Castle by Rich Shemaria
Trevor Weston’s Legacy Works
China Gates by John Adams
Gity Razaz’s 4 Haikus
Sabina by Andrew Norman (1080x1080, AR: 1.0)
Hour 2
Leilehua Lanzilotti’s koʻu inoa
UP by D. Riley Nicholson
Paula Matthusen’s the ontology of an echo
American Variations by Shuying Li (1080x1080, AR: 1.0)
Each week, Tyler Kline journeys into new territory and demystifies the music of living composers on Modern Notebook. Listen for a wide variety of exciting music that engages and inspires, along with the stories behind each piece and the latest releases from today’s contemporary classical artists. Discover what’s in store on Modern Notebook.