Centennial Sounds

Dec 20 2019 19 ep. 24 mins 115

Centennial Sounds Podcast artwork

“Centennial Sounds,” hosted by Brad Turner, spotlights contemporary classical music performed in Colorado and features exclusive sessions from the CPR Performance Studio as well as live recordings taken from concert venues and summer festivals around the Centennial State.

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Xmas Hip Hop, Easy-Bake Comedy & Kid Astronaut: The Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza

Dec 20 2019 48 mins

It’s a CPR tradition: a stage show full of talented Colorado performers. Kid Astronaut opens with a soulful O Holy Night. For Hanukkah, Holocaust survivor Osi Sladek. Comedian Nancy Norton Easy-Bakes. Plus, an ode to Judy Garland, Mexican-American traditions, and why we can’t quit Denver’s King Cardinal. The Andy Hackbarth Band provides our soundtrack.

Looking For A Challenge On The Piano? David Rakowski Wrote 100 Of Them

Nov 17 2018 33 mins

Composer David Rakowski loves to write piano etudes. He’s created 100 of them. Etudes developed in the 19th century as short practice pieces . They help musicians focus on a technique or build strength or dexterity. Many -- like the etudes of Frederic Chopin -- were also beautiful. David has carried the tradition into the 21st century, writing etudes based on funk riffs and cell

Colorado (And Ugly Politics) Inspired Benjamin Park’s ‘For Purple Mountains’

Sep 07 2018 24 mins

Composer Benjamin Park felt exhausted during the 2016 election. He remembers the nonstop political coverage and the growing tension within the United States. He decided to write music that embodied the disconnect -- and addressed the division. Ben used portions of the melody from "America the Beautiful" to write a piece about the harsh political divide in our country. He

Paul Lansky’s Road From Computer Compositions To A Musical ‘Travel Diary’

Aug 14 2018 34 mins

Composer Paul Lansky was a pioneer in computer music -- sounds generated and manipulated by a computer. And then, after decades as an innovative composer of computer music, Paul stopped. He switched his focus to writing for live musicians. He's particularly fond of working with percussionists. This is the story of Paul's journey from the frontier of computer music to the

Jessica Meyer’s ‘Luminous Prison’ Is A Moving Meditation Composed For A Unique Venue

Jul 04 2018 29 mins

Composer Jessica Meyer recently had the kind of experience that gives musicians nightmares. She traveled to the desert in northwestern Colorado to perform a new piece in concert on her viola. It was built on layers of electronic loops. But the unique acoustics at the venue -- known simply as The Tank -- caused those loops to dissolve into a squall of feedback. So Jessica tossed

Why Daniel Kellogg’s String Quartet No. 1 Isn’t Actually His First String Quartet

Jun 09 2018 30 mins

Daniel Kellogg, who teaches composition at the University of Colorado, loves the string quartet. Some of history's greatest composers wrote their most extraordinary music for two violins, a viola and a cello. So Daniel took the job seriously when he set out to write a big statement that he ultimately called String Quartet No. 1. He had worked up to it. He wrote a half-dozen pi

David Ludwig’s Lively ‘Pangaea’ Is A Prehistoric ‘Carnival Of The Animals’

May 22 2018 33 mins

Composer David Ludwig wrote his piece "Pangaea" as a "prehistoric 'Carnival of the Animals.'" It's about a time in Earth's history when there was one supercontinent, a vast ocean and a frightening die-off that wiped out most species on the planet. Hear the haunting "Pangaea," performed at the Bravo! Vail music festival by Anne-Marie

Season 2 Preview: A Musical Road Trip Through The Rocky Mountains

May 10 2018 3 mins

Centennial Sounds -- a podcast about modern classical music, and what inspires some of today's most talented composers -- returns soon for its second season. The series, hosted by Brad Turner, features exclusive recordings of music by 21st century composers and stories about what inspires the music. The new season features a twist: It's a musical road trip through the Roc

In ‘Notes From Clyfford Still’ Composer Nathan Hall Sets A Painter’s Vision To Music

Oct 10 2017 21 mins

Composer Nathan Hall is fascinated with the huge, vibrant paintings of abstract painter Clyfford Still. Nathan recently set out to compose music about about Still, and combed through the painter's writings to set some of the colorful passages to music. Hear "Notes From Clyfford Still," performed by the Playground Ensemble in the CPR Performance Studio -- and hear how

Altius Quartet Unveils Michael Ippolito’s New String Quartet No. 4

Sep 19 2017 27 mins

Composer Michael Ippolito tried an unusual approach when he wrote a piece for the Altius Quartet. He sat down with a cello, instrument he'd barely played since middle school. His experiments with an instrument he’d largely forgotten how to play took his music to surprising places. Hear Michael Ippolito’s String Quartet No. 4 performed by the Altius Quartet in the CPR Perfo