Concertzender Newsletter

Editorial

The Concertzender in May: special composers in the spotlight

This month we are putting special composers in the spotlight: such as the great Philemon (Filimon) Wehbe from Lebanon, the serene sound world of Morton Feldman, the only vocal composition by Miles Davis, and the sadly deceased Michael Tilson Thomas.

Our programmers have dusted off their musical knowledge once again to give these names the stage they deserve.

And if you want to hear the Concertzender in even more places, let Odido know that the Concertzender should also be part of their channel package!

Monday May 4th

Theme: Contemporary

The mourning music of Morton Feldman

The serene sound world of Morton Feldman remains a source of fascination to this day. In his late work, and particularly in Clarinet and String Quartet from 1983, time itself seems to slow down. The music unfolds without a clear beginning or end, as if it had always been there and simply continues to exist in the silence after the final note.

Morton Feldman Anyone listening will soon notice that familiar anchors are lacking. There is no clear pulse, no recognizable melodic line, and hardly any harmonic direction. Instead, a fragile sonic fabric emerges in which every detail counts. The dynamics remain consistently restrained: soft, and often even softer. The result is almost weightless music that defies traditional forms and expectations.

It is precisely in this restraint that the expressive power of Feldman's late style lies. His compositions seem to suggest more than they say, leaving room for interpretation. Some listeners perceive an undertone of grief or melancholy in this music. That idea is sometimes linked to Feldman's Jewish background, although he himself never explicitly spoke about it. Perhaps that is telling: certain emotions cannot be captured in words, but find their own path in sound. That enigmatic quality contributes to the enchantment of Feldman's music. It invites a different way of listening, in which time, expectation, and meaning are temporarily set aside.

Listen: Nowadays, monday May 4t, 19:00 – 20:00 CET.

Saturdays May 9th and 16th

Theme: Jazz

First programmes in the 100 Years of Miles and Coltrane series

This year marks the centenary of the births of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Therefore, we are producing a series of special radio programs this year centered on these two jazz icons.

Davis en Coltrane In Miles's birth month, we kick off on May 9th with an episode of the programme Vocal Jazz, focusing on a less-explored side of Miles Davis: The Vocal Side of Miles Davis.

A week later, on May 16th, follows House of Hard Bop, featuring the sextet Miles founded in 1957—in which John Coltrane also returned—and from which the recordings for the albums Milestones and Sessions followed in 1958.

You can find all programmes in the 100 Years of Miles Davis and John Coltrane series on the anniversary page on our website.

Listen: Vocal Jazz, Saturday May 9th, 18:00 – 19:00 CET.

Listen: House of Hard Bop, Saturaday May 16th, 17:00 – 18:00 CET.

Thursday May 7th

Theme: Early

Palestrina and Bach

This month in The Early Garden, you can listen to the Missa sine Nomine by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, but in an arrangement by Johann Sebastian Bach!

Bach arranged Palestrina’s six-part Missa sine Nomine in the 18th-century style by adding parts for cornettos, trombones and basso continuo. It reveals both Bach’s knowledge of the 'stile antico', the old Renaissance style, and his appreciation of Palestrina’s mastery. The Kyrie and Gloria sections of this mass have been preserved in Bach’s own manuscript.

In addition to this mass, two motets by Palestrina and wind music by Johann Christoph Pezel (trumpeter with the Leipziger Stadtpfeifer) and by Gottfried Reiche (Bach’s most important trumpeter) can also be heard.

Listen: The Early Garden, Thursday May 7th, 20:00 – 21:00 CET.

image: Gottfried Reiche, 1726 (source: Wikipedia)

Theme: General

Being able to listen to the Concertzender everywhere—that would be great!

Of course, that is already possible via the internet, as well as via the KPN, Ziggo and Delta networks. But we want more!

Vote here if you want the Concertzender to be available via the Odido network as well.

On demand

Theme: World

An Ode to Lebanon

On the Concertzender, you can not only listen along ‘live’ to the daily broadcasts, but all our programmes are also available on demand after the broadcast to listen to whenever you want.

This also applies to Orient Express. Listen, for example, to the episode dedicated to the music of the prominent Lebanese actor, comedian, theater artist, and one of Lebanon’s most important composers of the twentieth century: Philemon (Filimon) Wehbe. He composed hits for all the great stars of his time including Najah Salam, Sabah, Fairuz, and Nasri Shamseddine, as well as many others.

Listen: Orient Express, broadcast Friday April 24th.

On demand

Theme: Classical

In Memoriam: Michael Tilson Thomas

On Wednesday, April 22, the American composer, pianist, and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas passed away. He was a giant in the world of the modern American repertoire. For instance, the symphonies (2 and 3) by Ives that he recorded together with the Concertgebouw Orchestra are considered by many to be the “go-to” recordings.

Michael Tilson Thomas was chief conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for twenty-five years. But he was not only a conductor of international stature. He was also a bridge-builder between tradition and innovation, between the established repertoire and the music of his own time.

Listen: Listen!, broadcast Sunday April 26th.