Composer Daniel Kessner came up in the SoCal composition world in the 60s and 70s, and he has Seen Some Things. Today he discusses the wild experimentation of the 20th century and the importance of learning your Bach inventions. Stick around for some great advice for up-and-coming composers and a fun preview of his bass flute and electronics piece, Imaginary Temples.

⁠https://www.universaledition.com/en/Contacts/Daniel-Kessner/⁠

Schumann piano quartet in E-flat, Andante: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4EDwHCR-PI

Bach, 3-Part Invention #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq7W41doqk0

Salonen Violin Concerto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n0kZc3Utpc

Nicole asks Elizabeth if she has any age-related non-negotiables, in performance and in life. Like, how do you know you’re too old to learn a new technique? When do you give yourself permission to prefer happiness over work? And furthermore, for whom are you accepting the work? Nicole spills the beans about getting fired from her first teaching gig and Elizabeth wonders how gender affects likeability at work. They both agree that reading the room might be the most important professional skill.

Brandon Shaw, Startup Musician

Inga Chinilina, winner of FNMC’s 2024 Composition Competition in the solo flute category, joins us today to discuss her winning piece, “Learning to Love America” and how she weaves immigrant experiences into her works. She also explains her PhD research, which wrestles with the inherent solitude in personal listening and the limits of human perception. She is a composer who seeks first and foremost to translate her experiences into sounds, and urges potential collaborating performers to ask for everything they want in a commissioned piece!

https://chinilina.com/

Chinilina, Salt Soaked: https://chinilina.com/salt

Alejandro Escuer: https://alejandroescuer.com/

Tristan Barton: https://www.tristanbartonmusic.com/

Rose Hegele: https://www.rosehegele.com/

Khovanshchina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khovanshchina