Contemporary Music Archives - 2MBS Fine Music Sydney

CD of the Week – A World Outside

2MBS Subscriber giveaways CD of the Week Contemporary Music

A World Outside is a breakthrough album for twice Australian-Prize nominated composer-pianist Sophie Hutchings, seeing her expand into cinematic soundscapes with strings, electronics and vocals alongside her signature intimate solo piano sound.

Masha Mnjoyan – Songs of Whitney

Contemporary Music Upcoming concerts

Whitney Houston’s musical legacy is brought to life in Songs of Whitney. This concert series is performed by Masha Mnjoyan with some of the best Sydney musicians in the SSJ Band.

Dale Barlow: A Remarkable Saxophonist & Jazz Composer

Contemporary Music Fine Music Magazine Jazz

Dale Barlow, the renowned Australian jazz saxophonist and composer, was born on December 25, 1959, in Sydney, New South Wales. His musical journey began with the piano, but it was his transition to classical flute and clarinet during his teenage years, alongside jazz courses at the New South Wales Conservatorium, that unveiled his true calling.

Sophie Hutchings: In a natural way

Classical Contemporary Music Interviews

Lyndon Pike talks to the Australian neoclassical composerI first encountered the music of Australian pianist Sophie Hutchings back in 2010...

CD Review: George Walker – Five Sinfonias

CD Reviews Contemporary Music

The American composer George Walker lived a long life, passing in 2018 at the age of 96. Only in his later life did Walker receive the acclaim that his talents deserved, and it was in 1996 that he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music, the first African American to receive the award.

CD Review: The Bowerbird Collective – Life on Land’s Edge

CD Reviews Contemporary Music Paul Cooke

I had the good fortune to attend a live multimedia presentation of Life on Land’s Edge at the Newcastle Music Festival earlier this year – but while the visual component was impressive, the musical content was well able to stand alone.

Don Banks: remembered at 100

Classical Contemporary Music Fine Music Magazine James Nightingale

Born in October 1923, Don Banks grew up in a family surrounded by musical instruments and jazz. His father played in bands with jazz legends Roger and Graeme Bell, the same bands that he would himself play in as he grew up. This beginning to his musical education established the pattern of curiosity and experimentation that would be central to his work.

Born On This Day: Leonard Bernstein (25.08.1915)

Born On This Day Classical Contemporary Music Jazz

Leonard Bernstein's life story is a tapestry woven with remarkable achievements and complex layers. Born on August 25, 1918, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, Bernstein displayed his prodigious musical talents early on. Commencing piano lessons at a mere 5 years old, he astounded by conducting his first orchestra by the age of 10.

Review: A Clockwork Orange and Beyond

Contemporary Music Fine Music Magazine

The month of May saw arpeggiators, auteurs, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra come together in glorious fashion under the guidance of Richard Tognetti, teaming up with UK musician Will Gregory’s Moog Ensemble for A Clockwork Orange and Beyond.

György Ligeti – New Musical Languages

Classical Contemporary Music James Nightingale Program Highlights

Born on May 28, 1923, in Transylvania, Romania, György Ligeti was one of the most influential and innovative composers of the 20th century. His groundbreaking works pushed the boundaries of traditional composition and paved the way for the development of new musical languages. His unique style, characterized by intricate textures, microtonal harmonies, and complex rhythms, earned him a prominent place in the realm of avant-garde music.