Entrevista a Iannis Xenakis (english)

Iannis Xenakis (Braïla, 1922 - Paris, 2001)

Entrevista a Witold Lutoslawski

KPFA - 05.03.1991
Charles Amirkhanian

Charles Amirkhanian interviews Polish composer and conductor, Witold Lutoslawski (Warsaw, 1913, Warsaw 1994). They discuss the political changes in Poland after the end of the Cold War and how that effects the ability to criticize the government and change the way in which the arts are supported. Lutoslawski also talks about his composition, Mi-Parti, which was to be performed by the San Francisco Symphony soon after this interview. Charles then quizzes the maestro about the role of emotions in music, his opinion of some lesser known Polish composers, and the importance of silence while composing. Lutoslawski also discusses the difficulties he experienced as a composer in Poland during and soon after World War II.

Lou Harrison on Aaron Copland

07.02.1992

Charles Amirkhanian

As part of a February 7, 1991 program in memory of  Aaron Copland (New York, 1900 - New York, 1990), Charles Amirkhanian interviews composer Lou Harrison about his friendship with Copland, as well as playing some samples of Copland's music, and a brief excerpt from a talk by the quintessential 20th century American composer. Amirkhanian and Harrison discuss Copland's illustrious career, comparing his early and latter works, and pondering what more might have been, if it had not been for Copland's decline and eventual death due to Alzheimer's disease. Harrison expresses great admiration for, and just a bit of mystification about, the qualities of Copland's music that made it so representative of the American spirit, even more so than that of Charles Ives. And in a brief excerpt from a talk, we hear Copland himself suggest that his best music simply appears in his mind, rather than resulting from any more deliberate effort to fulfill the requirements of a commission.

Entrevista a John Adams

Morning Concert - 13.02.1990

Charles Amirkhanian

Charles Amirkhanian talks with composer John Adams (Worcester, 1947) in February 1990 about his music, including his two orchestral works, “The Wound-Dresser” and “Fearful Symmetries”. The composer of the opera “Nixon in China” also delivers a progress report on his next opera, “The Death of Klinghoffer”, as well as discussing his affinity for working with small orchestras, and other sundry topics. Born in Worcester, Mass on February 15, 1947, Adams celebrated his 43rd birthday the week of this recorded broadcast.

Witold Lutosławski in Conversation with Krzysztof Zanussi

Documentary about life and work of Witold Lutosławski. 1990. A coproduction of the BBC with Roem, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), La Sept, STV, Norsk Rikskringkasting (NRK), Nederlandse Omroepstichting (NOS) and Eurofilm/Antelope.

Harry Partch and his Strange Musical Instruments

Walter Simmons / 1989

Harry Partch (Oakland, 1901 - Encinitas, 1974)

Entrevista a Lou Harrison y Bill Colvig

16.02.1989

Charles Amirkhanian

Charles Amirkhanian talks with one of America's most distinguished composers, Lou Harrison (Portland, 1917 - Lafayette, 2003), whose use of gamelan instruments and interest in other musics of the world helped bring an appreciation of Pacific and Asian music to the U.S. William Colvig (1917-2000) has collaborated with Harrison for many years, building original and gamelan-inspired instruments. The program begins with Eric Marin's film documenting Harrison & Colvig, and continues with excerpts from Harrison's Piano Concerto (featuring Keith Jarrett) and "Suite for Violin, Piano and Small Orchestra." The second part of the program includes a demonstration of original instruments by Harrison & Colvig.

Entrevista a Frederic Rzewski

09.01.1989

KPFA-FM / Charles Amirkhanian 

Charles Amirkhanian interviews one of the most important American composer/performers of the past quarter century, Frederic Rzewski (Westfield, 1938), who has lived in Rome and Brussels during that period. The composer of a famous set of piano variations on Victor Jara's “El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido”, Rzewski discusses his recent music and artistic tastes. Rzewski is known for both his remarkable virtuosity as a performer, improviser and composer, and his committed involvement in left politics. How he resolves these in his work is a problem which he has concluded with thoughtfulness and inventiveness of an uncommon sort.

Entrevista a Philip Glass

Speaking of music - 13.09.1988

Charles Amirkhanian

Charles Amirkhanian interviews Philip Glass (Baltimore, 1937). They discuss his early experiences in theater, his work with Ravi Shankar, his development of minimal music, and his work with modern opera and cinema.

Boulez Twentieth Century - MATERIAL

Boulez Twentieth Century 
IRCAM / FR3 (1988)
Nat Lilenstein

MATERIAL