The Composer’s Cut

Composer Chaya Czernowin on Embracing Risk, Musical Creatures, and Warping Musical Space

In episode no. 6 of The Composer’s Cut, I sat down with the legendary composer Chaya Czernowin to discuss her music. She spoke of how she conceives of her music almost like creatures that she materializes through the medium of sound, the risk and danger of pursuing certain paths or ideas, warping time and space in music, creating equal forces between orchestra and voice—and much more!    Learn more about your host: https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXhxbWRkZWFUTm1EZndybG53WXMxU1FnRy13UXxBQ3Jtc0ttRHE5a1hWZmo2dWdEVUhmRlNpc2tQalBEVXdDcngzRnlXNFc2Y0ZMUkgxZFV0Ul9aRFlINWlXM3dlOFBjeU5MQjBUMk5QSV9CTms2SWl4dzZXZE5Sbm1tQTF1UXppYkNReGthbExMSkZmU3V6cDhvbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mathew-arrellin.com%2F&v=jT-MM1ET-L4]   Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates! https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe [https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe] ____ Support the show and my work as a composer/educator: https://ko-fi.com/mathewarrellin Your support helps keep The Composer’s Cut alive and ad-free. ____   Pieces discussed in this episode: Atara (2020/21) for orchestra and 2 amplified voices https://youtu.be/MoVxSO16dYU?si=nlx2OMKE5wEcogUH [https://youtu.be/MoVxSO16dYU?si=nlx2OMKE5wEcogUH]   EZOV (Moss) (2024) for string quartet https://youtu.be/ecx01uP2EdE?si=hMRw8Eew6XVEGJtf [https://youtu.be/ecx01uP2EdE?si=hMRw8Eew6XVEGJtf]   —— More recommended listens: Seltene Erde: alchimia communicationis (2022) https://youtu.be/pvfH3CggaTg?si=Hw-Wj_BIi7zRelEX [https://youtu.be/pvfH3CggaTg?si=Hw-Wj_BIi7zRelEX]   Poetica (2024) https://youtu.be/Rgb1Mhx9pWA?si=KB_Jq3oMSmSqDLSg [https://youtu.be/Rgb1Mhx9pWA?si=KB_Jq3oMSmSqDLSg]   Moths of Hunger and Awe (2023/24) https://youtu.be/PpYD3EiChPo?si=9MslHlPn9VkuhoPl [https://youtu.be/PpYD3EiChPo?si=9MslHlPn9VkuhoPl] ____   Chaya’s Website: https://www.chayaczernowin.com/ [https://www.chayaczernowin.com/]   Subscribe to Chaya’s YouTube channel! 👇🏻 https://www.youtube.com/@chayaczernowin777 [https://www.youtube.com/@chayaczernowin777] ____   Upcoming performances of NO! A Lament for the Innocent April 29, 2025 LA Phil World Premiere, Daníel Bjarnason conducting Los Angeles, USA https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/3120/2025-04-29/vocal-dimensions [https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/3120/2025-04-29/vocal-dimensions]   June 21, 2025 WDR Sinfonieorchester, conducted by Maxime Pascal Cologne, Germany https://www1.wdr.de/orchester-und-chor/sinfonieorchester/konzerte/termine/children-of-europe-100.html [https://www1.wdr.de/orchester-und-chor/sinfonieorchester/konzerte/termine/children-of-europe-100.html]   October 28, 2025 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop conducting Katowice, Poland https://nospr.org.pl/en [https://nospr.org.pl/en]   February 20, 2026 Orchestra Philharmonie de Paris, Alan Gilbert conducting Paris, France https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/fr [https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/fr]     March 26, 2026 ORF orchestra, conducted by Maxime Pascal Vienna, Austria https://rso.orf.at/en/rsowien [https://rso.orf.at/en/rsowien]   The piece was commissioned by these five orchestras. _____ Many more performances of Chaya’s music to keep an eye out for: https://www.chayaczernowin.com/2025 [https://www.chayaczernowin.com/2025]

Entangling Sound, Self, and Movement: Niki Harlafti on Her Interdisciplinary Practice

In episode no. 5 of The Composer's Cut, I sat down with interdisciplinary composer Niki Harlafti (Charlafti) to talk about her music, her compositional process, and her recent projects. We spoke about her approach to form, compositional process, how she weaves musical elements together, her use of text, and the innate interdisciplinarity of her work.   Don't forget to follow the podcast and subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any episodes!    Learn more about your host: https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/ [https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/] Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates! https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe [https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe] _____ Support the show and my work as a composer/educator: https://ko-fi.com/mathewarrellin Your support helps keep The Composer’s Cut alive and ad-free. _____ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-composers-cut/id1801060567 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-composers-cut/id1801060567] Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70xyWmB1AJr526TVZWO2IT [https://open.spotify.com/show/70xyWmB1AJr526TVZWO2IT] Listen on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1cd45d7e-6457-4ab3-a39a-d18518463e24 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1cd45d7e-6457-4ab3-a39a-d18518463e24] _____ Pieces mentioned in the episode: Kintsugi for 11 Saxophones https://youtu.be/32b7GPn95iw?si=25yOi1pTAs2KDC-I [https://youtu.be/32b7GPn95iw?si=25yOi1pTAs2KDC-I] Tee Khe Theemen https://www.nikiharlafti.com/music/tee-khe-theemen-neuevocalsolisten-adonis-lament [https://www.nikiharlafti.com/music/tee-khe-theemen-neuevocalsolisten-adonis-lament] The Blood of Others https://www.instagram.com/p/DHUgVSOAH4wdP11AWzNf79YWVKt__gJNoe-MwE0/ [https://www.instagram.com/p/DHUgVSOAH4wdP11AWzNf79YWVKt__gJNoe-MwE0/] ______ More recommended listens: https://www.nikiharlafti.com/music/demilitarized-zone [https://www.nikiharlafti.com/music/demilitarized-zone] https://www.nikiharlafti.com/videos/v/enduring-freedom-harlafti-mullen [https://www.nikiharlafti.com/videos/v/enduring-freedom-harlafti-mullen] ______ https://www.nikiharlafti.com/ [https://www.nikiharlafti.com/]

Alex Mincek on Form, the Elasticity of Time, and Repetition

In episode no. 4 of The Composer's Cut, I sat down with composer-saxophonist and co-director of the Wet Ink Ensemble Alex Mincek to talk about his approach to form, relationships between the surface and the structure of his music, the role of repetition in his music, his relationship with the visual arts, and some recent works! Learn more about your host: https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/ [https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/] Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates! https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe [https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe] _____ Support the show and my work as a composer/educator: https://ko-fi.com/mathewarrellin Your support helps keep The Composer’s Cut alive and ad-free. _____ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-composers-cut/id1801060567 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-composers-cut/id1801060567] Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70xyWmB1AJr526TVZWO2IT [https://open.spotify.com/show/70xyWmB1AJr526TVZWO2IT] Listen on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1cd45d7e-6457-4ab3-a39a-d18518463e24 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1cd45d7e-6457-4ab3-a39a-d18518463e24] _____ Pieces mentioned in the episode: point, point, point, point https://wetinkensemble.bandcamp.com/track/point-point-point-point [https://wetinkensemble.bandcamp.com/track/point-point-point-point] Pendulum XI: Strato for string quartet and electric guitar https://youtu.be/o8POsy9n2R0?si=5YoAvxi2RPUy0MaI [https://youtu.be/o8POsy9n2R0?si=5YoAvxi2RPUy0MaI] _____ More recommended listens: Nomadic Science https://youtu.be/t8hBNMqX-dc?si=JosKDuX7a2DgzF_e [https://youtu.be/t8hBNMqX-dc?si=JosKDuX7a2DgzF_e] Trace https://youtu.be/UJfDTQzmvu0?si=k9VXsagzGRHtC9wl [https://youtu.be/UJfDTQzmvu0?si=k9VXsagzGRHtC9wl]

José-Luis Hurtado: Bridging Sound and Vision in Composition

In episode no. 3 of The Composer's Cut, I sat down with composer/pianist José-Luis Hurtado to talk about his compositional process, his relationship with the visual arts, and some recent works! Learn more about your host: https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/ [https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/]   Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates! https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe [https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe] _____ Support the show and my work as a composer/educator: https://ko-fi.com/mathewarrellin Your support helps keep The Composer’s Cut alive and ad-free. _____ José-Luis' website: https://www.joseluishurtado.net/ [https://www.joseluishurtado.net/] _____ Pieces mentioned in the episode: The Untitled 3B for 3 Bassoons: https://youtu.be/NyXyH1BJU2s?si=2cuZGzTyuL1-mCnh [https://youtu.be/NyXyH1BJU2s?si=2cuZGzTyuL1-mCnh] Solar Mass for Orchestra: https://youtu.be/9tNbhGjwAgo?si=XYtUXY1VnX1ZHWBx [https://youtu.be/9tNbhGjwAgo?si=XYtUXY1VnX1ZHWBx] _____

Inside Eric Wubbels’ Music: Process, Improvisation, and Meaning Today

In the second episode of The Composer's Cut podcast, I sit down with composer-pianist Eric Wubbels of the Wet Ink Ensemble to talk about his compositional process!  Learn more about your host here: https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/ [https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/]   Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates! https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe [https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe] _____ Support the show and my work as a composer/educator: https://ko-fi.com/mathewarrellin Your support helps keep The Composer’s Cut alive and ad-free. _____ Eric's website: http://www.wubbelsmusic.com/ [http://www.wubbelsmusic.com/]   Here are some upcoming events of Eric's music that you don't want to miss! Altarpiece H. af K. (for three amplified bassoons), premiere + Midwest tour 3/20- Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project 3/21- Fairchild Chapel, Oberlin College 3/22- Independent Media Center, Urbana, IL 3/23- Elastic Arts, Chicago   Release to keep an eye out for: Wet Ink Ensemble is releasing album "Action, Choice, Thought" on Carrier Records in May 2025. https://carrierrecords.bandcamp.com/ [https://carrierrecords.bandcamp.com/] ____ Pieces mentioned in this episode: being-time (9:48): https://ericwubbels.bandcamp.com/album/being-time [https://ericwubbels.bandcamp.com/album/being-time] contraposition (27:15): https://vimeo.com/174134801 [https://vimeo.com/174134801] chimeric forms (36:14)