Episodes

  • Composer Chaya Czernowin on Embracing Risk, Musical Creatures, and Warping Musical Space
    Apr 25 2025

    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/

    Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates!

    https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe

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    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.

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    Pieces discussed in this episode:

    Atara (2020/21) for orchestra and 2 amplified voices

    https://youtu.be/MoVxSO16dYU?si=nlx2OMKE5wEcogUH

    EZOV (Moss) (2024) for string quartet

    https://youtu.be/ecx01uP2EdE?si=hMRw8Eew6XVEGJtf

    ——

    More recommended listens:

    Seltene Erde: alchimia communicationis (2022)

    https://youtu.be/pvfH3CggaTg?si=Hw-Wj_BIi7zRelEX

    Poetica (2024)

    https://youtu.be/Rgb1Mhx9pWA?si=KB_Jq3oMSmSqDLSg

    Moths of Hunger and Awe (2023/24)

    https://youtu.be/PpYD3EiChPo?si=9MslHlPn9VkuhoPl

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    Chaya’s Website:

    https://www.chayaczernowin.com/

    Subscribe to Chaya’s YouTube channel! 👇🏻

    https://www.youtube.com/@chayaczernowin777

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    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

    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

    October 28, 2025

    Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop conducting

    Katowice, Poland

    https://nospr.org.pl/en

    February 20, 2026

    Orchestra Philharmonie de Paris, Alan Gilbert conducting

    Paris, France

    https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/fr

    March 26, 2026

    ORF orchestra, conducted by Maxime Pascal

    Vienna, Austria

    https://rso.orf.at/en/rsowien

    The piece was commissioned by these five orchestras.

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    Many more performances of Chaya’s music to keep an eye out for:

    https://www.chayaczernowin.com/2025

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Entangling Sound, Self, and Movement: Niki Harlafti on Her Interdisciplinary Practice
    Apr 18 2025

    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/

    Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates!

    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.

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    Listen on Apple Podcasts:

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-composers-cut/id1801060567

    Listen on Spotify:

    https://open.spotify.com/show/70xyWmB1AJr526TVZWO2IT

    Listen on Amazon Music:

    https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1cd45d7e-6457-4ab3-a39a-d18518463e24

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    Pieces mentioned in the episode:

    Kintsugi for 11 Saxophones

    https://youtu.be/32b7GPn95iw?si=25yOi1pTAs2KDC-I

    Tee Khe Theemen

    https://www.nikiharlafti.com/music/tee-khe-theemen-neuevocalsolisten-adonis-lament

    The Blood of Others

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DHUgVSOAH4wdP11AWzNf79YWVKt__gJNoe-MwE0/

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    More recommended listens:

    https://www.nikiharlafti.com/music/demilitarized-zone

    https://www.nikiharlafti.com/videos/v/enduring-freedom-harlafti-mullen

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    https://www.nikiharlafti.com/

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    1 hr
  • Alex Mincek on Form, the Elasticity of Time, and Repetition
    Mar 26 2025

    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/

    Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates!

    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.

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    Listen on Apple Podcasts:

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-composers-cut/id1801060567

    Listen on Spotify:

    https://open.spotify.com/show/70xyWmB1AJr526TVZWO2IT

    Listen on Amazon Music:

    https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1cd45d7e-6457-4ab3-a39a-d18518463e24

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    Pieces mentioned in the episode:

    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

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    More recommended listens:

    Nomadic Science

    https://youtu.be/t8hBNMqX-dc?si=JosKDuX7a2DgzF_e

    Trace

    https://youtu.be/UJfDTQzmvu0?si=k9VXsagzGRHtC9wl

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • José-Luis Hurtado: Bridging Sound and Vision in Composition
    Mar 19 2025

    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/

    Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates!

    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.

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    José-Luis' website:

    https://www.joseluishurtado.net/

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    Pieces mentioned in the episode:

    The Untitled 3B for 3 Bassoons:

    https://youtu.be/NyXyH1BJU2s?si=2cuZGzTyuL1-mCnh

    Solar Mass for Orchestra:

    https://youtu.be/9tNbhGjwAgo?si=XYtUXY1VnX1ZHWBx

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Inside Eric Wubbels’ Music: Process, Improvisation, and Meaning Today
    Mar 9 2025

    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/

    Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates! 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.

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    Eric's website:

    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/

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    Pieces mentioned in this episode: being-time (9:48): https://ericwubbels.bandcamp.com/album/being-time

    contraposition (27:15): https://vimeo.com/174134801

    chimeric forms (36:14)

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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Composer Anna-Louise Walton on the Art of Working with Limited Materials
    Mar 9 2025

    In the inaugural episode of my new podcast The Composer's Cut, I talk with Anna-Louise Walton about her compositional process and working with limited materials.

    Learn more about your host here:

    https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/

    Subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss any updates! https://www.mathew-arrellin.com/subscribe

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    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.

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    Check out her music on her website or here on YouTube! https://www.annalouisewalton.com/audio https://www.annalouisewalton.com/video

    The pieces mentioned:

    Jökulsárlón: https://youtu.be/BP9b-C1nprs?si=sekECMq26N_DXlnX

    Flex: https://youtu.be/r_0JHJ2maAo?si=-h1gq98EXF5QjkNt

    Bliss: https://youtu.be/_l41Zozalj0?si=GcEIvUKeL7X2HbkU

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    27 mins