Sometime in the late 20th I had a radio show on WOBC dedicated to the hilariously conflicted genre known as contemporary classical music.  I'm not sure who the buyer was for the WOBC library, but I was thrilled to find a handful of 20th century harpsichord releases which I still treasure to this day. 

The Finnish composer and keyboardist Jukka Tiensuu put out two albums in quick succession: "The Fantastic Harpsichord" followed by "The Exuberant Harpsichord", which are featured here.

The primary exponent of contemporary harpsichord, Polish harpsichordist Elisabeth Chojnacka, recorded music for decades and was even welcomed to the San Francisco Symphony stage by Michael Tilson Thomas.  I was, of course, on the front row.

American composer Barbara Harbach put together a truly lovely and highly accessible collection of works in an album simply titled "20th Century Harpsichord Music".

00:00 Iannis Xenakis : Χοαί (Khoaï) 1976,  performed by Jukka Tienssu 1987

15:23  Costin Miereanu : Limping Rock for harpsichord and percussion, performed by Elisabeth Chojnacka, Sylvio Gualda 1990

20:16 Kaija Saariaho : Jardin secret II for harpsichorcd and electronics 1986, performed by Jukka Tienssu 1987

31:21  Anneli Arho : Minos' 1978, performed by Jukka Tienssu 1987

39:53 Jukka Tiensuu : Fantango 1984, performed by Jukka Tienssu 1987

44:37 György Ligeti : Hungarian Rock 1978,  performed by Jukka Tienssu 1988

49:29 Virgil Thompson : Four Portraits 1940, performed (and possibly arranged by) Barbara Harbach 1988

20th Century Harpsichord Volume 1

— 00:00 Olivier Messiaen / Les Corps Glorieux - 1 - Subtilité des Corps Glorieux / Jennifer Bate, St. Pierre de Beauvais

I thought this would be maybe a signature track that people would here filtering through the woods at night, announcing the beginning of my sets.
In retrospect, it’s a bit long, a bit like putting on the brakes.
But this has echoed in my mind for years as the most powerful line I know from his work.

My mother is an organist and consequently I went to organ concerts with her.

— 05:20 Arvo Pärt / Solfeggio / Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier

I spent the 90s stoned out of my mind listening to every recording of Arvo Pärt I could get my hands on, which were plentiful thanks to ECM records and the prolific composer.

This slender work is unusal in its technical purity, and yet it is the one work that most often brings the strongest emotions.

— 10:30 Nico Muhly / Revd Mustard his Installation Prelude / James McVinnie

The minute I heard this sparkling gem I knew I would send a CD of it to my mother for her birthday and that she would be enchanted as I was.

— 13:47 Steve Reich / Drumming Part III / Steve Reich & Musicians

Each movement of Drumming features a different type of percussion instrument, and this is my favorite—glockenspiel! 

— 24:48 Michael Nyman / The Diary of Anne Frank (Arr. Richard Boothby): If / Iestyn Davies & Fretwork

When I saw there was a countertenor performing Nyman on the Cal Performances I bought tickets immediately.
Little did I know the bewitching effect of the combination of countertenor, viola da gamba, and Nyman.

Should you ever have an opportunity to see any of these musicians, do it.

— 28:16 Hans Reichel / Watching The Shades (I) / Hans Reichel

This was a crate-digging find at Tower Records in the 90s—Hans Reichel performs freeform on a stringed instrument of his own design, the Dachsman.

— 31:10 Stephen Scott / Rainbows, I / Colorado College New Music Ensemble and Stephen Scott

A find from the WOBC library, this music is made by threading horsehair through piano strings to create a bowed effect.  Two hands and therefore one person are required for each pitch, so it is a sight to behold.

— 36:33 Earth Jerks / Lorna Doom Rides Again

Long ago, in an Oakland far, far away, The Life-Saving Ministry held noise nights in an former church sanctuary.
Some time after, they curated an excellent happy hour at The Knockout in the Mission.
Earth Jerks are on Bandcamp, check them out.

— 42:50 Squid / Boy Racers

Don Baird played this one night at Hole in the Wall Saloon and it really freaked me out.

— 47:09 Flying Saucer Attack / Land Beyond The Sun

FSA was another band I listened to incessantly in the 90s, stoned out of my mind.
If anyone is interested in playing FSA covers, LMK.

— 52:23 Linda Perhacs / Chimacum Rain

My husband found Perhacs on a compilation literally called “Hippie Goddesses”, and the rest is history. 

— 55:42 Flying Saucer Attack / Suncatcher

This. Is. It. 

— 58:24 Maurice Duruflé / Quatre Motets, Ubi caritas / Ensemble Vocal Audite Nova,Orchestre de Colonne, Philippe Corboz (Organ)

I was very fortunate to be introduced to this by a high-school choir director.

My sister was in the choir, and I was asked to perform in the orchestra for the concert at Grace and Holy Trinity cathedral in KC.

This was on the program.

It was truly a life-changing experience.

To paraphrase the traditional meaning, the theme is: “Where charity and love are, community is there”.

— 60:21 Keith Jarrett / Spheres (4th Movement)

We finish with an organ work by legendary piano improviser Keith Jarrett.
I first encountered this in Rob Frike’s 2011 film “Samsara”, which I can’t recommend enough.
The Wheel of Samsara is a Buddhist model that expresses the cycle in which we live…

I hope you enjoyed this journey and that it inspires you to listen.

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