Season 1, Episode 4: Composers and Commissions (June 21, 2020)

The quartet welcomes art song composers Andrea Clearfield and Lori Laitman as guest panelists to discuss the composer's perspective on commissioning.  Just what is a commission?  Does a composer accept every commission that they receive?  How long does it take to compose a new work, and who decides what poetry or text is set?  New commissions make up composers' livelihoods, bring communities together through the arts, and have the power to reshape the landscape of classical music for the next generation.

The conversation will be broadcast live at 6pm CST on Sunday, June 21, 2020.

Season 1, Episode 3: Inclusive Programming (June 7, 2020)

Instrumental chamber ensemble Crossing Borders Music joins the quartet with guest moderator Oliver Camacho (WFMT, Vocal Arts Chicago) to discuss the importance of diverse and inclusive programming in today's chamber music world. 

What is inclusive programming? How do artists and chamber music organizations think about representation in classical music? Little did we know when this conversation was planned, just what context we'd be conversing in this week. Please join us as we try to broaden the canon together.

Season 1, Episode 2: Gretchen is to blame! (May 24, 2020)
The quartet is joined by Dana Brown, Associate Professor of Opera and Vocal Coaching at Roosevelt University, to discuss the origins of art song in 19th century Germany and Austria.  Dana traces the history of the German Lied from Franz Schubert's "Gretchen am Spinnrade" through Richard Strauss; the ensemble reads translations of the great German poets; and everyone waxes poetic about iconic recordings from great artists of the last 100 years.

​A suggested listening guide compiled by Dana is posted on YouTube here.

The live broadcast took place at 6PM CST on Sunday, May 24, 2020.

Season 1, Episode 1: Launch Party! (May 10, 2020)

Part One: I-Thou by Wayland Rogers

In the inaugural episode of The Art Song Hour, watch the May 2018 world premiere performance of Wayland Rogers' song cycle I-Thou, commissioned and performed by the ensemble.

Part Two: Live talk-back with the quartet

Sarah, Bridget, Ace, and Dave take questions via Facebook Live, reflect on the group's first commission, and shout out to Wayland Rogers, Kaz Tanahashi, Dana Brown, and former ensemble tenor Zach Vanderburg.

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