Johanna Beyer: a woman far ahead of her time.
German-American composer Johanna Beyer (1888-1944) experimented with sounds to her heart’s content. Sometimes this resulted in profound, dissonant works full of counterpoint, at other times in very minimal pieces. Her music from the 1930s, including some exceptional percussion pieces and intense chamber music, was particularly groundbreaking. She found common ground with ultra-modern composers such as her teachers Ruth Crawford Seeger and Dane Rudhyar, and She was good friends with composers such as John Cage and Henry Cowell, maintaining a close relationship with Cowell in particular. Some of Beyer’s unique chamber music and percussion compositions are featured in this special, including her first two string quartets and recent recordings of her music for woodwinds.
1. ‘Quintet for woodwinds’ (1933), for woodwind quintet, from Johanna Beyer: Music for Woodwinds. Arizona Wind Quintet. New World Records 80826-2 CD
2. ‘Movement for woodwinds’ (1938), for woodwind quintet, from Johanna Beyer: Music for Woodwinds. Arizona Wind Quintet. New World Records 80826-2 CD
3-6. ’Four Pieces for oboe and bassoon’ (1939), for oboe and bassoon, from Johanna Beyer: Music for Woodwinds. Arizona Wind Quintet. New World Records 80826-2 CD
7-12. ‘Six movements for oboe and piano’ (1939) from Johanna Beyer: Music for Woodwinds. Sarah Fraker (oboe) + Daniel Linder (piano). New World Records 80826-2 CD
13-16. ‘String Quartet No. 1’ (1933-1934), from Johanna Beyer: Sticky Melodies. String quartet from Miwako Abe. New World Records 80678-2 CD
17-20. ‘String Quartet No. 2’ (1936), from Johanna Beyer: Sticky Melodies. String quartet led by Miwako Abe. New World Records 80678-2 CD
21-23. ‘Percussion Suite’ (1933), from Johanna Beyer: Restless, Endless, Tactless. Meehan/Perkins Duo + The Baylor Percussion Group. New World Records. 80711-2 CD
24. ‘Waltz’ (1939) for percussion, from Johanna Beyer: Restless, Endless, Tactless. Meehan/Perkins Duo + The Baylor Percussion Group. New World Records. 80711-2 CD
25-27. ‘Three Movements for Percussion’ (1939), from Johanna Beyer: Restless, Endless, Tactless. Meehan/Perkins Duo + The Baylor Percussion Group. New World Records. 80711-2 CD
28-30. ‘Suite for bass clarinet and piano’ (1936), from Johanna Beyer: Music for Woodwinds. Jackie Glazier (bass clarinet) + Daniel Linder (piano). New World Records 80826-2 CD
