Episode Twenty-Nine: Michael Nyman

Michael Nyman is a composer of concert music, film scores and the author of a book that influenced countless composers and educators in the late twentieth century that embraced musical styles counter to the modernist music of European and American composers whose works dominated university faculties worldwide. Experimental Music: Cage and Beyond certainly influenced the producing team here at The Relache Chronicles. Michael’s music for films is likely best known for those directed by Peter Greenaway. His score for Jane Campion’s film, “The Piano” is possibly his best-known work. Michael’s music has been referenced as “…taking no prisoners…” It is hard-driving, episodic, repetitive, at times very loud, and always unique. So, of course, it attracted the Relache Ensemble who then commissioned him to write a piece that is titled “HRT.” Composed in 1995-96, “HRT” was a dominant work in The Relache Ensemble’s repertoire during those years, and it was recorded on the Monroe Street Music label in 1997, now out of print. It is that recording and a conversation about Michael we’ll feature on this episode.

The members of The Relache ensemble were Laurel Wyckoff, flutes and piccolo; Ken Ulansey, saxophone and clarinet; Lloyd Shorter, oboe and English horn; Jon Gaarder, bassoon; Kathleen Carroll, viola; Douglas Mapp, bass and electric bass.

On February 25, 2026 “Comin’ On Home – A Concert for Guy” was held at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY. On the day before what would have been his 79th birthday, the concert celebrated the life and music of accordionist, composer and performer, Guy Klucevsek who passed away on May 22, 2025. Guy was well known to international audiences for his exquisite playing. His compositions for solo accordion number in the hundreds. He performed and recorded numerous works by other composers that were commissioned specially for him. He was a sideman or leader of numerous ensembles in the United States and Europe. He created pieces for ensembles such as Relache and Little Big Top (both of them are featured in this episode). His quartet Accordion Tribe toured Europe and became the subject of a documentary film. You can see a complete listing of his compositions, solo performances and collaborations with artists worldwide on his website .

Three earlier episodes of The Relache Chronicles are dedicated to Guy’s music. Episodes 4 and 10 feature conversations with him and the team as well as recordings of his music. Episode twenty-three is a personal tribute to Guy by the Relache Chronicles producing team, all close personal friends. To those episodes, we add Episode Twenty-Eight.

“Comin’ On Home – A Concert for Guy” featured thirty-one works played by eight soloists and twenty-four ensemble players who were friends and collaborators of Guy’s. From those thirty-one works, we have selected eight to play on this episode. They are performed by The Relache Ensemble, Little Big Top Ensemble, accordionists Nathan Koci, Alex Meixner and Will Holshauser, violinists, Andie Tanning and Todd Reynolds, pianist Joe Kubera, and singer Kamala Sankaram.

We have included links to the complete audio and video recording of Comin' On Home - A Concert for Guy and the 28-page program booklet (with program notes on each piece in the concert order.)

The complete audio and video recordings of the concert can be found on the Roulette website HERE. You can download the program booklet HERE.

Created, written and performed by Arthur Sabatini, The Walkings are literary and poetic musings and commentaries set to music of William Duckworth’s “The Time Curve Preludes,” played by pianist Neely Bruce from a recording on the Lovely Music label. (Episode Twelve of The Relache Chronicles features Bill’s music plus commentary from the Relache Chronicles Team, who were all friends of Bill’s.) Arthur’s personal and professional association with Bill Duckworth and his wife, media artist, Nora Farrel is explained by Arthur as he charts a mythical path through time as “The Chronicler,” the name he adopted as a member of The Cathedral Band. (Cathedral, the iPod Opera and iOrpheus were creations of Bill and Nora in collaboration with a group of artists.) This episode consists of thirteen preludes from The Walkings. Click HERE for a full recorded performance of all twenty-four preludes. Although different from Arthur’s collaborations with Bill, Nora and The Cathedral Band, The Walkings represent a tribute to their artistic legacies. It is beautifully performed by Arthur and Neely Bruce. The Walkings is somewhat of a departure from the format of earlier episodes, but true to the intent of The Relache Chronicles, it honors the music and related projects created and performed by members of Relache’s extended family.