Vivid Artifacts Steven Mackey on the music of William Byrd

Composer and electric guitar virtuoso Steven Mackey is known for his innovative combinations of timbres, instruments, genres and forms from both Western classical and rock/pop traditions. In this episode, Liquid Music Playlist’s host Steve Seel asks Mackey about his latest work, Orpheus Unsung, a wordless opera for electric guitar and percussion which premiered in Minneapolis this summer. Mackey also brings in the music of the prolific Renaissance composer, William Byrd, praising Byrd’s serene vocal mass Agnus Dei as foresight in harmony and counterpoint. PLAYLIST 1. Mackey: "Fusion Tune" from Banana Dump Truck — Mackey, guitar; Fred Sherry, cello 2. Mackey: "Physical Property" from String Theory — Mackey, guitar; Brentano String Quartet 3. Mackey: "My Ship" from Big Farm — Big Farm (Steven Mackey, Rinde Eckart, Mark Haanstra, Jason Treuting) 4. William Byrd: "Agnus Dei" from Mass for Four Voices — Tallis Scholars