iPod Convert: Sequenza21's Listening Room

I've found what I've been looking for. Almost.

I don't have a podcast review for contemporary or new classical music, because I haven't found the music I'm craving in a podcast format. Perhaps it doesn't exist, although given everything else I can find on iTunes alone, I find that hard to believe. I'd started to feel pretty discouraged in my search for free, exciting classical music online, and equally discouraged that the artists that I know must be out there producing innovative and challenging music aren't getting sufficient exposure. However, I just (just!) found Sequenza21's Listening Room wiki, and I think I'm in love. I'm on my third consecutive listen of the second movement of Jason R. Taylor's Four Stories High piece for baroque lute, Toy for Luka. I defy you to listen to these short two minutes of bliss and not want to rush on out and hug your child. I'm restraining myself from listening for a fourth time as I type. Nevermind, I'm listening again. (For what it's worth, the Listening Room lists Puzzle Piece as the second movement, but Jason Taylor's website lists Toy as the second and Puzzle as the third. Puzzle Piece is also very good). Lucky for Mr. Taylor, I'm already happily married and not to good on the whole childbearing front, because I think I'd want to bear this man's children.

I'm new to the wiki format, but the Sequenza21 wiki seems like an ideal format for new composers and artists to promote their music and connect. I'll probably stick with the Listening Room, but some of the other pages are also interesting. At the very least, it is a source to find new artists, and perhaps I can feed my (apparently) odd obsession that way. It lacks the convenience of the podcast, but downloading, converting and importing the mp3s is really only a few extra steps.

I also enjoyed the Basso Moderno Duo's Inspired by Nature. I have yet to listen to Daniel Carr's Some Robots Are Playing the Last Movement of My Piano Sonata, but I'm intrigued. I'd also encourage a stop by the Sequenza21's main page, which looks like a fantastic source in its own right.

I didn't find what I expected to, but the end point of this specific iPod Convert quest was still worth it. I found some other intriguing resources along the way, and I may share them as I have time to explore a bit more. For now, though, I am satiated.