Classical

For this installment, enjoy a wide range of classical favorites alongside lesser-known contemporary and baroque pieces. The playlist ranges from intimate solo performances and chamber ensembles to sweeping symphonic recordings. Highlights include several selections from RCA’s Living Stereo label from the early stereo era of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Helmed by legendary recording engineer Lewis Layton, these sessions employed all-tube microphones and were recorded directly to analog tape. Recorded primarily on-site at various concert halls throughout New York, Boston, and Chicago, the practical, analog approach yields a real-life dimensionality of sound—as if the listener is seated in these physical spaces taking in the natural acoustics of the room.

Currently playing

Richard Strauss, “Sieben Vierstimmige Lieder, TrV 92, 2. Spielmannsweise: Es Stand Auf Duftiger Aue,” 2001  

Henryk Szeryng, “Gluck Melodie (‘Dance of the Blessed Spirits’ from Orfeo ed Euridice),” 1960

Richard Wagner, Leopold Stokowsky, “Tristan und Isolde, Prelude to Act III,” 1960

Jordi Savall, “Bach: Violin Partita #1 In B Minor, BWV 1002 – 4. Double,” 1998

Maurice Ravel, “Dorcon’s Advance to Chloe,” 1955

Jascha Heifetz, “Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto #5 In A Minor, Op. 37, “Grétry” – 2. Adagio,” 1961

Fritz Reiner, “Pavan for a Dead Princess,” 1957

Anja Lechner, “T. Hume: A Question,” 2024

Modest Mussorgsky, “Pictures At An Exhibition – Il Vecchio Castello,” 1957

Béla Bartók, “Hungarian Sketches, Sz. 97: III. Melody,” 1958

Nils Økland, “Månelyst,” 2000

Claude Debussy, “Nocturnes, L. 91 I. Nuages,” 1962

David Darling, “Dawn [Darkwood IV],” 1993

Arnold Schoenberg, “Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 – 5. Sehr Ruhig,” 1990

Alberto Crugnola, “Suite BWV 1008, Prelude,” 2020

Jóhann Jóhannsson, “Orphic Hymn,” 2016

Jordi Savall, “Bach: Cello Suite #4 In E Flat, BWV 1010 – 5. Bourrée #1 & 2,” 1998

Pyotr Tchaikovsky, “Pathétique, II. Allegro Con Grazia,” 1955

Previous playlists

Joep Beving, “The Light She Brings,” 2025

Dmitri Shostakovich, Jean Martinon, “The Age of Gold: Ballet Suite, Op. 22a.2, Adagio,” 2005

Danish String Quartet, “Drømte mig en drøm,” 2017

Michael A. Muller, Daigo Hanada, “Elyria (Daigo Hanada Rework),” 2019

Maurice Ravel, Johanna Martzy, “Píèce en forme de Habanera, M.51,” 2021

Daniel Lanois, “Inverness,” 2022

Brendan Eder Ensemble, “#17,” 2023

J.S. Bach, Magdalena Hoffmann, “Sinfonia, No. 11 in G Minor, BMV 797,” 2024

Richard Wagner, Christian Thielemann, “Tristan und Isolde, Act III: Prelude,” 2004

Balmorhea, “Before Barbed Wire,” 2024

Hania Rani, “Non Fiction: II.III Cantabile, 2025

Peter Gregson, “Quartets: Three – I. Even,” 2022

Harold Budd, Brian Eno, “First Light,” 1979

Max Richter, “Organum,” 2004

Zbiegniew Preisner, “Van den Budenmayer (SBI 152 – Version de 1798),” 1990

Jacaszek, “Windhover,” 2011

Bing & Ruth, “As Much As Possible,” 2017

Svarte Greiner, “Final Sleep,” 2006

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Rachel Grimes, Rachels, “Systems/Layers,” 2003

Tobias Hume, Anja Lechner, “A Question,” 2024

Henryk Górecki, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit, “3 Utwory w dawnym stylu (3 Pieces in Old Style),” 1994

Michael A. Muller, Clarice Jensen, “Mirror 10,” 2024

Rauelsson, “Prelude No. 7,” 2025

Minua, “Breve,” 2023

Oliver Coates, “Caregiver part 4 (spirit),” 2020

Maurice Ravel, Fritz Reiner, “Pavan for a Dead Princess,” 1993

Jacaszek, Michał Jacaszek, “Rytm to Nieśmiertelność I,” 2008

Christian Löffler, “Pastoral,” 2021

Gabriel Fauré, The New Symphony Orchestra of London, Raymond Agoult, “Pavane, Op. 50,” 2019

Olga Anna Markowska, “Dusk,” 2025

Philip Glass, Kasia Kadłubowska, Dominik Bukowski, “The Poet Acts (From “The Hours”),” 2016

Ryuichi Sakamoto, “The Revenant Main Theme,” 2015

David Darling, “Dawn (Darkwood IV),” 1995

Edward Elgar, Sir John BArbirolli, Hallé, “Elgar: Elegy, Op.58,” 2021

Balmorhea, Portico Quartet, Morris Kliphuis, Lisa Morgenstern, Clarice Jensen, “Rose in Abstract (Portico Quartet Remix),” 2022

Ambient 

Transportive selections range from early ambient pioneers Brian Eno and Harold Budd to contemporary practitioners such as Maria W Horn and Jonny Nash, alongside Stars of the Lid and William Basinski. Also featured is Michael A. Muller with a track from the inaugural release on the OJAS Music record label. The playlist offers a breadth of space, inviting listeners into a deeper, more immersive mode of listening.

Currently playing

Balmorhea, “Solanales,” 2022  

Tortoise, “His Second Story Island,” 1993

Mkwaju Ensemble, “Hot Air,” 1981

Michael A. Muller & Otto A. Totland, “Eterisk,” 2026

Harold Budd, “Olancha Farewell,” 1986

Ryuichi Sakamoto & Alva Noto, “The Revenant Theme (Alva Noto Remodel),” 2015

Jonny Nash, “Future Friends,” 2023

Harold Budd & John Foxx, “Raindust,” 2003

Maria w Horn, “Fall of O’Dea,” 2016

Hammock, “Dark Beyond The Blue,” 2010

Jonathan Sielaff, “Coral City,” 2023

Michael A. Muller, “Recedes (Alva Noto Remodel),” 2023

Autechre, “Nine,” 1994

Brian Eno & Harold Budd, “The Chill Air,” 1980

Michael A. Muller, “Night Scene With Moon,” 2023

Tim Hecker, “Sketch 2,” 2011

Stars of the Lid, “Hiberner Toujours,” 2007

Helios, “Emancipation,” 2006

William Basinski & Janek Schaefer, “…On Reflection (Five),” 2022

Previous playlists

Chihei Hatakeyama, “Morning Arrival On The Island,” 2009

Michael A. Muller, Clarice Jensen, “Mirror 2,” 2024

Brian Eno, Jon Hopkins, “Invisible,” 2023

Joep Beving, “Hanging D (Alva Noto Remodel),” 2021

Brian Eno, “Weightless,” 1982

Arve Henriksen, “Echoes From The Shore,” 2025

William Basinski, Lawrence English, “Mono No Aware 1.3,” 2018

Jeremiah Chiu, Marta Sofia Honer, “Side By Side,” 2025

Eli Keszler, “Which Swarms Around It,” 2018

Masayoshi Fujita, “Valley,” 2024

Tim Hecker, “Blood Rainbow,” 2006

Daniel Lanois, “JJ Leaves LA,” 2003

Alva Noto, “Xerrox Kirlian,” 2020

Pan American, “For Aiming At Stars,” 2009

Yann Novak, “Traversing The Substrate,” 2023

Jónsi, Alex Somers, “Daníell In The Sea,” 2009

Harold Budd, Brian Eno, “Still Return,” 1983

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Jóhann Jóhannsson, “Fragment I,” 2016

Mats Erlandsson, Yair Elazar Glotman, “At Ends,” 2025

Huerco S., “A Sea of Love,” 2016

Pieter Nooten & Michael Brook, “Several Times I,” 1987

Carmen Villain, “Everything Without Shadow,” 2021

Romance, “Spellbound,” 2025

Chuck Johnson, “Riga Black,” 2017

Hammock, “Dark Beyond the Blue,” 2011

Harold Budd, Brian Eno, “Against The Sky,” 1984

Aphex Twin, “#3,” 1994

Michael A. Muller, Elan Green, “Recedes,” 2023

Luke Howard, Tilman Robinson,  “Dark Angels,” 2020

William Basinski, Janek Schaefer,  “…on reflection (three),” 2022

Jazz 

On Fridays in the listening room, hear iiyo iiyo iiyo, Sam Wilkes’ fifth album as bandleader and arranger. A composer, producer, and bassist, Wilkes performs live primarily playing a fender precision bass. The album was recorded live at Festival de Frue in Kakegawa and at WWWX in Tokyo and features a quintet of musicians.  

Special dates:

7/16-8/16: Sam Wilkes, “iiyo iiyo iiyo,” 2022

Currently playing

Sam Wilkes, “Descending (Frue),” 2022 

Sam Wilkes, “I Wanna Be Loved,” 2022 

Sam Wilkes, “Girl,” 2022 

Sam Wilkes, “Rain & Snow,” 2022 

Sam Wilkes, “Descending (WWW),” 2022 

Previous playlists

Brokeback, “Name’s Winston, Friends Call Me James,” 2003

Sam Gendel, Sam Wilkes, “CIRCLE,” 2024

Jakob Bro, Thomas Morgan, Joey Baron, “Heroines,” 2016

Brendan Eder Ensemble, “New Dreams,” 2021

Monoglot, “Resonance,” 2021

Oliver Nelson, “Stolen Moments,” 1961

Mats Eilertsen, “22,” 2019

Miles Davis, “Gone, Gone, Gone,” 1959

Yusef Lateef, “The Plum Blossom,” 1962

Duke Ellington, “Solitude,” 1951

Gerry Mulligan, “Festive Minor,” 1963

Pino Palladino, Blake Mills, “Just Wrong,” 2021

Jutta Hipp, Zoot Sims, “Violet For Your Furs,” 1957

Phi-Psonics, “It Finds A Way,” 2025

Duke Pearson, “On Green Dolphin Street,” 1960

Bill Evans Trio, “Jade Visions,” 1961

—

John Coltrane, “Blue Train,” 1958

Herbie Hancock, “Mimosa,” 1963

Stanley Turrentine, “Shirley,” 1980

Lee Morgan, “I Remember Clifford,” 1957

Horace Silver, “Lonely Woman,” 1965

Grant Green, “Idle Moments,” 1965

Sonny Clark, John Coltrane, “Speak Low,” 1958

Miles Davis Quartet, “It Never Entered My Mind,” 1956

Thelonius Monk, “’Round Midnight,” 1951

 

Special dates:

3/6: Charlie Parker, “Charlie Parker With Strings,” 1955
3/13: Bill Evans, “Conversations With Myself,” 1963
3/20: Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, “Jazz Samba,” 1962
3/27: Nina Simone, “Nina Simone In Concert,” 1964
4/3: John Coltrane Quartet, “Ballads,” 1963
4/10: John Coltrane Quartet, “Crescent,” 1964
4/17: Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, “Duke Ellington and John Coltrane,” 1963
4/24: John Coltrane, “A Love Supreme,” 1965
5/3-5/31: Every Sunday for the month of May will feature a seminal album from Miles Davis’ storied discography including, “Milestones”, “Shades of Blue”, “Sketches of Spain”, and “Bitches Brew”.