Musicworks Magazine

"For Oh, it all comes down to the way people listen. Most people listen to be comforted; they listen passively. Oh cites Canadian composer John Beckwith's idea of active listening. The listener should be engaged, possibly uncomfortable, and that experience is ultimately more rewarding." - from Matthew Pioro's interview with Toronto-based classical composer Gregory Oh from Musicworks #110

Musicworks Magazine, where have you been all my life? That quote (and a few others from the same article) encapsulate why I listen to the music I do. Musicworks, a Canadian magazine focusing on experimental and avant-garde music, mostly on the classical end, is a wonderfully esoteric read. There are interviews with Gregory Oh, neo-classical recorder player Terri Hron, Canadian pop/electronic artists Braids, Grimes and Doldrums, compoer Christopher Mayo and the Vegetable Orchestra of Vienna (complete with instructions on how to make your own instruments out of vegetables). This magazine isn't for everyone. In fact, I doubt it's even for me. I have an interest in neo-classical music, but probably not enough to get a subscription to it. While there are bits on bands like Braids and Grimes, whom I both like, the focus is on oddball classical. But, if you want a different perspective on music, this is a great magazine for it.