Second Inversion – Rethink Classical

Launched by Seattle based Classical KING FM in April 2014, Second Inversion was born from the desire to connect classical music radio with a younger audience. Our curated streaming channel and website feature all that is new, different, and creative in the new music world and brings it to our listeners. Joshua Roman participates in the project as Artistic Advisor, inspiring Second Inversion with his passion for new music, innovative execution of rethinking classical, and desire to share this music not only in Seattle but all over the world.

Through online streaming, app, blogging, on-demand videos/audio recordings and social media conversations, Second Inversion is positioned to become a go-to platform for new music and crossover performances that will strengthen our artistic community and give musicians a chance to be heard.

Second Inversion’s programming explores creation in all its forms and engages artists in its product, by inviting them to participate in on-demand video and audio recordings. Performers come into our studio and benefit from our professional equipment and expertise. The materials that are produced are shared on our social media outlets and website on-demand, allowing the artists to showcase their work beyond the concert hall. With these recordings we are not only rethinking what classical music is, but also what radio content can become. We embrace our listeners’ multiplatform media consumption, and integrate on-demand video and audio recordings into the public radio offering.

Eight performances have been lined up between January and April 2015 that reflect the diversity of the new music scene and some of the many inspirations and musical forms Second Inversion is exploring. The brass quartet The Westerlies (January 1) are avid explorers of the cross-genre territory including American folk music, jazz, classical and indie rock. Third coast percussion and Joshua Roman (January 11) performed Tan Dun’s Elegy: Snow in June, in which the beautiful lament of the cello contrasts with the roughness of the percussion. Matt Haimovitz and Christopher O’Riley at the Tractor Tavern (February 2) brought Beethoven into a bar and distorted the sound of a cello with a styrofoam cup. We welcomed two groups from the Bang on a Can marathon (both on February 15), Ashley Bathgate, mixing acoustic cello with electronic effects and Jherek Bischoff who recorded a series of original tunes with local ensemble Scrape. Seattle Symphony’s [UNTITLED] (February 14) is a close partner of Second Inversion for many projects. Deviant Septet (March 23) and Turtle Island Quartet with Simple Measures (April 18) are the next ensembles that we are planning to record.

“Classical music performance is ever expanding and changing at a rapid pace, with new musicians creating new ideas all the time.  It’s nice to know there is a program like Second Inversion that is passionate about sharing these developments with their listeners!” Jason Vieaux