Toys! with Brad Cox

By Sascha Groschang,

Published December 10, 2021 at 3:04 PM CST

Brad Cox at the piano telling "The Story of the Hard Nut" in 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.'

Revisit your childhood on Sound Currents, where we explore the wacky world of toys with this week's guest, composer Brad Cox.

From musical jewelry boxes to toy soldiers, Silver Atom Rays Guns to Flashing Robots, we’ve got a little bit of everything for your childhood spirit. We’ll also include a modern and local take on the holiday’s most famous toy story.

This week's guest is composer Brad Cox.

Scroll to the bottom to hear how Brad Cox approaches writing music for dance and be sure to answer this week's "favorite piece" poll down below!

Hosts
Sascha Groschang
Laurel Parks

Guest
Brad Cox, composer

Program
The Overture
The March
by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, arr. by Brad Cox
The Peoples Liberation Big Band, Owen Cox Dance Group

Musical Jewellery Box
by Stephen Hough
Jenny Lin - piano

Musical Toys No. 13 - The Drummer
by Sofia Gubaidulina
Jenny Lin - piano

20 Children's Songs - No. 1
by Chick Corea
Jenny Lin - piano

Rocking
by Meredith Monk
Meredith Monk

Living Toys Op. 9
Battle
V. Playing Funerals
Tablet
by Thomas Ades
Markus Stenz with the London Sinfonietta

Roadshow for Otto
I. The Silver Atom Ray Gun
II. The Clown Mandeville
V. The Revolving Flashing Robot
by Carl Schimmel
Alex Sopp - flute, Romi deGuise-Langlois - clarinet, Sumire Kudo - cello, Steven Beck - piano

Bonus Content

How can a composer complement dancers when writing music? When composing, Brad Cox takes movement, form, and musicality into account.

Dancer and musicians from the Owen Cox Dance Group during at 2019 performance of their work "Love Songs" - a collaboration with singer/songwriter Krystle Warren.

Did any pieces we included this week stand out to you?
Let us know using the form below!