Sparks & Wiry Cries Podcast Sparks & Wiry Cries

Martha sits down with storied tenor Paul Sperry for a conversation about his early music education, the state of song careers, working with Pierre Bernac, and his many collaborations with some of the most extraordinary composers of our times.

Shawn and Will talk about their long history of collaboration, grappling with difficult and personal subject matter, and bringing one’s authentic self to performance and composition. Songs in Flight will receive its world premiere this week in NYC, as part of the 2023 sparksLIVE events.

Martha Guth interviews LaToya A. Lain, soprano, jessica Care moore, poet, and Andrew Staniland, composer about creating the 2021 commission "Ramadan 20 vs COVID 19" with Erika Switzer, co-founder of Sparks and Wiry Cries. The piece received its world premiere during the 2021 songSLAM festival, and the score is available through the Sparks and Wiry Cries shop.

An insightful interview with composer/writer Herschel Garfein in his Park Slope Apartment about his newest song cycle: Mortality Mansions with texts by poet Donald Hall.  We discuss 'why song', his own compositional style, and the delights of Donald Halls poetry.

A wonderful conversation with poet Donald Hall in his home in New Hampshire

The Internationally renowned baritone speaks about his love for American Song, the Hampsong Foundation and the 'Song of America' educative initiative which explores the history of American Culture through Song.