Clay Greenberg, Assistant Registrar/Web Content Manager/Theory Instructor Clay Greenberg wears many hats at Bloomingdale—from helping students and parents as Assistant Registrar, to coordinating web content on bsmny.org, and teaching music theory. He is also a singer, conductor, and Balinese gamelan musician who describes his taste in music as "broad and eclectic. I tend toward music that somehow pushes the envelope without being completely inaccessible." When choosing which albums and artists to listen to, Clay looks for something "more than just catchy beats and melodies. I prefer music that is an exploration of sound, timbre, or storytelling." Clay generally discovers new artists through recommendations from friends. "I believe music, like a cup of coffee or trip to a new place, is best shared between good friends. Nothing is as valuable to me as a recommendation from someone whose opinion I value." He recommends the albums below to "anyone who enjoys new listening experiences and is at least a bit eager to discover new sounds." Artist: Steve Reich Album: Music for 18 Musicians Why you like this particular artist/album: When I first heard this piece about 10 years ago, I was just blown away. First of all, it was nearly impossible to decipher what instruments were playing, and I enjoyed imagining what they might be. The orchestration, which includes several mallet percussion instruments, four pianos, violin, cello, bass clarinets, and singers, is fantastically inventive. The two female singers perform just like instrumentalists, without words, and with their voices blended into the overall sound. The effect is delightfully kaleidoscopic. There are many recordings of the piece, but for me the 1994 Nonesuch recording, which includes Steve Reich himself on percussion, takes the prize. Favorite track(s) on the album: This piece is really one continuous movement. It's best to sit back, relax, and listen to the whole thing. Artist: Youssou N'Dour Album: Egypt Why you like this particular artist/album: This Grammy-winning but little-known album is a concoction of beautiful sounds, combining N'Dour's native Senegalese traditions with Egyptian and Arabian flutes, strings, and percussion, and telling the mystical story of Sufism. N'Dour has collaborated with the likes of Sting, Peter Gabriel, Neneh Cherry, Paul Simon, and Bruce Springsteen. His beautiful voice has so much character and although he is often considered to be the most famous singer in Africa, N'Dour deserves to be appreciated around the world for his own work. Favorite track(s) on the album: "Baay Niasse" and "Shukran Bamba" Artist: Alarm Will Sound Album: Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex Twin Why you like this particular artist/album: Aside from the fact that the musicians on this album are my friends, this project stems from a fascinating concept. Most of us are familiar with the concept of a remix: acoustic music is rearranged for electronic and computerized sounds. What the musicians of Alarm Will Sound have done is to go one step further. They have taken the celebrated electronica of Aphex Twin and have remixed it for acoustic instruments—a sort of "unremix". In the process, they found it necessary to invent a lot of new instruments in order to mimic the original electronic sounds, and the result is very funky and original. Favorite track(s) on the album: "Logon Rock Witch" and "Blue Calx" Artist: Kronos Quartet and David Krakauer Album: Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind by Osvaldo Golijov Why you like this particular artist/album: Osvaldo Golijov is probably the hottest living composer of concert music right now, and it's no surprise why. Although I love almost every piece of his I've heard, this one is my favorite, because it combines the passionate tradition of klezmer clarinet (masterfully performed by David Krakauer) with Golijov's dynamic and unique style. The music is at times packed with energy and at times filled with sorrow. Favorite track(s) on the album: Movement I: Agitati-Con fuoco-Maestoso-Senza Misura, Oscilante Artist: Nick Drake Album: Pink Moon Why you like this particular artist/album: No playlist of mine would be complete without some simple and beautiful songs, and that's exactly what Nick Drake gives. His voice is beautiful and his guitar playing is subtle but excellent. I always thought he played the guitar in a sort of orchestral way, with different voices smoothly interwoven. Most importantly, he was a singer-songwriter with some great things to say. Favorite track(s) on the album: "Road" and "Things Behind the Sun"