My favorite contemporary string quartets – music by Steve Reich, Jacques Hétu, Gloria Coates, Caroline Shaw and Florence Price     Steve Reich – Different Trains   Another instant favorite. On this album two major international forces at the leading edge of contemporary music - The Smith Quartet and American composer Steve Reich - come together for new recordings for three of his most inspiring works. Triple Quartet for three string quartets, Reich's personal dedication to the late Yehudi Menuhin, Duet, and the haunting Different Trains for string quartet and electronic tape.     Jacques Hétu – Second String Quartet...

Every week we ask our staff to tell us about some of their favorite recordings. Have you heard music by a living composer that you particularly like? Let us know and if there is a recording, we will add it to the list.

This week we have our favorite pieces by five living American composers – music by Jennifer Higdon, Michael Daugherty, Joan Tower, Mason Bates and Missy Mazzoli.