Click here to share your favorite songs from 2023. We'll share the results of our poll on social media in February.
Music is our universally shared language, an ever-growing library of creativity, inventiveness and emotion that helps us experience and make sense of a rapidly changing world. Like every year, 2023 saw a massive amount of music released in genres both popular and obscure. We asked faculty and staff members from our Mead Witter School of Music to share the songs that made the greatest impact on them last year. They wrote the following recommendations.
Recommendation by Daniel Grabois, Professor of Horn
A touching, gentle song unearthed from an old tape recorded by John Lennon and, over the years, turned into a Beatles song with the participation of the other three members (Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison). This song very much feels like a Beatles song. Lennon recorded it with his voice and piano in the 1980s. In the mid-’90s, Harrison recorded some guitar parts. Recently, technology has evolved enough to separate the voice track from the piano track, enabling a lovely mix. McCartney and Starr recorded bass and drums and strings were added. It's amazing to have a new Beatles song in 2023!
“Sonnet 75,” Brad Mehldau and Ian Bostridge
Recommendation by Dan Cavanagh, Pamela O. Hamel/Board of Advisors Director and Professor of Jazz Studies and Composition, Mead Witter School of Music
This is a wonderful example of a classical art song that draws from jazz traditions and contemporary compositional techniques. Brad Mehldau composed this using Wiliam Shakespeare’s lyrics (from his “Sonnet 75”), and it reminds us that somehow Shakespeare remains timely even in 2023. Mehldau is one of the best pianists and composers of any genre to perform in the past 25 years. His aesthetic — of sophisticated harmonies, a deep and comprehensive basis in many musical traditions and an embodiment of everything to which many musicians now aspire — is one that has led to him being a quintessential “musician's musician.” Ian Bostridge is a well-known English tenor and brings Shakespeare's words to life.
Recommendation by Johannes Wallmann, Director of Jazz Studies/John and Carolyn Peterson Chair in Jazz Studies
This song is one of several highlights from the sophomore album by one the hardest-grooving acoustic jazz groups touring and recording today. The piece features soaring improvisations and a supremely confident swing feel. It is a great example of an instrumental jazz piece that “tells a story.”
Rachmaninoff’s “All Night Vigil,” performed by the Clarion Choir
Recommendation by Mimmi Fulmer, Professor of Voice and Opera
“All-Night Vigil” is a nocturnal hymn that gradually moves toward daybreak. This message of light and hope emanating from the darkness is both universal and very topical in the troubled world we find ourselves in. Nominated for a Grammy Award, this luminous and inspiring recording brings us music as a journey of hope by one of the premiere vocal ensembles in the world, and features one of our voice faculty members, Sarah Brailey.
“Homenaje a Remedios Varo,” John Zorn
Recommendation by Marc Vallon, Professor of Bassoon
I love the crisp virtuosity of the group, led by John Zorn, an avant-garde experimentalist who crosses multiple genres, including jazz fusion. The music in this album is inspired, immediately engaging, and the technical performance of the musicians is striking.
“Migration,” Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
Recommendation by Ben Bell Bern, Music Operations Manager
Every album made by this ensemble is of unbelievably high artistic quality; each composition is beautifully crafted and distilled with whatever musical magic comprises the band’s unique sound. Blade’s “Migration” stands out for its scale and scope — more than 15 minutes of sensitive, intense collaboration that takes the listener on a musical journey over various and varied sonic terrain and which features outstanding ensemble and solo playing.
“Winter Tendrils,” Seth Parker Woods
Recommendation by Sarah Brailey, Teaching Faculty, Voice
“Winter Tendrils” is from cellist Seth Parker Woods’ new album, Difficult Grace, which is a semi-autobiographical album that explores themes inspired by the history of the Great Migration and more contemporary references. “Winter Tendrils” is especially poignant. It reflects the sounds of the past in the voice of the cello while juxtaposing it over an electronic soundscape that is eerily modern but quite moving.
“Flock Ascending,” composed by Laura Elise Schwendinger, Professor of Composition
Recommendation by James Waldo, Lecturer, Cello
This brand new, virtuosic work of contemporary art music blends a sextet of acoustic classical instruments and recorded sounds that beckons listeners into the mysterious milieus of birds. Beginning in the evening, the piece soars through the depths of night, finally emerging into dawn’s first light. One striking example of the work’s creative power is exemplified in the haunting cry of the loon echoing across a lake, recreated with a flute playing into the sound board of a concert grand piano with its sustain pedal depressed. This new musical work sparkles with refreshing instrumental textures and enchants with mysterious nocturnal environs. The listener takes flight on a 12-minute journey into the night and is brought into intimate contact with the beauty of the natural world. Perhaps it has never been more important to create art that fosters reverence for the creatures of this fragile earth, our island home. The work was recorded in the new Hamel Center Mead Witter Foundation Hall by an ensemble comprised entirely of UW–Madison music faculty and distinguished alumni. Decorated audio engineer and record producer Judith Sherman (18 Grammy nominations and 14 wins) came up from Chicago to preside over the sessions.
Ambassadors of Music
Wondering what the students are listening to? We rounded up some picks from students in our the College of Letters & Science Dean’s Ambassador Program. These are the songs they considered to be the most impactful releases from 2023.
Recommendation by Kayley Seow, Computer Science and Statistics, with Honors in the Liberal Arts
half•alive, traditionally more aligned with the rock genre, has recently been venturing into the realm of pop music. Their song “Subliminal” is a testament to this creative exploration, presenting a compelling blend of alternative and pop influences. The track’s upbeat tempo complements its introspective lyrics, which delve into the complexities of love. The song poignantly captures the themes of vulnerability and pain that often act as barriers to forming deep, meaningful connections. This innovative approach to their music underscores half•alive’s dynamic creativity and their ability to push genre boundaries.
“I Wanna Be Wrong,” Jeff Rosenstock
Recommendation by Merrick Scholz, Neurobiology
This song is one of the best new releases of 2023 because it represents the frustration of Gen Z and many millennials with the current social and political shortcomings within the U.S. The tone of the song is true to the message, combining high-energy instrumentals with notes of despair in the lyrics. Since the pandemic, it has been increasingly difficult to stay quiet and complacent with the world. Jeff Rosenstock turned this dispositional shift into words.
“Dawns,” Zach Bryan (feat. Maggie Rogers)
Recommendation by Jenna Seidl, Neurobiology; certificates in Health and the Humanities and Disability Rights and Services
A combination of country and alternative that tells the story of a breakup from both sides, this song begins slowly and increases tempo toward the end. Both Bryan and Rogers have beautiful voices and make this song heartbreaking, yet something you want to listen to over and over. The lyrics and combination of artists make this one of 2023’s best releases. Bryan and Rogers combine country and alternative to reach a wider audience with this song about passing time, death, grief and the end of a relationship. The song has many different interpretations and hidden meanings, yet it is easy to sing along. It went viral on all streaming platforms as well as TikTok.
“Where the Wild Things Are,” Luke Combs
Recommendation by Alex Martin, Economics
This upbeat song is about the writer’s brother who always loved adventure and followed that spirit out to the West Coast. It talks about their times together living this adventure until he tragically passes away. I think the story emphasizes the bond of friends and family, while encouraging listeners to live the adventurous life they dream of. And I just think it’s very catchy and well sung.
The Music’s Coming from Inside the House
In addition to being extremely talented, Mead Witter School of Music faculty and staff are an industrious and productive lot. Several of them have released new albums in the past few months, and there’s more still to come from their colleagues in 2024. We’ve collected some of the newest ones here.
- Ten Stories: Johannes Wallmann (Director of Jazz Studies/John and Carolyn Peterson Chair in Jazz Studies), Shifting Paradigm Records
- Unbounded: Music By American Women: Dawn Dongeun Wohn (Teaching Faculty, Violin), Delos Productions
- The Charm of Impossibilities: Chad McCullough (Lecturer, Jazz Trumpet), Calligram Records
- Aero Quartet: Featuring Matthew Koester (Teaching Faculty, Classical Saxophone), Orchid Music Ltd.