Clay Zeller-Townson of Ruckus Early Music
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
09/27/25
•78m
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I have become a big fan of Ruckus, a dynamic Early Music ensemble, and I so enjoyed this uplifting conversation with Clay Zeller-Townson, their Artistic Director and bassoonist. ou’ll be hearing clips from The Edinburgh Rollick with music from the Niel Gow collection, featuring the violinist Keir GoGwilt, and because this music is very much at the crossroads of Scottish traditional music and Baroque music, it delights audiences who are more into folk as well as baroque. You'll be inspired to hear Clay’s ideas around crafting something truly personal and unique and connecting with audiences, as well the importance of access to music education at all levels. We also got into Ruckus’ Fly the Coop project with flutist Emi Ferguson with a wonderfully fresh take on the music of J.S. Bach, and a lot of what Clay shared was how the musicians connect deeply with their audiences with contemporary relevance in many different ways.
You’ll find the track names of the music included in the time stamps. The complete show notes on my website will take you the video and transcript for this episode.
Other episodes you'll love: bassoonist Christopher Millard, Lutenist Elizabeth Pallett, recorder player Sarah Jeffery , fiddler Alexis Chartrand, organist Gail Archer and cellist Juliana Soltis.
(00:00) Intro
(02:04) Ruckus early music continuo band, creating unique style and sound
(09:10) violinist Keir GoGwilt The Edingburgh Rollick (clip from The Jenny Nettles Set), Neil Gow
(15:16) how Baroque bassoon is different from modern
(18:10) Ruckus’ collaborative creative process
(23:23) Mrs. Ferguson’s Strathspey, about the Beatles’ quote
(26:28) Playing for dancers
(31:54) playing for opera with no conductor
(37:02) Fiona Gillespie with clip of The Broome of Coudenknowes
(40:15) Clay’s childhood and discovery of the bassoon
(42:19) other episodes you’ll love
(43:11) Clay’s music education and forming Ruckus
(46:38) flutist Emi Ferguson, album Fly the Coop with J.S. Bach Siciliana
(54:53) The Edinburgh Rollick album art, The Gigg Set with clip
(01:01:10) Clay’s life as an educator
(01:08:02) Early Music scene
(01:14:07) Roscoe Mitchell project
Previous Episode
Leif Karlstrom's Volcano Listening Project: A Unique Fusion of Science and Music
September 20, 2025
•62m
Join me in getting to know the fascinating world of Leif Karlstrom, a musician and scientist who combines data sonification in his outstanding collaborative exploration, The Volcano Listening Project. Leif is an Earth scientist at the University of Oregon who studies fluid motions in and on volcanoes and glaciers, landscape evolution, and geodynamics. He’s also a fantastic violinist and mandolin player, composer and improvisor.
The Volcano Listening Project features many great musicians including Billy Contreras, Todd Sickafoose and Laurel Premo. You’ll also hear music from Leif’s fantastic duo Small Town Therapy with Adam Roszkiewicz, from their album Dreams and Circumstances.
Learn how sonification can transform data into a powerful tool for scientific discovery and education and hear about Leif’s adventurous life as both a musician and scientist.
My website takes you to: linked episodes, newsletter sign-up, merch store, Ko-fi page, YouTube and Transcipt!
The Volcano Listening Project album
(00:00) Intro
(02:07) Leif’s family influences, musical background, with clip track 2 Lava dome failure at Soufrière Hills, Montserrat, 2003
(07:37) The Volcano Listening Project upcoming tour, creative collaboration, with clip track 12 Large earthquakes during caldera collapse, Kilauea, 2018
(13:25) Billy Contreras with clip track 4 Mount Saint Helens drumbeat seismicity and eruption, 2004, album art Rachel Sager
(17:09) sonification of the data with clip track1 A walk through fresh tephra
(24:32) memorable experiences in the field with volcanoes
(29:06) instrument collection, 5 string fiddle design
(32:21) Adam Roszkiewicz, with clip Small Town Therapy track 7 from Dreams and Circumstances “33”
(36:45) other episodes linked in the show notes and ways to support this podcast
(37:35) sonification of the data as a scientific tool with clip track 7 Seismic cycles of caldera collapse, Kilauea, 2018
(42:47) Leif’s touring experiences, keeping music in his life, parenting
(50:28) more volcano science with clip track 3 650 years of global explosive eruptions, Stash Wyslouch
(53:50) Adhyaropa records sonification tracks add-on, Laurel Premo with clip track 10 Lightning and the ash plume of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha-apai, 2022
(57:28) collaborating, Alaska, Todd Sickafoose, Idit Shner, Johnny Rogers, upcoming tour
Next Episode
Composer and audio producer Pat McCusker joins me to talk about his work creating music for The Ezra Klein Show, his role at The New York Times, and what it’s like touring the world as a musician with actor David Duchovny. Pat's music also appears on The Daily, Modern Love, and many more.
🎶 What we talk about in this episode:
- Composing the theme for The Ezra Klein Show
- Scoring for podcasts and working with The New York Times
- Touring internationally with David Duchovny
- The power of music in shows like Severance and White Lotus
- Tools and gear Pat uses as a composer
- Managing anxiety and building creative community
If you're a composer, musician, or podcast fan, you'll find plenty to connect with in this conversation.
Web page for the episode includes transcript, YouTube link.
Other episodes with some of the media composers I've featured: Pat Irwin, Christoph Zirngibl, Adam Blau, Anže Rozman and Kara Talve
🎙️ About the show: Conversations with Musicians. with violinist Leah Roseman: weekly episodes featuring a fascinating diversity of musical guests worldwide.
(00:00) Intro
(02:55) how Pat became a podcast composer
(07:16) creative process Magical Tree Creatures theme for “The Ezra Klein Show” with clip
(10:37) composing for podcasts at The New York Times, the function of music in podcasts
(18:01) listening and appreciating great podcasts, Marc Maron
(23:11) The Big Question Mark with clip, "Interesting Times with Ross Douthat”
(26:37) Severance and White Lotus inspirations, Moog synthesizers
(32:09) other episodes you’ll love, ways to support this podcast
(32:58) rock career, Buzzbody, David Duchovny, Pat Irwin
(41:00) Holding Patterns with David Duchovny (website linked in show notes)
(45:57) joy of performing and touring, his dad
(49:35) Pat’s youth, discovering guitar, Berklee
(55:43) Buzzbody Full of Fear, dealing with anxiety
(01:03:12) some personal creative projects, wife Simo
(01:10:52) suggestions for books, podcasts, music
If you like this episode you’ll love
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