Sasha Matson

Composer/Conductor Sasha Matson spent his formative years in Berkeley CA, where his father taught philosophy at the University of California. He received a degree in Composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. After moving to Los Angeles, he scored music for feature film and other media, and received the Ph.D in Composition & Theory from UCLA. Recordings of his work have been released on the AudioQuest, New Albion, Albany, and Stereophile labels. Sasha writes about music and sound as a Contributing Editor for Stereophile magazine, and has taught at LaGrange College, Long Island University, and The State University of New York.

Praise for Range of Light / The Fifth Lake

“The ability of Matson to mirror with his music ( Range Of Light ) the same emotions that Muir expressed with his words is uncanny … A must-have for those looking for a more cerebral approach to accessible and consonant classical music.
– Robert Reina, The Tracking Angle

 “Range Of Light has about it a hint of Transcendentalism which appealed to Muir… It is a music in which one suspends time, feels warm and comforted, loved and loving, in which one meets old friends and ideas circling in new ways.”
– George Buckbee, The John Muir Newsletter

“A spectacular piece The Fifth Lake … Clear music for clear minds.
– Santa Fe Sun

Praise for Steel Chords, i-5

“New works, new classics arise replacing older works as reference points. Such a work is Sasha Matson’s Steel Chords, I-5, These works for pedal steel guitar, harp and strings are models of contemporary classical music.”
– Mark Sulveres, WSPN

“RECORD OF THE YEAR … the mature, intelligent, and exciting pair of works (Steel Chords, i-5) included in this stunningly recorded album … a significant new classical composer.”
– Robert Reina, The Absolute Sound

“At this stage of his career, Matson seems to be the best kind of innovator – one who works from the inside, with an excellent balance of knowledge, respect, and fresh ideas.”
– Bill Tilland, Option

 “MATSON IS THE SURPRISE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR … Stravinskian vigor as well as unabashed Coplandy folksiness … his forms are thoughtful and unpredictable.”
– Kyle Gann, The Village Voice

“For an audiophile, this recording is pure heaven. Likewise for Sasha Matson’s music. It is sensual, evocative, picturesque, challenging, lyrical, and passionate …. a homespun country twang that makes this music about as American as anything I can think of.”
– Tom Schnabel, KCRW