About Starkland

Starkland releases engaging, compelling recordings of alternative classical, experimental, and avant-garde music.

Mission
Spruceland Music, Inc. is a publicly-supported, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization devoted to the creation, documentation, development, appreciation, and promotion of alternative classical, experimental, and avant-garde music through the production of high-quality recordings, released on the Starkland label, of new music of high artistic, educational, or historical worth not otherwise available. You can donate here.

Starkland’s two most ambitious projects have focused on surround sound. For the label's Immersion DVD (released in 2000), Starkland commissioned 13 leading-edge composers to create pieces for high-resolution surround sound. Sources such as Pro Sound News and Billboard have recognized Immersion as the first such recording in history. The commissioned composers, all of whom created their first high-resolution surround-sound pieces, are: Paul Dolden, Paul Dresher, Ellen Fullman, Phil Kline, Lukas Ligeti, Ingram Marshall, Merzbow, Meredith Monk, Bruce Odland, Pauline Oliveros, Maggi Payne, Carl Stone, and Pamela Z. Immersion has been praised in such publications as Stereophile and Sound & Vision.

Starkland's other surround sound project involved commissioning a major, 65-minute surround sound composition from Phil Kline. Around the World in a Daze is a ten-movement work, presented in four audio formats along with 80 slides from the composer, found on the first disc of the double-DVD release. The second disc offers an extended 34-minute interview with Kline about this music (conducted by John Schaefer) and a music-video MEDITATION (run as fast as you can) with music and video by Kline. Daze is likely the largest composition ever commissioned for a high-res surround recording.

Starkland’s releases have been praised for their adventurous music, high quality sound, excellent performances, and informative liner notes.

Starkland also offers CDs from other labels, including Paul Dresher's Slow Fire and Steve Mackey's Ravenshead.

Our recordings may be ordered at various online sources such as Amazon.com and CD Baby, as well as digital sources such as iTunes.

Starkland composers include Charles Amirkhanian, Phillip Bimstein, Jay Cloidt, Tod Dockstader, Paul Dolden, Paul Dresher, William Duckworth, Robert Een, Fred Frith, Ellen Fullman, Lars Hollmer, Aaron Jay Kernis, Jerome Kitzke, Roger Kleier, Phil Kline, Guy Klucevsek, Lukas Ligeti, Keeril Makan, Ingram Marshall, Merzbow, Meredith Monk, Bruce Odland, Pauline Oliveros, Maggi Payne, Vincent Persichetti, Somei Satoh, Carl Stone, Lois V Vierk, Pamela Z, and John Zorn.

The Kronos Quartet, Ethel Quartet, Todd Reynolds, California EAR Unit, Either/Or, Paul Dresher Ensemble, Sierra Winds, and the Turtle Island String Quartet are some of the musicians on Starkland's CDs.

Starkland’s recordings have been praised in The New York Times, Gramophone, Stereophile, The New Yorker, Los Angeles Times, Billboard, Fanfare, Washington Post, American Record Guide Chamber Musician Today, Sequenza21, Boston Globe, Sound & Vision, New York Magazine, UK’s The Wire, Canada’s Musicworks, and France’s Revue & Corrigée. Starkland’s releases have also been featured on such national radio programs as NPR’s All Things Considered and Weekend Edition.

Starkland is excited to have received official tax-exempt status from the IRS. But we need your support to continue our innovative, engaging projects. Read more about how to donate.