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The program took place Dec. 17 at Peter Norton Symphony Space, and featured works by Marc-André Dalbavie, Arthur Kampela, Lei Liang, and Arlene Sierra, performed by New York Philharmonic musicians and conducted by host Magnus Lindberg, The Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic.

The broadcast will include introductions by the composers, in discussion with Mr. Lindberg, which took place that evening prior to complete performance of their works.

The compositions : all New York Philharmonic commissions : are Marc-André Dalbavie's Melodia, a piece where noise evolves into melody; Arthur Kampela's MACUNAÍMA, based on a book about a Brazilian mythic hero; Lei Liang's Verge, inspired by the birth of his son; and Arlene Sierra's Game of Attrition, inspired by Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, natural selection, and power struggles. The instrumentation varies from work to work. Mr. Dalbavie's piece, for example, utilizes 13 players that include winds, horns, percussion, and strings. Mr. Kampela's piece is for 20 players, with five off-stage led by an assisting conductor. Mr. Liang employs 18 strings, and Ms. Sierra uses 20 instruments, including winds, brass, percussion, harp, keyboard, and strings.

A second CONTACT! program : performed April 16 and 17, 2010 : will showcase three more World Premiere by Nico Muhly, Matthias Pintscher, and Sean Shepherd.

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Q2, available at www.wqxr.org as well as at Classical 105.9 FM WQXR HD-2 in New York, is a music station dedicated to exploring contemporary composers and the modern classical music movement. Q2 offers not only recordings by some of the most passionate and plugged-in musical minds of today, but also notable live events from venues around New York, including WNYC's newly-opened broadcast studio and performance venue, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and the highly-regarded (Le) Poisson Rouge.