Concert features music by Tan Dun, Neil Rolnick and 2011 Pulitzer Prize Winner Zhou Long

June 30th, 2011 by Peter McDowell No comments »
July 31, 2011
6:30 pmto7:45 pm

Chicago’s Chinese Fine Arts Society Presents: RHYTHMS OF CHINA  on July 31, 2011.

Showcasing works by 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Music Winner Zhou Long (World Premiere), Neil Rolnick (Midwest Premiere), and Tan Dun.

Featuring performances by pipa master Yang Wei & members of Cheng Da Percussion Ensemble, Spektral Quartet, Dal Niente, Amethyst Quartet, and Third Coast Percussion.

Explore the world of Chinese music at Chicago’s architectural masterpiece! The Chinese Fine Arts Society presents its Rhythms of China at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago. This eclectic concert showcases lively contemporary chamber music for percussion, strings, traditional Chinese instruments, electronics, piano, saxophone, and chorus, and includes works by internationally acclaimed composers Tan Dun, Zhou Long (2011 Pulitzer Prize for Music Winner), and the Midwest premiere of Neil Rolnick’s “The Economic Engine,” scored for traditional Chinese quartet, string quartet, and electronics. This performance of The Economic Engine is sponsored by the American Composers Forum through its Encore program, supporting repeat performances of new works.

WHEN: Sunday, July 31 from 6:30 – 7:45 p.m.

VENUE: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. between Michigan Ave. and Columbus Ave., Chicago

INFO: Admission is free. Visit www.chinesefinearts.org or www.millenniumpark.org for more information

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

• Tan Dun: Elegy: Snow in June for four percussionists – Third Coast Percussion

• Neil Rolnick: The Economic Engine (Midwest Premiere) – Yang Wei, pipa; Alexander Li, erhu; Karen Hong, Yangqin; Claire Deng, Guzheng; String quartet – Andrew McCann, Dave Moss, Jeremy Ward and Austin Wulliman; Neil Rolnick, electronics; Michael Lewanski, Conductor

• Zhou Long: Rhyme of Taigu III (World Premiere of this adaptation) for Saxophone, Cello, and Two percussionists – special adaptation written for this concert – Masa Sugihara, Saxophone; Robert Dillon, Clay Condon percussion; Sophie Weber, cello

• Gu Guan Ren: Lady Hua Mulan for Pipa and Piano – Yang Wei, pipa; Katherine Jui Chang, piano

• Also featuring Cheng Da Percussion Ensemble and works by CFAS Chorus under the direction of Lori Ho.

This program was curated by violinist MingHuan Xu and pianist Winston Choi, who together form Duo Diorama, CFAS Artists in Residence for 2011-12. This concert is presented by the Chicago Fine Arts Society and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture.

>> NOTE: A Preview of this concert will take place on 98.7 WFMT on July 18 at 4:00 PM.

>> NOTE: The Economic Engine will be previewed in Live from Chinatown Concert Series on July 23 at 1 PM in Ping Tom Park, 300 W. 19th St. in Chicago.

About the Chinese Fine Arts Society:

For 27 years, this professional, small, fully-independent arts organization has brought together people from diverse backgrounds over a common goal: to celebrate the beauty and majesty of traditional and contemporary Chinese music and art. CFAS is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of Chinese culture, enhancing cultural exchange and pursuing excellence in Chinese music, dance and visual arts. www.chinesefinearts.org

Funding for this concert is provided, in part, by the America Composers Forum’s Encore Grant Program, The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, The Sara Lee Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City Arts Grants, and The Arts Work Fund and SMARTGrowth, initiatives of the Chicago Community Trust and Affiliates.

American Airlines is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Fine Arts Society.

 

 

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Arts Council of Princeton presents Steve Hudson Chamber Ensemble on Friday, May 27

May 11th, 2011 by Peter McDowell No comments »
May 27, 2011
7:30 pm

The Arts Council of Princeton presents the Steve Hudson Chamber Ensemble in an evening of music that bridges and morphs jazz, classical chamber music, tango and folk music into one cohesive and individual sound. Pianist Steve Hudson will be joined by Jody Redhage on cello, Zach Brock on violin, and Martin Urbach on percussion.

Steve Hudson is a pianist and composer based in New York City whose style embraces the history of jazz, blues, folk, and modern classical music, all with a free spirited love of improvisation. His latest release, “Galactic Diamonds,” features Hudson’s genre bending compositions for violin, cello, piano, and drums. He tours the US, Canada, and Europe with the Steve Hudson Chamber Ensemble, the Outer Bridge Ensemble, and a variety of other groups. Some of the musicians he has shared the stage with include Steven Bernstein, James Zollar, Marcus Rojas, Oscar Noriega, and Claire Daly.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for members, students, and seniors. The event will take place in the Solley Theater at Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542. Parking is available in the Spring and Hulfish Street Garages as well as metered parking along Witherspoon Street and Paul Robeson Place. Tickets will be available at the door the day of the show. Please call (609) 924-8777 or visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org for more information.

 

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Inna Faliks at Bargemusic

May 9th, 2011 by Peter McDowell No comments »
June 30, 2011
8:00 pm

Moored in Brooklyn just under the Brooklyn Bridge, Bargemusic presents great music up to five days a week, every week of the year. Walk across the gangplank of a renovated coffee barge into a “wonderfully intimate wood-paneled room with thrilling views of lower Manhattan and excellent acoustics.” Experience why critics call Bargemusic “the perfect chamber-music hall” and why artists say it is “unlike any other place in the world to perform.”

On Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 8PM, Bargemusic presents pianist Inna Faliks in a diverse program featuring works by Schubert, Liszt, the NYC premiere of a new work by Ljova, and more.

Ukrainian-born pianist Inna Faliks has established herself as one of the most passionately committed, exciting and poetic artists of her generation. After her acclaimed debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 15, she has performed on many of the world’s great stages, with numerous orchestras, in solo appearances, and with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Keith Lockhart. Critics praise her “courage to take risks, expressive intensity and technical perfection” (General Anzeiger, Bonn), “Infusing every note with brilliance and personality,” (Hilton Head Competition Review), “poetry and panoramic vision” (Washington Post) , “riveting passion, playfulness” (Baltimore Sun) and her “virtuosity, humor, lyricism and a way to make every note an important part of the texture of the music.”(Free Times, South Carolina)

Complete program:

  • Schubert – Sonata in A minor, D.784, Op.143
  • Schubert – Liszt Erlkonig
  • Liszt – Transcendental Etudes No.11 in D flat, “Harmonies du soir”, Transcendental Etudes No.10 in F minor
  • Ljova – Sirota (*NYC premiere)
  • Chopin – Barcarolle opus 60
  • Morton Feldman – Music for Philip Guston
  • Sofia Gubaidulina – Chaconne
  • Rodion Schedrin – Basso Ostinato

Tickets are $35 ($30 Senior, $15 Student) and are avaialble at www.bargemusic.org

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PIanist Inna Faliks premieres SIROTA by Lev ‘Ljova’ Zhurbin

May 9th, 2011 by Peter McDowell No comments »
May 1, 2011toMay 31, 2011

SIROTA for solo piano and historical recording by Lev ‘Ljova’ Zhurbin
duration: 7:45

Recorded live at the studios of WFMT in Chicago, April 4 2011.

commissioned by Inna Faliks and the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies;

dedicated to Inna Faliks & Gershon Sirota

SIROTA (the title means “Orphan” in Russian, which could be coincidental) is a composition for solo piano that incorporates a recording made by cantor Gershon Sirota in Warsaw in 1908. Often referred to as “The Jewish Caruso”, Gershon Sirota was born in the Ukraine, and served as cantor in Odessa, Vilnius, and in Warsaw, where he perished in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

The piece features a fragmented melody line that is driven by a relentless limping pattern comprised of a falling and rising D-minor chord. After the climax, the pianist’s role becomes that of an accompanist at a synagogue, where Sirota is chanting prayers for Rosh Hashannah (the Jewish New Year).

World Premiere: performed by Inna Faliks at the Highland Park Community House in Highland Park, IL, on February 27, 2011

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Steve Hudson teams up with Claire Daly at Alaska Festival

May 3rd, 2011 by Peter McDowell No comments »
May 15, 2011 6:00 pmtoMay 20, 2011 6:00 pm

NYC based jazz pianist Steve Hudson teams up with jazz saxophonist Claire Daly for the World Premiere of “The Mary Joyce Project: Nothing to Lose” at Juneau Jazz & Classics 2011. The concert by the Claire Daly Quintet will take place on Friday, May 20 at McPhetres Hall in Juneau, Alaska. Tickets and more information here.

Award-winning baritone saxophonist Claire Daly is releasing a new CD, a musical homage to her father’s first cousin, Mary Joyce. A pioneer who made a 1,000 mile dogsled journey from Juneau to Fairbanks in 1935-36, Joyce and her three month journey tell an amazing tale of determination, adventure, risk-taking, and fortitude.

Claire Daly and pianist Steve Hudson have composed music inspired by Joyce’s written journal of the trip. They along with bassist Mary Ann McSweeney, drummer Peter Grant, and human beat box extraordinaire Napoleon Maddox, honor this legendary woman who lived life to the fullest. “Mary Joyce was a true free spirit and her life was a remarkable improvisation. The essense of her style and spirit compelled us to create these compositions. I met her as a child but only realized how amazing shewas when my cousin published her journal two years ago.” says Daly.

The CD will be available commercially in June. In conjunction with the CD release, the group will perform at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, nightly from June 21st through the 25th at 11pm in New York City.

Six time winner of the Downbeat Critic’s Poll “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” and winner of the Jazz Journalist Association “Baritone Sax of the Year ’05″ category, Claire Daly travels worldwide, performing as a bandleader and sideperson. Steve Hudson is a pianist and composer based in New York City whose style embraces the history of jazz, blues, folk, and modern classical music, all with a free spirited love of improvisation. His latest release,“Galactic Diamonds,” features Hudson’s genre bending compositions for violin, cello, piano, and drums.

Full schedule of Steve Hudson/Claire Daly events at the Juneau Festival:

Sunday, May 15
2 pm- Family Concert
7:30 pm- Puttin’ on the Ritz- 2nd set of 2-set show. (1st will be classical)

Monday, May 16
7-8 pm- Lecture at City Museum (“Meet the Composers”)

Tuesday, May 17
10:30- Radio Interview- Capital Chat w/ Sharon Gaiptman- KINY Radio

Wed, May 18
8:30-10am – DZ Middle School Jazz Band

Friday, May 20
3pm- Radio Interview KTOO
8pm- “Mary Joyce Project: Nothing To Lose” at McPhetres Hall

 

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