Violinist Sharan Leventhal

Music/Words, an interdisciplinary series founded and curated by NYC-based pianist Inna Faliks, continues its third season with several live and radio appearances:

Tune in to WFMT.com to hear great music alongside accomplished and brilliant poets reading from their work. Schedule is as follows:

April 13, 3 pm – Schostakovich Quintet with New Millenium Orchestra members, Inna Faliks and Jasmine Lin + Jesse Ball, poet

April 20, 3 pm – Matt Hagle, music of Brahms, Chopin and Debussy, + Regan Good, poet

April 27, 3 pm – Inna Faliks, music of Gubaidulina, Liszt and Chopin, + Sandra Beasley poet

On Friday, April 29, at 6pm, a Live Music/Words performance will take place at New York’s Cornelia Street Café featuring Faliks at the piano along with violinist Sharan Leventhal and readings by Susan Miller and LB Thompson, poets. The varied program will include Schubert’s Sonata in a minor opus 143, Concert Piece (1959) by Seymour Shifrin (1926-1979), and Ravel’s Sonata for violin and piano. The Cornelia Street Café is located at 29 Cornelia Street, Greenwich Village, NYC. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 212-989-9319.

Finally, May 1st, 3pm brings the Chicago live premiere of Music/Words to Pianoforte Chicago – with Mark Levine, poet extraordinaire, and Inna Faliks at the piano.

Music/Words celebrates links between poetry and music by presenting collaborations between exciting solo performers and acclaimed contemporary poets in the form of a live recital/reading. Inna Faliks created the series in order to foster a chance for poets and musicians to work together and inspire each other, as well as to allow different audiences to come together for these musical-literary events. New published and unpublished works are read alongside performances of music old and new and connected by content, intuition, and inspiration. According to Faliks, “I pair performers together based on their personalities and styles, and encourage them to choose the poems and music in varied ways that are strongly and intuitively connected.” Music/Words will be featured in regular live broadcasts throughout the month of April 2011 on WFMT Radio in Chicago.

Violinist Sharan Leventhal has toured four continents as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher. A champion of new music, she has received grants from the NEA, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music Recording, the Fromm and Koussevitzky foundations, and has premiered well over 100 compositions. Leventhal has appeared as a soloist with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the Toledo, Milwaukee, Topeka, and Gulf Coast symphonies, among others. She is a member of the Gramercy Trio, which released a compact disc of music for strings and piano by Scott Wheeler on Newport Classic, Ltd. In addition, she was co-founder of the duo Marimolin, which can be heard on the GM and Catalyst labels, and recently completed recording with the Kepler Quartet the second disc of Ben Johnston’s string quartets for New World. She teaches at the Boston Conservatory and Brandeis University, and has served on the faculties of the Interlochen Arts Camp, the Hong Kong-based Asian Youth Orchestra, Michigan State University and the Berklee College of Music. Leventhal is founder and director of Play On, Inc., a non-profit supporting chamber music programs for children.

Susan L. Miller has published poetry in Iowa Review, Black Warrior Review, Calyx, Commonweal, Meridian, and Sewanee Theological Review, and has poems forthcoming in the anthology Collective Brightness: LGBTIQ Poets on Faith, Religion, and Spirituality. She has twice won a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Prize for poetry. She teaches Poetry and Expository Writing as a Russell Teaching Fellow at Rutgers University, where she also helps coordinate and curate an LGBT reading series and a reading series of religious writing. She lives with her husband in Brooklyn.

L.B. Thompson received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and her M.F.A. in Poetry from New York University. She is a recipient of a 2010 award for emerging writers from the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation. The Center for Book Arts printed her chapbook, Tendered Notes: Poems of Love and Money as winner of their competition in 2003. She also received an award for emerging women writers from the Rona Jaffe Foundation in 2002. Her poetry has been published in journals including Fence, Pool, Lyric, The Women’s Review of Books, The New Yorker, and Southampton Review. Her essay “Torpor: A Meditation on Literary Hibernation” appeared in Prairie Schooner. L.B. teaches English and works as a free-lance copyeditor in New York City and on the North Fork of Long Island.

Called “A delight to hear” and “riveting” by Phil Greenfield of the Baltimore Sun, Inna Faliks played her debut with the Chicago Symphony at age 15, and performs regularly at major venues in US and abroad. A winner of many international competitions including the 2005 International Pro Musicis Award, Ms. Faliks has recently performed at Carnegie Hall, Paris’s Salle Cortot, The Metropolitan Museum, Bargemusic, a recital tour of Russia, and in multiple TV and radio broadcasts worldwide. Her CD, Sound of Verse, has been enthusiastically reviewed this year by Gramophone, American Record Guide and other press. Recent festival appearances include Verbier, Taos, and Brevard. A champion of both contemporary and classical music, Ms. Faliks performed the NY and LA premieres of “13 Ways of Looking at the Goldberg” – variations by contemporary composers on Bach’s Aria. Her former teachers include Ann Schein, Gil Kalish, Leon Fleisher and Boris Petrushansky.

In past seasons, Music/Words has featured collaborations between acclaimed poets such as Jesse Ball, Deborah Landau and Mark Levine, and musicians such as Wendy Warner, Leon Livshin and Angelina Gadeliya, at performance spaces such as Le Poisson Rouge and Cornelia Street Café. WFMT Radio in Chicago featured Music/Words in regular live broadcasts throughout the month of April 2010.

 

 

For the last installment of North River Music’s 25th anniversary season, Greenwich House Music School (GHMS) is pleased to present an evening with pioneer of electronic music and multimedia performance, Morton Subotnick, on Friday, April 8 at 6pm. The event will take place at Renee Weiler Concert Hall, Greenwich House Music School, 46 Barrow Street (between Bedford St. & 7th Ave. S), NYC. Tickets are $15 General Admission/$10 Students/Seniors and are payable at the door from 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (212) 242-4770.

The synthesizer legend will retrace the development of his 1967 classic album, Silver Apples of the Moon, which the Library of Congress inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2009. The lecture-demonstration will serve as an appendix to Subotnick’s appearance at Lincoln Center’s Unsound Festival New York on April 7, during which the composer will revisit this landmark composition with visual accompaniment from Berlin-based video artist Lillevan. The GHMS talk will be followed by a short solo performance by Subotnick.

Morton Subotnick’s Silver Apples of the Moon was the first electronic work composed especially for an LP recording (commissioned by Nonesuch Records). It is also one of the first compositions entirely created for a modular analogue synthesizer, the Buchla Electronic Music Box (commissioned by Subotnick and Ramon Sender). In 2009, the Library of Congress selected Silver Apples of the Moon as one of the 25 new additions to the National Recording Registry, a collection now comprising 300 music, spoken word, and audio documentary recordings deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. “One of the unique features of Buchla’s instrument,” writes the Library of Congress, “was its use of the electronic sequencer, a device capable of creating repeating, rhythmic sequences of musical notes or timbres. Subotnick uses the sequencer extensively and effectively in the creation of many repeated figures in the recording, creating a canonical statement for this pioneering technology.”

With Silver Apples of the Moon, Subotnick created a new musical genre that anticipated today’s home stereo system – twentieth century chamber music that people could experience with headsets within their own four walls. He then proceeded to re-conceptualize his vision for the stage, turning to multimedia performance and reincorporating improvisation into the process. For the Lincoln Center performance, Subotnick will “deconstruct” Silver Apples, and A Sky of Cloudless Sulphur, his first and last electronic recordings, to spontaneously reconstruct them in a live performance, using the latest Buchla synthesizer and a laptop with Ableton Live software. At GHMC, the composer will explain the vision behind the work, how it was created, and how it can be performed nowadays.

Founded by Frank Wigglesworth in 1985, GHMS’s North River Music is one of New York City’s first concert series devoted to new and experimental music. The concert will be followed by a reception.

Morton Subotnick is one of the pioneers in the development of electronic music and an innovator in works involving instruments and other media, including interactive computer music systems. The work which brought Subotnick celebrity was Silver Apples of the Moon [1966-7], was commissioned by Nonesuch Records, marking the first time an original large-scale composition had been created specifically for the disc medium – a conscious acknowledgment that the home stereo system constituted a present-day form of chamber music. He is also pioneering works to offer musical creative tools to young children. He is the author of a series of CDROMS for children, a children’s website [www.creatingmusic.com] and developing a program for classroom and after school programs that will soon become available internationally. He tours extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe as a lecturer and composer/performer.

Founded by Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch in 1902, Greenwich House is a nonprofit settlement house which offers cultural and educational programs, social and health services and opportunities for civic involvement to New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds – from any neighborhood. Greenwich House Music School, located in the historical West Village, provides a wide range of concerts and recitals as well as instructional classes and outreach in NYC’s public schools. With a faculty of about 50 instructors, its has 520 students ranging in ages from 3 years old to seniors — from beginner to advanced — in classes and private lessons, in piano, voice, violin and viola, cello, clarinet, flute, guitar, five-string banjo, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, harp and the Chinese qin, a seven-string plucked instrument.

Funding for North River Music is provided, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts, the Virgil Thomson Foundation, and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music.

 

Chicago’s Chinese Fine Arts Society (CFAS) presents its Annual All Chinese Music Concert — the first CFAS concert featuring 2011-12 Artists in Residence, Duo Diorama (Violinist MingHuan Xu and Pianist Winston Choi). This eclectic concert showcases traditional and contemporary chamber music for piano, strings, woodwinds, marimba, erhu, and chorus, and includes works by internationally acclaimed composers Huang Ruo, Bright Sheng and Chen Yi and the US premieres of Julia Liu Composition Competition Winners “Dream of Hometown” by BoChan Li and “Prelude for Piano” by Chu Chin Yi.

The concert will take place on Sunday, April 17 at 3 p.m., Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall, 78 E. Washington, Chicago, IL. Admission is free — visit www.chinesefinearts.org or www.chicagoculturalcenter.org for more information.

A preview of this concert will take place on LIVE FROM WFMT, 98.7FM, Chicago’s Classical Experience, on Monday, April 11th from 8-10pm.

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

• US Premiere – BoChan Li: Dream of Hometown for violin and piano (2008)

• Chicago Premiere – Bright Sheng: Hot Pepper for violin and marimba (2010)

• Huang Ruo: Divergence: Concerto No. 3 for Five Musicians (2001)

• Chu Chin Yi: Prelude for piano

• Chen Yi: Happy Rain on a Spring Night (2004)

• Liu Wen Jin: Three Gorges Dam Capriccio

• Works TBA by CFAS Chorus


Duo Diorama (CFAS Artists in Residence/Concert Curators) is comprised of two renowned soloists. Violinist MingHuan Xu performs extensively in recital and with orchestra in China and North America. She is also a highly sought-after chamber musician, having collaborated with the St. Petersburg Quartet, Colin Carr, Eugene Drucker, Ilya Kaler, and Ani Kavafian. Xu was a winner of the Beijing Young Artists Competition and gave her New York debut at age 18 as soloist with the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra. Currently on faculty at Loyola University Chicago, she plays on a 1758 Nicolas Gagliano violin. Pianist Winston Choi was Laureate of the 2003 Honens International Piano Competition (Canada) and winner of France’s 2002 Concours International de Piano 20e siècle d’Orléans. He regularly performs in recital and with orchestra throughout North America and Europe. Already a prolific recording artist, he can be heard on the Arktos, Crystal, l’Empreinte Digitale, Intrada and QuadroFrame labels. Formerly on the faculties of the Oberlin Conservatory and Bowling Green University, he is Assistant Professor and Head of Piano at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Additional musicians will include:
Katherine Jui Chang, piano
Winston Choi, piano (Duo Diorama)
Yuchi Chou, conductor of Huang Ruo’s composition
Robert Dillon, percussion (from the Third Coast Percussion)
Haysun Kang, piano (Head of Piano Program, Loyola University)
Cheng-Hou Lee, cello (cellist in the Avalon String Quartet)
Sang Mee Lee, violin (violinist in the Beethoven Project Trio)
Alexander Li, erhu
Melissa Snoza, flute (flutist from the Fifth House Ensemble)
Jennifer Woodrum, clarinet (clarinetist from the Fifth House Ensemble)
Masahito Sugihara, saxophone (Chicago Reed Quartet)
MingHuan Xu, violin (Duo Diorama)
And the CFAS Chorus (Lori Ho, conductor; Wen-Ming Leung, piano)

For 27 years,  the Chinese Fine Arts Society, a 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.

Funding for this concert is provided, in part, by the Illinois Arts Council, City Arts Grants, and the Arts Work Fund, an initiative of the Chicago Community Trust and Affiliates.

 

“A little bluegrass, a little rock-n-roll, a little scat, a turn at tango. How does “Galactic Diamonds” offer such a genre-bending sound? – try the diversity of the players!” – Aural States Review

New York City’s Steve Hudson Chamber Ensemble (www.steve-hudson.com), led by composer Steve Hudson – piano/melodica, and featuring Zach Brock – violin, Jean-Philippe Feiss – cello, and Michele Rabbia – percussion, plays venues in Italy and Austria as part of their Spring 2011 European tour. The group, who got its start performing in New York clubs in early 2008, performs original works rooted in jazz, classical, tango, and rock.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

March 12, 9:15 and 11:15pm @ Al Vapore (Via Fratelli Bandiera 9, Marghera, Venezia, Italy)
Tel: 041 93 07 96, Tickets 12-15 euro

March 13, 10pm @ La Chiesa Grande di Bussana Vecchia di San Remo

March 14, 10pm @ Apriti Sesamo (Via Alla Chiesa, Bussana Vecchia di San Remo, Italy)
Tel: 0184/510022; 335/231794

March 17, 8pm @ Sargfabrik (Goldschlagstraße 169, 1140 Vienna, Austria)
Tel: 01 98898121, Tickets 18 Euro

March 18, 8pm @ Circolo Masetti Ex-Novo (Via Resia, 27  39100 Bolzano, Italy)
Tickets 10 Euro

March 19, 9pm @ Firenze Jazz Club (Via Nuova de’ Caccini, 3 – Firenze, Italy)
Tel: 0552479700 | 3356146115

Praised by Keyboard Magazine for his “exquisite compositions” and for “a quest for beauty in his lines that evoke the masters,” Steve Hudson has worked with Steven Bernstein, James Zollar, Marcus Rojas, and Claire Daly. Zach Brock has performed and recorded with Stanley Clarke, Joel Harrison, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, while Cellist Jean-Philippe Feiss studied classical music at conservatory of Boulogne-Billancourt in France with Xavier Gagne, and has played with Emmanuel Bex, Louis Sclavis, and Ellery Eskelin. Michele Rabbia is one of the premiere drummer/percussionists in Italy and has recorded extensively for ECM and with many of Europe’s leading artists. The ensemble was recently selected to perform at Chamber Music America’s 2011 national conference, and are currently on tour to promote the CD “Galactic Diamonds,” available at www.cdbaby.com.

Steve Hudson is a pianist and composer based in New York City whose compositions and piano style embrace the history of jazz, blues, folk, and modern classical music, all with a free spirited love of improvisation. In addition to his work with the chamber ensemble, he is cofounder of the Outer Bridge Ensemble. His jazz sextet recorded the album “Shine” which featured Curtis Fowlkes, James Zollar, Marcus Rojas, Claire Daly, vocalist Peter Eldridge and other New York artists. In May 2011, Steve and saxophonist Claire Daly will premier an extended suite at the Juneau Jazz Festival dedicated to the Alaskan explorer Mary Joyce.

Composer Laura Koplewitz

New Music Ensemble Lunatics at Large presents a preview performance and discussion of their upcoming series of World Premiere concerts entitled “The Sanctuary Project” – followed by a reception & silent auction of poetry books and CDs. The discussion will include composers Laura Koplewitz and Alex Shapiro as well as poets David Shapiro and Yerra Sugarman. This free event will take place on Monday, March 7th 2011 at 7:30pm at WMP Concert Hall, 31 East 28th Street, New York, NY. RSVP: [email protected] or by phone (917)518-6853.

Yerra Sugarman, Photo by Bernard Gotfryd

The Sanctuary Project (further information here) features an exciting selection of established and emerging poets and composers who have been commissioned by the New York City based new music ensemble Lunatics at Large to write works on the theme of “sanctuary.” The premiere concert of these five works will occur on Monday, March 21, 2011 at 8:00pm at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue in New York City. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.carnegiehall.org or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. $10 student and senior tickets are available at the box office with a valid ID. Subsequent performances of The Sanctuary Project will happen in actual sanctuaries at Christ and Saint Stephen’s Church, 122 West 69th Street, New York City (April 8, 8pm) and at the Synagogue for the Arts, 49 White Street, New York City (April 10, 7pm), and at WMP Concert Hall , 31 East 28th Street, New York (April 21, 7:30pm). Tickets for all April performances are $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.