The Brass Project Makes Debut with World Premieres of Thirty Works Over Two Free Concerts
Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 at 2 p.m.
Philadelphia Art Alliance
251 S 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
No tickets required
PHILADELPHIA – April 26, 2016 – The Brass Project, a newly formed sextet from the Curtis Institute of Music, makes its debut with an adventurous program consisting entirely of world premieres. To inaugurate the formation of this ensemble, thirty composers, many with deep ties to the region, have contributed pieces, including Pulitzer Prize-winner and Philadelphia native Aaron Jay Kernis, Philadelphia-based professors Ingrid Arauco (Haverford College) and Jan Krzywicki (Temple University), and Curtis student and rising star TJ Cole (b. 1993). The concerts take place on Saturday, May 7 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, May 8 at 2 p.m. on the third floor of the Philadelphia Art Alliance, located at 257 S. 18th Street in Philadelphia. No tickets required.
This collaborative project was curated by composer and impresario Nick DiBerardino under the auspices of the Curtis Institute’s Community Artist Program. According to DiBerardino, “The world of new classical music today is so diverse that there’s a style out there for everyone, and we hope to showcase a cross-section of contemporary musical culture through these concerts. We’d like to encourage a fresh mode of engagement with new music through our program, which is comprised entirely of short pieces and may strike listeners as a kind of sonic tasting menu. The composers who wrote works for this project are all very accomplished and speak with beautifully distinct voices, so I’m hopeful these brief musical offerings will inspire listeners to continue exploring the world of contemporary music after they head home.”
Join the Brass Project for two afternoons of music in a relaxed atmosphere. The first concert features Princeton Professor Emeritus Paul Lansky’s Holy Moly, a lilting, almost waltz-like piece modeled on the idea of a musical chorale prelude. Syrian-born Kinan Abou-afach’s Exodus follows, offering a stirring tribute to refugees who have “fled their houses looking for peace and safety.” The second concert includes Reena Esmail’s Tuttarana, an evocative combination of Western classical and Hindustani classical music based on the ‘tarana,’ a sung Hindustani musical form that offers performers a chance to display skill and agility.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
The Brass Project is a flexible brass ensemble that was formed by leading players from the Curtis Institute with multifaceted goals in mind: to expand the repertoire for chamber brass, to record and distribute new works, and to engage with a wide community through outreach and educational programs. The Brass Project gives innovative and creative performances designed for a diverse demographic by performing repertoire specifically commissioned by the ensemble. The Brass Project is an ensemble-in-residence at Music from Angel Fire, performing many programs in schools throughout New Mexico, and is also currently in residence at South Philadelphia High School. Brass Project performers are: Eric Huckins, horn; Steven Franklin and Caleb Wiebe, trumpets; Daniel Schwalbach and Janos Sutyak, trombones; and Andrew Doub,tuba.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Over the course of both concerts, the program will feature:
Exodus (2016) by Kinan Abou-afach
Some Such (2016) by Ingrid Arauco
The Last Lost Space (2016) by Krists Auznieks
the intrepid travelers traverse the Great Globulous Glop (2016) by N. Cameron Britt
Chorale (2016) by TJ Cole
Nebra Sky Disk (2016) by Nick DiBerardino
Thread and Tether (2016) by Natalie Dietterich
Fanfare and Hustle (2016) by Daniel Dorff
Tuttarana (2016) by Reena Esmail
Excuse Me (2016) by Lainie Fefferman
Kindly Reply (2016) by Sean Friar
Verses (2016) by Ian Gottlieb
Honey (2016) by Dan Jeffries
Fanfare after Color Wheel (2016) by Aaron Jay Kernis
Intrada (2016) by Jan Krzywicki
Look Both Ways (2016) by Ryan Laney
Holy Moly (2016) by Paul Lansky
Autumns (2016) by Michael Laurello
Diary (2016) by Matthew Levy
no gleam, no shadow, ; no sound or motion (2016) by Nigel McBride
Star Car (2016) by Jascha Narveson
composition ( in brass ) (2016) by Scott Ordway
Saurian Timbres (2016) by Thomas Patteson
Small Talk (2016) by Matthew Quayle
Limantour Spit (2016) by Gabriella Smith
Autumn Cascade (2016) by Daniel Temkin
Psalm (2016) by Michael-Thomas Foumai
Motet for Medhbh (2016) by Dan Trueman
Ambulant Music (2016) by Jack Vees
Waves (2016) by Alyssa Weinberg
(Philadelphia) sky sketch (2016) by Chris Williams
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