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Event
Sound Wired Concerts presents: Mana Saxophone Quartet
Composed for the Rascher Saxophone Quartet in 1985, Moments Musicaux is a true masterpiece of the quartet repertoire, showcasing virtually every element our medium offers as a technical Tour de Force and a musically memorable art piece. Recently, the Mana Quartet gave this work a rival performance, as it had not been performed in more than 20 years due to the extreme demands of both the ensemble as a whole and each player, respectively. The work is a series of musical textures, one flowing into the next imperceptibly this clever transitional writing being a particular highlight of Sandström's genius on both the micro and macro plain.
The first movement of Labyrinthus consists of each individual part being completely independent from one another in rhythm and tempo. It is played at a sub-tone dynamic throughout and lines up only at the very beginning and the very end, creating a "chaotic quietude". Each part is at times virtuosic and is especially challenging at such an extreme soft dynamic. The second movement, traditionally notated, is slow and introspective. It makes use of just intonation tuning in the last measures as the sound reaches up and dies away in the upper range of the soprano and alto. The third movement can be thought of as a deconstruction and a spontaneous rebuilding.
Constructions for Julie Mehretu is built upon my first saxophone quartet Canon In Memoriam IannisXenakis (2002). Elements of the first quartet can be heard throughout the new work but most are transformed and elongated, creating a new world in which the old material thrives, develops and grows. Constructions is made up of one large movement and four smaller ones which are inserted into the larger movement at various times. This formal structure allows for the performers to make different decisions with every performance and insert the smaller movements at different points. Each performance can be different. Each performance can highlight different aspects of the work by the different choices made about placement. Not every movement has to be performed each time and hopefully this allows each performance freedom and the ability to surprise.
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LocationThe First Unitarian Church of Chicago (View)
5650 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
United States
Categories
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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