Event

Forbidden Music

ONLINE TICKETING CLOSES AT 4:30 ON THE DAY OF THE CONCERT. TICKETS WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE TONIGHT AT THE OLD CHURCH.

Composer-in-Residence Kenji Bunch examines music that was banned for political, religious or other cultural reasons. Special guest cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, formerly with the acclaimed Kronos Quartet, joins us for this exciting concert!

On March 16 1949, Dmitri Shostakovich received a phone call from Joseph Stalin. If he was intimidated, he apparently hid it well, boldly bringing up the fact that performance of many of his works was forbidden at that time in the U.S.S.R. Stalin responded by asking, "How do you mean forbidden? Forbidden by whom?" Later that day, the ban on some of his works was officially lifted.

Shostakovich's Second Piano Trio, which remained a forbidden work until after Stalin's death, is the centerpiece of this program. The program also includes music of Austrian composer Fritz Kreisler, Henry Cowell, Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff and the world premier of Portland Composer Kenji Bunch's Hambone for Solo Cello. The premier will be performed by guest cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, formerly of the Kronos Quartet!

Hambone was the name for an African American plantation dance performed by slaves whose rhythm instruments were confiscated for fear that secret communications were hidden in the drumming. Hambone involved stomping and slapping the legs, arms and chest as drums.

Sponsored in part by Umpqua Bank and the Regional Arts and Culture Council.