14th Other Minds Music FestivalFeatured composers: Michael Harrison (USA), Dobromila Jaskot (Poland), Ben Johnston (USA), Catherine Lamb (USA), Chico Mello (Brazil), John Schneider (USA), Linda Catlin Smith (Canada), Bent Sørensen (Denmark), Chinary Ung (Cambodia)
The second night of Other Minds 14 includes two world premieres that use very different resources to achieve delicate atmospheric effects.
Dilations, by 26-year-old Catherine Lamb, takes advantage of similar pitch ranges in a trio of trios: three male vocalists, three bass clarinets, and three cellos. In her
String Quartet No. 4, “Gondola,” Canadian Linda Catlin Smith (b. 1957) exploits the resonant timbres of the string quartet in a subtle and arresting dynamic. Smith’s lush musical palette also glows in the duet Through the Low Hills.
Two works by an emerging voice from Poland, Dobromiła Jaskot (b. 1981), use traditional instruments to thrilling effect. In
Linearia for string quartet and
Hannah for cello and electronics, Jaskot displays the formal clarity and gestural invention that have made her a popular guest at music festivals throughout Europe. Chico Mello’s
…das árvores… for two clarinets, tuba, piano, contrabass, and percussion (including a matchbox) connects the bombastic to the sublime with a wry sense of humor.
Visit
otherminds.org for complete details, composer biographies, and audio samples.
Cost: $25-$150