ZOFO
John Bischoff

The Bay Area's premier piano duet, ZOFO plays excerpts from "Echoes of Gamelan." This new program explores the influence of Balinese gamelan music on western composers, as well as how our music perception changes depending on the context.
P R O G R A M
"Pemungkah and Tabuh Telu," from Balinese Ceremonial Music
(transcribed by Colin McPhee for two pianos, arranged for one piano by ZOFO)
"Beta Cygni" - George Crumb
"Prisms for Gene Davis," excerpts 1, 2, 4, & 5 - Brian Baumbusch
"In the Kraton" - Leopold Godowsky
"Speech Delay" - Ni Nyoman Srayamurtikanti (transcribed by Brian Baumbusch)

John Bischoff (b. 1949, San Francisco) is an early practitioner of live computer music known for his solo constructions in real-time synthesis. A founding member of The League of Automatic Music Composers and The Hub network music bands, he was on faculty for many years in the legendary Music Department at Mills College. He presents three solo compositions for computer and custom analog circuits.

Both "Visibility Study" (2015) and "Bitplicity" (2020) feature homemade analog circuits in performance with software synthesis elements generated by a laptop. The analog circuits are pulse-wave oscillators sounding in audio and sub-audio realms which are animated by performer actions—-primarily the momentary shorting of conductive points in each circuit. To accomplish this, the circuits are fabricated by the composer with critical trace points brought to the top of the circuit box in the form of brass rails. The rails run parallel to each other where they can be "shorted" (the circuit points closed) with coins wielded by the performer. The two solos share common software structures throughout: -as circuit tones come to life they sound at the loudspeakers and trigger digital synthesis responses via the laptop as well - circuit events are also analyzed for spectral content and elapsed time between events - the pitch and timing of subsequent digital synthesis is driven by this performance-acquired data--no pre-performance data is employed

"Calliope" (2022) is a take-off on Leon Theremin’s realization of Henry Cowell’s concept—an instrument called the "Rhythmicon" which automatically reiterates its tones at rates corresponding to the ratios of selected pitch combinations. I was inspired by a YouTube clip of Andre Smirov playing one of Theremin’s original instruments. The device is so beautifully elegant, and sonically quirky at the same time, that I wanted to build a digital synthesis version on the same principles but where the electronic instrument has internal drift in all dimensions - the tones migrate out of tune and disassemble in time as each phrase develops.
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A/B DUO
GRETCHEN JUDE + Cheryl E. Leonard


GRETCHEN JUDE (voice, objects, field recordings) and Cheryl E. Leonard (natural-object instruments, field recordings) present Peregrinations, a set of improvisations that delve into sonic minutiae. Very quiet sounds are amplified and dialogue with extended vocal and instrumental techniques as the duo evokes imaginary topographies and ecosystems.


From djembe to Nintendo Gameboy to contrabass flute to drum set, A/B DUO'S no-limits instrumentation and imaginative concert programming has delighted audiences all over the United States since 2013. Made up of flutist Meerenai Shim and percussionist Christopher G. Jones, A/B Duo has made a mark for its “fresh, vibrant new music” and “commitment to widening the repertoire.” (Fanfare Magazine)

For this concert, A/B Duo presents building, a new commission from Berkeley composer Ken Ueno. "Building Stories", a graphic novel by Chris Ware, inspired this piece. Ware’s novel extends and reimagines both the novel and the comic book. A non-linear form, rather, a consortium of micro-linear forms in the physical guise of different forms (in various sizes and shapes), it gives physical form to a commentary on memory. Fragmentation enacts a repository of psychological traumas. The theme of "building" is literal as well as allegorical to the mechanism of "building" an identity. In my musical composition the flute is fragmented, literally and physically, so that we might build it (or re-build) anew.
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SARAH SAVIET
SAM WEISER + DUSTIN CARLSON


SARAH SAVIET explores shifting limits: between interpreter and author, idea and body, virtuosity and failure, periphery and interior. This performance will include her own music which engages with texts by Bauhaus textile artist Anni Albers, as well as music by British composers Jack Sheen and Lawrence Dunn.

Sarah Saviet is an American violinist and compser based in Berlin and dedicated to the performance of contemporary music. She performs as a soloist and chamber musician and is a member of the Saviet/Houston Duo and Ensemble Mosaik. Sarah’s debut solo album SPUN (Coviello Contemporary) was recently nominated for the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik for new music. Her recording of Liza Lim’s violin concerto Speak, Be Silent, with the Riot Ensemble on HCR/NMC records was selected as one of New Yorker Magazine’s "Best recordings of 2019."


SAM WEISER (violin) and DUSTIN CARLSON (guitar) both exist in the spaces that straddle classical and improvised music. They have been working together for the past six months on Dustin's new suite for solo violin, entitled, "Her Warrior Longs to Rest". The piece is inspired by the Grave of Griffin Warrior (ca. 1450 BC), one of the wealthiest burials found in Greece in the last 70 years. In addition, the performance will also include Dustin's music for solo guitar, as well as duets.

Sam Weiser, currently the first violinist of the Carpe Diem String Quartet, is a lifelong chamber musician and advocate of contemporary music. He holds a number of positions around the Bay Area, including assistant concertmaster of the California Symphony, member of One Found Sound, and violinist in sfSound. Formerly, he was a member of the award-winning Del Sol Quartet.

Dustin Carlson is currently composer in residence with the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music in Boonville CA. Dustin is originally from New York where he played and recorded with notable jazz musicians such as Anna Webber, Matt Mitchell, Ches Smith, and Kate Gentile. He has recently moved to California after living as a flamenco guitarist in Sevilla, Spain.
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PACIFIC PYTHAGOREAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

In a co-presentation with sfSound's West Oakland Sound Series, the DEL SOL STRING QUARTET hosts the Bay Area's only festival celebrating 'just intonation’ compositions with an all-star lineup showcasing experimental and traditional styles!


P R O G R A M

DEL SOL STRING QUARTET - works by MAT MUTZ and JURI SEO
PAUL DRESHER/JOEL DAVEL INVENTED INSTRUMENT DUO
sfSoundOrchestra - MATT INGALLS' ZIA
SAM WEISER - TAYLOR BROOK'S Vocalise for violin with tape
CALEB ROSE/MATT INGALLS (cl), SAM WEISER (vn) - ANDREW MCINTOSH'S Symmetry Etudes
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