Listen to works built around stringed instruments: violin, viola, cello, with and without voice, electronics, and crystal goblets. Experience new work by the New York-based violist and composer Jessica Pavone for the unconventional quartet, J. Pavone String Ensemble, consisting of Pavone and Abby Swidler on violas, and Erica Dicker and Angela Morris on violins. The score contains both traditional notation and uses a digital clock as a conductor to mark sections, duration, and cues. Pavone is also involved in research into the effects of sonic vibration on human physiology and emotional health known as Cymatics.
Listen to cello and electronics from Gyða Valtýsdóttir (who came to prominence with electronic experimentalists múm), by Icelandic composers Anna Thorvaldsdóttir and María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir, from her recent record, Epicycle II, the first on her own label, DiaMond. Then, hear music by Canadian cellist/composer Julia Kent from her 2019 record, Temporal where she combines multiple layers of cello. There’s also music for violin, looping, and electronics from Christopher Tignor which starts from Beethoven and re-orchestrates “Ode to Joy.”
Also on the show, hear music from Galax Quartet, involving both voice and quartet in one work, and string quartet and crystal goblets in another. Galax Quartet uses an unusual string quartet setup from the 18th century, where there are two violins, one viola da gamba, and one cello. Listen to their recording of a computer piece by Robert Morris, arranged for string quartet and crystal goblets, “Radif IV,” and one of Joseph Schwantner’s “Thoreau Songs.” Plus, hear music from Czech violinist, vocalist, and innovator Iva Bittova along with music from Danish indie-jazzers I Think You’re Awesome and the Berlin-based Taïga String Quartet. - Caryn Havlik
Program #4406, Strings and Things (First aired 9/10/2020)
ARTIST: Christopher Tignor
WORK: Ode to Joy [1:00]
RECORDING: Ode to Joy
SOURCE: Part of Western Vinyl's series, Composure: Classical Reworks for Modern Relief
INFO: christophertignor.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Julia Kent
WORK: Crepuscolo [4:27]
RECORDING: Temporal
SOURCE: The Leaf Label
INFO: https://music.juliakent.com/album/temporal
ARTIST: Christopher Tignor
WORK: Ode to Joy [5:17]
RECORDING: Ode to Joy
SOURCE: Part of Western Vinyl's series, Composure: Classical Reworks for Modern Relief
INFO: christophertignor.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: I Think You're Awesome and Taiga Quartet
WORK: Suite to Be You and Me, Pt. 7 The Wedding [6:25]
RECORDING: Suite To Be You And Me
SOURCE/INFO: itya.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Iva Bittová
WORK: River of Milk [4:46]
RECORDING: Iva Bittová
SOURCE: Nonesuch 79455
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Galax Quartet
WORK: Schwantner: Thoreau Songs 5. Hymn for Bruce-Dies Irae [3:00]
RECORDING: Dream Drapery
SOURCE: Music and Arts recordings
INFO: galaxquartet.org | musicandarts.com
ARTIST: Gyda Valtysdottir
WORK: Anna Thorvaldsdóttir: Mikros [3:13]
RECORDING: Epicycle II
SOURCE: DiaMond / Sono Luminus
INFO: https://gyda.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Galax Quartet
WORK: Morris: Radif IV : Stars of Highest Magnitude, 4. Denebola [3:42]
RECORDING: Dream Drapery
SOURCE: Music and Arts recordings
INFO: galaxquartet.org | musicandarts.com
ARTIST: J. Pavone String Ensemble
WORK: Rise and Fall [9:30]
RECORDING: Lost and Found
SOURCE: due out Oct. 9, 2020
INFO: jpavonestringensemble.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Gyda Valtysdottir
WORK: María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir: Octo [2:30]
RECORDING: Epicycle II
SOURCE: DiaMond / Sono Luminus
INFO: https://gyda.bandcamp.com