Event Details
Sunday June 8
Continuum Contemporary Music presents
INform
8pm • $25 regular; $15 member + senior; $5 students
Info: www.continuummusic.org or 416-924-4945
INform examines form and texture, the theme of soundaXis '08, in existing works by Giorgio Magnanensi (It/Can), Matthew Rizzuto (Can), and Salvatore Sciarrino (it), and new works by young Canadian composers Aaron Gervais and Justin Christensen - all of this wrapped in a cloak of the late James Tenney, the master delineator of music's elements. The two works by James Tenney defy categorization on any basis (they are appropriately inert): the other works speak strongly of the festival's subjects. Lalit II by Giorgio Magnanensi (commissioned through the Canada Council for the Arts) includes the composer improvising on deliberately short-circuited electronic toys; Matthew Rizzuto's 8g (winner of the 2002 Prix Quebec/Flandre) exemplifies his irregular block repetition forms; violinist Benjamin Bowman will channel his passion into the delicate fibrillations of one piece from Sciarrino's 6 Capricci.Nearly a winner at the 2006 Gaudemus competition, Aaron Gervais is one of most interesting young composers coming to the fore in Canada, and Justin Christensen is distinguishing himself in Europe even as he continues his studies (his work is commissioned through the Canada Council for the Arts). Finally, the works by James Tenney (Harmonium #5 for string trio, and Listen…! for three mezzos and piano) are beautiful, simple and leave the message (from the end of Listen...!) "no more heroes , no more gods, no more ... You and I will have to do it now", lest anyone make a hero of Jim, Listen...! will be performed by Marion Newman coaching two young singers.
Performers: Marion Newman (mezzo soprano), Anne Thompson (flute), Max Christie (clarinet), Benjamin Bowman (violin), Angela Rudden (viola), Paul Widner (cello), Laurent Philippe (piano), Ryan Scott (percussion), with Gregory Oh (conductor).
