Garth Knox - New Music for Viola at Harvard

You are invited to the second Harvard Group for New Music concert of the year, starring Garth Knox. The concert is taking place on Saturday, February 14th, in Paine Hall, Harvard Music Building, at 8pm. Free admission.

Garth Knox Harvard Poster

The concert will feature new compositions for solo viola by Edgar Barroso, José Luis Hurtado, Josiah Oberholtzer, Adam Roberts, Dominique Schafer, Sasha Siem, Bert Van Herck, and Tolga Yayalar. For my part, I composed Lapalu, a new work for viola and live electronics. Last Saturday, I wrote program notes.

Program notes

Lapalu, for viola and live electronics, with interactive video art by Ean White

Lapalu was inspired by the Alpine Marsh Violet, a perennial forb of the genus Viola. This flower inhabits moist meadows and marshes. It is the feast of the Fritillary butterfly.
Lapalu is a chamber music work for Viola, Live Electronics, and Interactive Video Art. It has taken its present form after a fertile improvisation session with Garth Knox on October 13th, 2008, and several meetings with Ean White in the Fall. The interaction with both artists incited me to leave much freedom in the parts. I am glad that the work benefits from their talents for creation and improvisation.
Lapalu is based on a simple musical formula. To see sketches and excerpts from the score, visit my blog www.jeanfrancoischarles.com
Lapalu’s sister work is Viola palustris, a flugelhorn concerto. Alea III, a 15-instrument ensemble, will premiere the piece in the Tsai Performance Center, in Boston, on Monday, March 23rd.
Make sure you visit Ean White’s web site: www.incendiaryarts.org

Update

Feb. 12th. Well, the video won't be part of this first performance. But Ean and I will work on making that happen for another version of the piece. I'll let you know...

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