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Galax Quartet and Contralto Karen Clark Premiere Joseph Schwantner's Dream Drapery; Schwantner in Residence at Indiana University

Sep. 26, 2012

Galax Quartet and Contralto Karen Clark Premiere Joseph Schwantner's <em>Dream Drapery</em>; Schwantner in Residence at Indiana University

The spotlight is on Joseph Schwantner this October with several exciting events taking place throughout the US. On October 21, Schwantner sees the world premiere of his exquisite new song cycle, Dream Drapery: "Thoreau Songs" based on poems by American transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau and dedicated to the memory of composer Bruce MacCombie. Composed  for contralto and baroque string quartet, Dream Drapery was commissioned by Karen Clark and the Galax Quartet with support from Meet the Composer, the Indiana Landmarks Foundation and the USA Project and premieres at the Indiana Landmarks Center on their program American Prophets and Revolution.

Schwantner provides the following introduction for Dream Drapery:

I was immediately drawn to the quartet’s poignant, intimate and expressive sound world, the evocative and hauntingly beautiful voice of contralto Karen Clark and the poetry of Henry David Thoreau whose words so thoroughly capture the transcendental spirit of nineteenth century New England life. Living and working in the high hills of rural New Hampshire provided a synergy of poetry and music that formed an ideal union to help frame the mood, character and direction of this work.

Following the premiere, Schwantner is in residence at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music from October 22-25. To conclude his residency, Schwantner leads the Jacobs School Contemporary Ensemble in a performance of his Distant Runes and Incantations and his recent work for flute, piano and percussion, Taking Charge.

In addition, guitar virtuoso Sharon Isbin joins Sarah Ioannides and the Louisville Orchestra on October 12 for a performance of Schwantner’s From Afar..., a mesmerizing fantasia for guitar and orchestra.

For more information on Joseph Schwantner, please visit www.schott-music.com.

To learn more about the Galax Quartet and Dream Drapery, please visit www.galaxquartet.org.

Details on the Louisville Orchestra performance can be found at www.louisvilleorchestra.org.

Joseph Schwantner
Dream Drapery:"Thoreau Songs" (2012)
for contralto and baroque string quartet
text by Henry David Thoreau
20'

Distant Runes and Incantations (1983)
for amplified piano and orchestra
2(2.pic).2(2.ca).2(2.bcl).2-2.2.0.0-2perc-cel-str
15'

From Afar... (1987)
for amplified guitar and orchestra
pic.2.2.ca.2.bcl.2.cbsn-4.3.3.1-timp.3perc-hp.pno(cel)-str
16'

Taking Charge (2012)
for flute, piano and percussion
fl.pno.perc(tri, brake d, cow bell, cym, mixing bowls, gongs, clav, bng, timb, b.d, crot, vib, mar, tam-t, tamb)
20' 

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