Houston, TX (March 21, 2016) As the last installment of the season in its major downtown concert series, Musiqa presents Music from Near and Far III, a dynamic evening of music at The Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall, April 9 at 7:30 PM. Musiqa, two-time winner of the Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, is proud to present another carefully curated program which highlights interdisciplinary collaboration between prominent Houston arts organizations, this time with FotoFest and the Houston Cinema Arts Society. Prominent on the program are two brand-new commissioned works by Houston composers: Musiqa artistic board member Marcus Maroney’s Earth Music is presented in collaboration with FotoFest; and Musiqa composer emeritus Rob Smith, whose Angenieta will receive its premiere. In addition to the musical works, a short film by Ingo Putze, Solo Finale, will be screened.
Marcus Maroney’s new work is inspired by a series of photographs by the celebrated Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky which explore the impact of humankind on nature, from strip mines to oil exploration to burgeoning industries in locations such as China.
Rob Smith’s Angenieta is a celebration of its namesake, Maria Angenieta von Lohuizen-Meijer, who died in 2013. Commissioned by her son, Jan, the work pays tribute to the late world-traveler by carefully incorporating (and altering) one of her favorite works, “Bist du bei mir,” attributed to J.S. Bach.
The program includes three further works by American composers: And Legions Will Rise, a work for clarinet, violin and percussion by Kevin Puts, whose opera Silent Night won the Pulitzer Prize; Around, a piano trio by composer and harpist Hannah Lash; and the piano quartet I Found It by the Sea by Brooklyn-based composer Timo Andres, whose music has been noted for its deft interweaving of classical and popular idioms.
Performers include Richard Hawley, clarinet; Tali Morgulis, piano; Blake Wilkins, percussion; Caleb Quillen, double bass; and the Axiom String Quartet.
Music from Near and Far III is the final installment in a series of concerts exploring works by composers based in Houston and elsewhere.
Tickets start at $24. Students and Group Discounts are available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.TheHobbyCenter.org or by calling 713.315.2525.
Musiqa presents Music from Near and Far III
The Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall
800 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002
April 9, 7:30 pm
Tickets: $24 – $45. Student and Group Discounts available.
Purchase online at www.TheHobbyCenter.org or call 713.315.2525.
On the Program:
Timo Andres: I Found It by the Sea for violin, viola, cello and piano
Hannah Lash: Around for violin, cello and piano
Marcus Maroney: Earth Songs for clarinet, piano, percussion and bass (based on photos by Edward Burtynsky, in collaboration with FotoFest)
Kevin Puts: And Legions Will Rise for clarinet, violin and percussion
Rob Smith: Angenieta for string quartet and double bass (World Premiere)
Performers:
Richard Hawley, clarinet
Tali Morgulis, piano
Blake Wilkins, percussion
Axiom String Quartet
Caleb Quillen, bass