The U of M Contemporary Music Ensemble will serenade students, faculty and staff as they present a host of tunes in the Harris Concert Hall Sunday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
The program includes Steve Martland's "Re-Mix," Igor Stravinsky's "Septet," Jim Hall's "Piece for Guitar and Strings," U of M graduate student James "Ted" Partin's "Not Knowing Where You Stand" and Michael Daugherty's "Dead Elvis."
Featured soloists will be Dr. Dale Clark, assistant professor of bassoon and graduate student guitarist Chip Henderson.
Conducted by Mahir Cetiz and David Shotsberger, the Ensemble's repetoire represents some of the newest, freshest works of today (and not necessarily classical) as well as some of the 20th century's pioneering works.
Director of the Ensemble David Shotsberger said the group plans to bring a new sound to the concert.
"Re-Mix is a gritty and visceral work which grabs the listener by the ear." Shotsberger said.
Stravinsky's "Septet" transitions between his neoclassical style of the 1950s into his late serial, minimalist style of the 1960s & 70s, making use of various classical music styles, such as fugues and variations of a passacaglia theme.
Jim Hall's "Piece for Guitar and Strings" attempts to bring the conventional string quartet into a jazz milieu, expanding the number of instruments to six.
One of the first pieces composed by Ted Partin, "Not Knowing Where You Stand" is scored for a mixed quintet of piano, percussion, cello, trumpet and clarinet.
"I didn't start composing until I came to The University of Memphis and studied with Kamran Ince." Partin said.
The program will conclude with Michael Daugherty's "Dead Elvis" which is scored the same as Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale" which was performed by the Ensemble last season, and offers many tastes of musical genres, including fast and slow 50s rock and medieval Latin chant.
The Contemporary Music Ensemble members are: Jesse Coyle, clarinet; Jan Adair, bassoon; Virginia Cupples, horn; Elaine Smith, trumpet; Jake Brumbaugh, trombone; William Neely, Jason Northcutt, Malcolm Williams, percussion; Kerry Addington, Mahir Cetiz, Abi Lowther, piano; Paul Henry Henderson III, David Shotsberger, guitar: Brian Beach, Kate Ryan, violin; Rebecca Kletzker, Casie Weddington, viola; Jamie Beiber, cello; Matt Gold, double bass; James "Ted" Partin, electric and double basses.
