The 2007- 2008 Music At Noon Concert Series
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The Cavani Quartet Wednesday, September 19, 2007, Noon
Click here to see the Cavani Quartet performing at Diehl Elementary School
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Winner of the prestigious Naumburg Chamber Music Award and described by the Washington Post as "completely engrossing, powerful, and elegant." The Cavani Quartet has commissioned, performed, and recorded the music of a worldwide array of living composers, including Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Dan Welcher, Joan Tower, Donald Erb, James Primosch, and Margaret Brouwer.
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The Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra Wednesday, October 24, Noon
Czech Philharmonic Chamber Website Click the link below to view them on YouTube!
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It happens almost regularly that top ranking players in large symphonic orchestras develop a feeling over time that they cannot draw on their own individual talents and capabilities to the full in a large team, and seek self-realisation in smaller chamber ensembles. Likewise, with the Czech Philharmonics, a chamber string orchestra emerged, founded by Pavel Prantl in 1977, and continued performing under Petr Skvor since 1980. In no doubt - the Ensemble possesses characteristics in common with the Czech Philharmonic. These are often referred to as "Czech Strings" - an expression which applauds the Czech tradition of sensitivity to sonority and unique tone colour. Perhaps with the broader expression, "a middle European strings charm", it could also be said that there is an individuality, personality in the Ensemble which is brought about by a unique sensibility and mellifluence, tempered with a modest, reserved quality. |
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The Hot Club of San Francisco Thursday, November 15, Noon
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Django Reinhardt is rightly hailed as one of the greatest guitar players who ever lived, but many people praising his accomplishments as a guitarist tend to overlook his roots in Gypsy culture and the musically fertile, polyglot Paris of the 1920's. Reinhardt and his companions used all these elements, along with American Jazz, to create this new music, but the Gypsy heritage seems to be the most important ingredient. Once you hear it you can't forget it. |
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Darkwood Consort Thursday, February 7,
2008, Noon
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The world's only touring viola and bass clarinet duo, Darkwood Consort performs over ten centuries of music in a wide variety of venues. Whether in a church, a small concert hall, or a coffeehouse, Darkwood consort fulfills its mission to convert concert halls into classrooms, and classrooms into concert halls, all while maintaining a fabulous sense of humor.
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Aspen Ensemble Thursday, March 6, Noon
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From the famed Aspen Music Festival comes the Aspen Ensemble, a mixed quintet of flute, piano, and strings. Its five acclaimed musicians are united in their love for chamber music and their commitment to bringing unique, varied, and scintillating performances to audiences around the world. The Aspen Ensemble has established a first-class reputation through its signature programs featuring a variety of instrumental configurations and depth of repertoire spanning several centuries. |
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Percussion Group Cincinnati Thursday,
April 24, Noon
Percussion Group Cincinnati Website
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 Percussion Group Cincinnati, founded in 1979, is particularly respected for its knowledge of and experiences with the entire range of the music of John Cage, having made tours and festival appearances with him in Europe and America, and having had pieces created by Cage especially for PGC. More recently, PGC has developed similar relationships with John Luther Adams, Qu Xiao-song, Russell Peck, and with Larry Austin on the Charles Ives Universe Symphony project. |
For further information contact:
Dr. Gary Viebranz
E-mail: gav3@psu.edu