Chatter hosts concerts of Romantic, contemporary composers in lofts
Chatter is rising to the lofts in a mini-music festival with a view of Route 66. Scheduled for Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30, on the eighth floor of the Banque Lofts at the old First National Bank Building, the concerts feature music by both Romantic and contemporary composers. Chatter has staged past concerts in the Railyards and atop a parking structure. Its regular Sunday concerts take place at Las Puertas Event Center.
“Generally, we like to at least once a year get out into the community and play a concert in a completely new venue,” Chatter associate artistic director James Shields said.
Friday night’s concert will focus on the works of American David Lang and Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg.
Lang is known for writing works in a moody, rhythmic style infused with a brooding quality, Shields said. Shields will perform Lang’s “Press Release” on solo bass clarinet.
“It’s an eight-minute sprint marathon,” he said. “It’s very physical.”
Written for string quartet, “Wed” is more lyrical music.
“It’s like a feather gently falling through the air,” Shields said.
Cellist Laura Metcalf of Sybarite5 , who recently performed at Chatter, will play Lang’s “Little Eye” accompanied by four percussionists.
Lindberg’s piece is another rhythmically complex workout. The concert ends with “Steamboat Bill” by the Italian composer Salvatore Sciarrino.
Saturday’s concert also will end with a Sciarrino piece with violin harmonics.
“It’s like an etude on crack,” Shields said. “Harmonics means every note you hear contains many vibrations. Your ear merges all the overtones. You lightly press your finger across the strings.”
“We thought of them as a little palate cleanser,” he added.
Saturday’s concert marks a return to Brahms’ Romanticism with his Clarinet Quintet, a deeply felt work of existential longing.
“I think it’s one of his best pieces ever,” Shields said. “It’s his last major chamber work.”
Jesse Tatum will perform Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu’s “Voice” for solo flute. The program will close with Lindberg’s tour de force Clarinet Quintet.
“Everybody gets access to the reception afterward,” Shields said. “on the roof at sunset.”