Friday, September 13, 2019

Alvin Singleton's Chamber Music America commission Hallelujah Anyhow Oct. 15

Alvin Singleton

In celebration of its 15th Anniversary, Momenta Quartet presents:

Momenta Festival V
October 15, 16, 18 & 19

Oct. 15: "15 Years of Momenta - A Retrospective" kicks off the Momenta Quartet's fifth annual festival

Program at the Americas Society features the world premiere of Chamber Music America commission by Alvin Singleton, and a tribute to Mario Davidovsky

Admission is free for all Momenta Festival concerts Reservations strongly encouraged for events at Americas Society October 15 & October 16

"[the Momenta Festival] has become one of the most amazingly eclectic, never mind herculean feats attempted by any chamber ensemble in this city..." - New York Music Daily

On Tuesday, October 15, at 7:00 pm, the Momenta Quartet presents "Fifteen Years of Momenta: A Retrospective" at the Americas Society. The concert is the first of four programs of the Momenta Festival V, which runs through October 19. Admission is free.

The 2019 festival opens at Americas Society on October 15 with a retrospective on 15 years of the Momenta Quartet, featuring guest conductor David Bloom, vocalist Brad Walker and curated by violist Stephanie Griffin. The performance features two world premieres: Alvin Singleton's Chamber Music America commission Hallelujah Anyhow, and Matthew Greenbaum's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry for baritone and string quartet, a setting of Walt Whitman's poem of the same name. The program also includes Julian Carrillo's microtonal String Quartet no. 10, and the late Mario Davidovsky's String Trio.

"While planning this program, I could not have predicted that Mario [Davidovsky] would pass away on August 23, 2019," says Momenta violist Stephanie Griffin. "Back in 2004, we had the incredible honor of working with him on this piece, and what I remember most vividly was his passion and theatricality. We dedicate our performance of his String Trio to the memory of the great man and master musician."

The 2019 edition of the Momenta Festival features four diverse chamber music programs each curated by a different member of the quartet, on October 15, 16, 18, and 19. With programs that blend the old and new, the "intriguing programming" (The New York Times) and "striking originality" (I Care If You Listen) of the Momenta Festival have been acclaimed by critics and fans alike.

Admission to all concerts is free. Reservations strongly encouraged for events at Americas Society October 15 & October 16


Guest artists: baritone Brad Walker and conductor David Bloom

Momenta Festival V opens with a celebration of Momenta’s 15th anniversary with selected milestones from their unique and eclectic personal repertoire along with world premieres by Matthew Greenbaum (conducted by David Bloom) and the Chamber Music America commission of Alvin Singleton. The Momenta Quartet is joined by baritone Brad Walker. Reservations strongly encouraged for events at Americas Society.

Program:
Mario Davidovsky: String Trio
Julian Carrillo: String Quartet no. 10
Alvin Singleton: Hallelujah Anyhow CMA Commission WORLD PREMIERE
Matthew Greenbaum: Crossing Brooklyn Ferry for baritone and string quartet WORLD PREMIERE, text by Walt Whitman

Tuesday, October 15 at 7:00 pm
Americas Society
680 Park Ave., NYC
Free admission

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