Madison New Music Festival Schedule

Friday, 8/10 7:30pm at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St.

MNMF Opening Night 2018: Sounds of the ’60s and Beyond!  [tickets]

Hear sounds born out of the ’60s counterculture with works exploring minimalism, social and political engagement, and electronic experimentation, as well as the music they inspired for decades to come. The program will include a mixture of instrumental, vocal, and electroacoustic music, with featured guest artist Conduit. Highlights include composer and Lawrence Conservatory faculty Evan Williams’ “Bodies Upon the Gears” for clarinet, viola, and audio from Mario Savio’s 1964 speech urging the importance of civil protest; Steve Reich’s “New York Counterpoint” for amplified clarinet and tape; and Andy Akiho’s “Stop Speaking” for solo snare in conversation with digital playback. There will be a cash bar, as well as opportunities to explore the exhibits, including the MMoCA’s current exhibition “Far Out: Art of the 1960s.”

Complete Program: Music by Melissa Dunphy, Angelica Negron, Evan Williams, Steve Reich, Gilda Lyons, Anna Meadors, Kyle Tieman-Strauss, David Lang, and Andy Akiho

Performed by: Conduit (Zach Manzi, clarinet and Evan Saddler, percussion); Caitlin Mead, soprano; Kristina Teuschler, clarinet; ZouZou Robidoux, cello; Jeremy Kienbaum, viola; Heather Zinninger Yarmel, flute.

Saturday, 8/11 2:00pm at Bethel Lutheran, 312 Wisconsin Ave.

MNMF Concert #2: Sounds of Reflection [tickets]

Madison New Music Festival continues with an afternoon program that invokes spirituality, morality, and reflection. Hear music including organ interludes performed by Madison Symphony Orchestra organist Greg Zelekand Vital Organ Project founder Tyler Jameson Pimm, soundscapes for viola and piano by Morton Feldman and Toru Takemitsu, African spirituals arranged for instrumental chamber ensemble, and the renowned Langston Hughes set to music by composers including Madison’s Scott Gendel.

Tickets: $15/$5 for students.

Program: Music by Toru Takemitsu, Trevor Weston, Morton Feldman, Daniel Ficarri, John Weaver, Tyler Pimm, Tania J. Leon, John Musto, Ricky Ian Gordon, and Scott Gendel.

Performed by: Jeremy Kienbaum, viola; Satoko Hayami, piano; Caitlin Mead, soprano; Scott Gendel, piano; Kristina Teuschler, clarinet; Micah Cheng, cello; Alex Norris, violin; Greg Zelek, organ; and Tyler Jameson Pimm, organ.

Sunday, 8/12 7:30pm at Robinia Courtyard, 829 E Washington Ave

MNMF Closing Night 2018! [tickets]

Polish off your weekend with a drink at Robinia Courtyard as you listen to the world premiere of “They’re Still Here,” a new work by local multi-instrumentalist B.C. Grimm featuring 9 instruments ranging from cello to Chinese pipa. Then, kick back for a set of solo string music from violinist Aaron Yarmel and violist Jeremy Kienbaum, featuring pieces by Philip Glass, Ursula Mamlock, and one of Yarmel’s own improvisations. Finally, musicians from all three concerts close out the festival together with a performance of Julius Eastman’s “brilliant and brazen” 1973 piece, “Stay On It.” This rarely performed work ends our musical weekend with a bang– and a groove! There will be a cash bar.

Live set up for BC Grimm’s new 30min piece, “They’re Still Here”.

“They’re Still Here”  Program Notes

Composed August, 2018 by BC Grimm (b 1986) for the Madison New Music Festival

This piece explores how those who have passed away continue to pop up in the everyday moments of our lives.  You’ll hear field recordings of my day-to-day experience fused with instrumental sound design.  These scenes recreate and reference real life moments I’ve had in the wake of these deaths.

“They’re Still Here” is dedicated in loving memory to Patrick Kelly, Ross Sutherin & Brian White-Stout and to the Grimm, Sutherin, Kelly, Morrow, White-Stout & Brethauer families.

Scene I   Passing of a Friend, The Work Day Begins

Tenor Viola da Gamba with field recording

Scene II   News Cycle On Fire: Rbt. Mueller’s Lonely Russia Probe

Gaohu Cantonese fiddle with foley, field recording, 1940’s radio broadcast, singing bowls, violoncello, dizi flute, bawu flute, xiao flute, sheng mouth organ

Scene III   Do I Tell The Children?  No, Teach On.

Violoncello with field recording, pipa lute, tenor viola da gamba, violoncello, contracello

Scene IV   Fluorescence Hums The Harmonic Order of Nature

APC40 (electric hum in just intonation)

Scene V   Morning Routine, Scrambled Brains

Field Recording with foley

Scene VI   A Call With My Brother, Wise Counsel

Sarangi-Cello in pipa tuning with claps, cajon, motorcycle

Scene VII   Ask The Corn Spirits

Gaohu fiddle with bawu flute

Scene VIII   Hermie’s Chimes, They’re Still Here

Guqin Zither with pipa lute, gaohu fiddle, dizi flute

Scene IX   Funeral Grave

Violoncello

Scene X   Temple of Ancestors

Sarangi-Cello in pipa tuning with pipa lute, synthesis

Scene XI   Transfigurations

Guqin zither with pipa lute, Russian folk harp, singing bowls

Scene XII   Schoolyard in Snow; Children Play On

Tenor Viola da Gamba,

APC40 (electric hum in equal temperament), field recordings, foley