2010-2011 Firebird Ensemble Season

PROGRAM #1: JOURNEYS

Performance date: October 4^th, 2010. 

Venue: Edward M. Pickman Auditorium, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA

Performance date: October 8^th, 2010.

Venue: Elebash Hall, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, NYC.

Works performed:

My Life on the Plains [2010] by Lee HYLA World Premiere, Firebird Ensemble Commission

Polish Folk Songs [2007] by Lee HYLA 

Court Studies [2005] by Thomas ADES 

String Trio [2009] by Pierre JALBERT 

Four Songs of Solitude [1985] by John HARBISON 

PROGRAM #2: Sensations of Tone

A program of spectral music with discussions exploring the topic of music and its relationship to the physics of sound. (A collaboration between Firebird Ensemble, the History of Science Dept. at Harvard and the French Consulate in Boston)

Performance Dates: October 27^th and October 28^th, 2010.

Venue: Harvard Gallery for Collection of Scientific Instruments, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 

Works performed:

Treize couleurs du soleil couchant by Tristan MURAIL (FRA/US)

The Heavenly Spheres Are Illuminated by Lights by Somei SATOH (JPN/US)

Prologue (from Les espaces acoustiques) by Gerard GRISEY

Lonh by Kaija SAARIAHO 

PROGRAM #3: MEAT the composer (Ribs @ Ryles) 

A program of contemporary classical chamber music featuring jazz, blues and rock influences

Project date: January 14^th, 2011

Venue: Ryles Jazz Club, 212 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA

Works performed:

Improvisation [2011] by Cory SMYTHE 

Cannonball, Cathy and Threeway [1957] by Donald MARTINO 

Ashmont Train [2009] by Jonathan HOLLAND 

Rubix and Song 4 [2009] by Aaron TRANT 

Four on the Floor [1983] by Libby LARSEN 

In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Little Martha & Whipping Post - 14’ The ALLMAN Brothers 

- arr. John MORRISON [arr. 2010] Thread and Fray [2006] by Sarah Kirkland SNIDER - 8’

Night Scenes [2009] by Donald CROCKETT 

Zaka [2003] by Jennifer HIGDON 

PROJECT #4: HYLA RECORDING

Project dates: May 30th, 2011

Venue: Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, Nth. Andover, MA

Work recorded:

My Life on the Plains [2010] by Lee HYLA

This recording will complete a disc of works by Lee Hyla performed by Firebird Ensemble to be commercially released in 2012.

PROJECT #5: Firebird Ensemble dual residency at the Walden School for Young Composers and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music 

Residency period: July 4^th- July 14^th, 2011

Activities include: Open rehearsals, lecture/demonstrations, coaching sessions, public performances, discussions and master-classes. Firebird Ensemble will also participate in joint performances with Apple Hill chamber music students performing works by Walden Hill student composers.

Venues/dates: 

Concert #1: RiverMead Retirement Community, Peterborough, NH

String Trio [2009] by Pierre JALBERT

to be sung on the water for violin and viola [1988] by Donald CROCKETT 

works for solo violin by Astor Piazzola 

Concert #2: Crochet Mountain, Greensborough, NH 

String Trio [2009] by Pierre JALBERT

to be sung on the water for violin and viola [1988] by Donald CROCKETT 

works for solo violin by Astor Piazzola 

Concert #3: Keene Public Library, Keene, NH

Folk Songs Set no#9 for flute and cello [1991] by Reza VALI (selection of mvts.) 

Flute concerto No. 1 for flute and percussion [1939] by Lou HARRISON 

PERCUSSION DEMONSTRATION

Concert #4: Hundred Nights/Open Doors, Keene, NH

Folk Songs Set no#9 for flute and cello [1991] by Reza VALI (selection of mvts.) 

Flute concerto No. 1 for flute and percussion [1939] by Lou HARRISON

PERCUSSION DEMONSTRATION

Concert# 5: July 8^th: Walden School, Dublin, NH

In the Research of Time by Osnat NETZER - World Premiere (US) ~8’

The Eye of Horus by Ted MOORE - World Premiere (US) ~8’

Titanosaur by Ian MUNRO - World Premiere (US) ~8’

Number 8, Birmingham Gauge by Marguerite LADD World Premiere (US) ~8’

NEW WORK by Alan CHAN - World Premiere (US) ~8’

Metamorphosis by Marshall BESSIERES - World Premiere (US) ~8’

Missing Parts of Moonspots by Sky MACKLAY - World Premiere (US) ~8’

Unless Acted Upon by Caroline MALLONEE  - World Premiere (US) ~8’

Concert#6: July 12^th: Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, E. Sullivan, NH

Four Album Leaves by John MCDONALD (US) for fl, cl, vln, vla, vc, piano ~9’ 

World Premiere and Firebird Ensemble Commission

Night Scenes for piano trio by Donald CROCKETT (US) [2009] - 15’

String Trio by Pierre JALBERT (US) [2009] 11’

Zaka for mixed ensemble by Jennifer HIGDON (US) [2003] 15’