Tribeca New Music
Thursday, November 14, 2024 @ 7:00pm – 8:30pm (EST)
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York, NY, United States
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Online: $20 ($15 student/senior) |At the do: $25 ($20 student/senior)
Timothy Jones, bass-baritone
Scott Cuellar, piano
Markel Reed, baritone
Daniel Kamalić, tenor
Natalie Ballenger, soprano
Charlotte Detrick, soprano
Matthew A. Stephens, piano
Arthur Gottschalk — Six Contrefacts: When George Met Dorothy
Edmund Cionek — Prelude and Five Dreams of Walt Whitman
William Bolcom — Cabaret Songs
Program notesSix Contrefacts: When George Met Dorothy by Arthur GottschalkA contrafact is a musical composition that uses the chord progression of an existing song, but with a new melody and arrangement. One of the most famous of these is Charlie Parker’s “Ornithology,” which is a contrafact of the standard “How High the Moon.”The spelling used here is deliberate, to seem a bit more French and, therefore, bougie, as Dorothy Parker rarely did anything without her tongue planted firmly in her cheek. The subtitle is a reference to the fact that, as far as we know, Dorothy Parker never crossed paths with George Gershwin, despite living and working at the top of their game at the same time and in the same town. The only known reference to them even being in the same room comes in a scene from the musical play “Thoroughly Modern Millie” in which they are both guests at the same party, along with many other luminaries of their day. So, what if George had met Dorothy? What songs might they have collaborated on?We’ll never know, but my pieces offer, perhaps, a possibility. This song cycle was commissioned by, and written for, bass-baritone Timothy Jones and pianist Scott Cuellar, both excellent musicians who I am proud to have collaborated with on numerous occasions over the years.—A.G.
Prelude and Five Dreams of Walt Whitman (2018)Years ago I was in residence at the downtown theatre company Mabou Mines and wrote an hour-long multimedia piece called “Attack of the 50 Foot Walt Whitman.” I selected several songs from that work to create tonight’s vocal cantata. Whitman is a fav poet of mine. His selection of subject matter was unusual for his time but so relevant to ours. These songs reference aspirations of Americans, Native Americans, community tragedy, slavery, and peace. Whitman’s view on democracy in the mid 1800s was more forward thinking than even Lincoln’s. –E.C.
Cabaret Songs (selected) 1977-1996The four sets of Cabaret Songs by Bolcom/Weinstein are perhaps the composer’s most performed works. His music is at its most delightfully eclectic in these careful settings. Weinstein’s lyrics transform urban anecdotes into mini operas. “Over the Piano” depicts a piano man, a patron, and closing time. In “Fur” (Murray the Furrier) the poet celebrates a life well lived. “Waitin’” is a poignant hymn. As for “George”—well, George is a man we all would be lucky to have met. —E.C.
New York Stories invites the audience to connect with that most intimate of instruments: the human voice. This concert brings together three iconic literary figures—Dorothy Parker of the Algonquin Round Table, Walt Whitman, the famed poet of Leaves of Grass, and Arnold Weinstein, librettist for Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom. Their timeless words come to life through vocal performances, set to piano accompaniment by three distinctive composers: Arthur Gottschalk, Edmund Cionek, and William Bolcom.
Join us for an engaging evening of sophisticated and expressive vocal interpretations!
About Tribeca New Music
Tribeca New Music is a not-for-profit organization that presents and performs a bold new art music, infused with American pop culture, written by contemporary composers. Our core stable of professional musicians (the Tribeca Monsters) and guest artists engage the public with compelling performances that stimulate and inspire, offering new and recent works with passion and integrity. The goal is to forge new links between musicians and a growing audience of adventurous music lovers through concerts, commissions, competitions, educational initiatives, dialogue, and our annual Tribeca New Music Festival.
About Timothy Jones, bass-baritone
About Scott Cuellar, piano
About Markel Reed, baritone
About Daniel Kamalić, tenor
About Natalie Ballenger, soprano
About Charlotte Detrick, soprano
About Matthew A. Stephens, piano
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Concert Kids welcome Contemporary (1945+) Modern period (1900-1945) Baritone (vocal) Bass (vocal) Duo Piano Soprano Tenor Voice
450 W 37th St.
New York, NY 10018
United States
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