Exciting & Inexpensive Live Performances This Week

This is it. You’re packing up your dorm room, storing your notes for further study (or shredding them, depending on how your academic semester went), and saying goodbye to friends for the summer. Maybe you’re graduating, excited to take it easy for the summer or to do just the opposite – jet set.

Before you take off, we recommend you attend any of these awesome live performances in and around DC. From the Millenium Stage to the 9:30 Club to the Bach Sinfonia – there’s something for everyone!

Nuevo Mundo Barocco! (New Baroque), presented by the Bach Sinfonia

Sunday May 5 at 3pm

Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center at Silver Spring

7995 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring MD 20910 (Directions here)

* Metro accessible via Red Line to Silver Spring! *

“Latin flair meets Baroque majesty on Cinco de Mayo! Over the past three decades researches have uncovered a treasure trove of music in the Cathedral cities and missions of Mexico and South America. Both Jesuit missionaries from the old world Europe as well as native composers produced radiant music for liturgical services and civic occasions. A chance to hear some great 17th and 18th century music of the ‘Other Americas’.”

Jennifer Ellis Kampani, soprano

Richard Savino, baroque guitar

Daniel Abraham, artistic director

Tickets only $15 for students and can be ordered online or can be purchased at the venue

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Millenium Stage Performances at the Kennedy Center

FREE Performances every day, no ticket required!

All performances are at 6pm

Upcoming Performances include The Old Bay Ceili Band (Tuesday May 7) and a showcase from the Levine School of Music (Wednesday May 8)

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Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at Bohemian Caverns

Monday May 6,  8:00-11:00pm

2001 11th St. NW

* A necessary DC experience! * $10 cover

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Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio

Friday May 10 at 8:00 pm

The Music Center at Strathmore

5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda MD 20852

Tickets $28 and Up

From Strathmore: “Béla Fleck has been nominated in more Grammy categories than anyone in history, and has taken home 14 of the statuettes, wandering gleefully across genres and bringing together eclectic and utterly amazing groups of musicians. This season, Strathmore favorite Fleck brings a brilliant collaboration with one of today’s most lauded jazz ensembles, with Marcus Roberts on piano, Jason Marsalis on drums and Rodney Jordan on bass. “There was an improvisational, what’s going-to-happen-next feeling to the entire show. After a stunning rendition of ‘Lullaby of Birdland,’ Fleck picked up a microphone: ‘I’ve never been terrified in such a friendly way before.’” (Savannah Unplugged).”

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The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival 2013

Saturday May 11 – Sunday May 12, 10am-6pm

* Located at Woodmont Triangle, less than 6 blocks from Bethesda Metro Station *

It’s not necessarily a musical performance but outdoor craft markets are wonderful!

New Stuff!

CDs

Daniel Dorff ~ Perennials ~ CD 10174

Laura Elise Schwendinger ~ 3 Works for Solo Instruments and Orchestra ~ CD 10175

Robyn Schulkowsky ~ Armadillo ~ CD 10176

Laura Kaminsky ~ CD 10177

Romberg ~ Blossom Time ~ CD 10178

Martin Perry ~ Bartok, Rosa and Carter ~ CD 10179

Scores

Scriabin ~ Piano Works II ~ M22 .S55 P5 1967 v.2

Okudzhava ~ 65 Songs ~ M1757.18 .O4 F8 1982

Pintscher ~ Reflections of Narcissus ~ M1016 .P56 R44 2005

Brahms ~ Nänie ~ M1533 .B73 N36 1970

Verdi ~ Quattro Pezzi Sacri ~ M2027 .V4 P4 2001

Schumann ~ Abegg – Variationen ~ M27 .S34 op. 1 2004

Chopin ~ Andante Spianato und Grande Polonaise Brillante ~ M37 .C549 A5 1998

Isaak Osipovich Dunaevskii ~ Shkol’nyi val’s ~ M1621 .D86 S45 1952

Robert’s Stäff Picks!!!

Don’t forget, the Music Library is having an LP Bag Sale this Friday, April 26 from 10AM-2PM in front of Bender Library!!!

This set of Staff Picks is dedicated to currently performing string quartets and new music ensembles/composers.

CD 5290 — Six Quartets, Op. 20 — Haydn

The quartets are pretty standard Haydn works but the cool part about this CD is that this recording is played by the Daedalus Quartet.  The Daedalus Quartet is considered a leader among the newest generation of string ensembles.  The members of this string quartet hold degrees from the Julliard School, Curtis Institute, Cleveland Institute, and Harvard University.  Min-Young Kim and Matilda Kaul play violin, Jessica Thompson plays the viola, and Thomas Kraines plays the ‘cello.  This CD was released in 2009.

CD 10048 — Meanwhile — eighth blackbird

eighth blackbird “combines the finesse of a string quartet, the energy of a rock band and the audacity of a storefront theater company.” The members of the ensemble  “hail from America’s Great Lakes, Keystone, Golden and Bay States, and Australia’s Sunshine State.  There are four foodies, three beer snobs and one exercise junkie.”  It seems like it would be fun to hang with these folks. Tim Munro plays the flutes, Michael J. Maccaferri the clarinets, Yvonne Lam the violin & viola, Nicholas Photinos the ‘cello, Matthew Dunvall percussion, and Lisa Kaplan the piano.  This CD was released in 2012.

John Adams

I often reference works by John Adams in my Staff Picks, and I honestly don’t think I could ever forget to mention him.  Adams is a North American based new music composer.  Once again, the symphonic version of my favorite opera, CD 9695 — Doctor Atomic / Guide to Strange Places.  This CD was released in 2009.

CD 10053 - Adam’s Lament — Arvo Pärt

Do you like Arvo Pärt as much as Ethan Hicks? I doubt it, but you should still take a listen to this fantastic Pärt CD that explores many of his works including, but not limited to: Adam’s Lament, Beaatus Petronius, Salve Regina, and Estonian lullaby.  This CD was released in 2012.

 

Staff Picks:

It’s been over a year since we started writing up staff picks and with over a hundred CDs have been recommended. Therefore, one might think that we would be running out of recommendations.

Not so!

For my sixth staff picks post, I have a nice collection of awesome CDs including one of my favorite recordings

of…

all…

time…

Let’s get started then!

Arvo Pärt: Tabula Rasa

CD 5948

I first took out this CD two years ago on a whim. The name was really cool, and I had heard good things about this “Arvo Pärt” person. I then promptly forgot about it. A week later I drove up to Massachusetts overnight (to avoid the traffic from a few major cities) and discovered it on the seat next to me. It was something about the desolation of Interstate 84 in Connecticut at 4 a.m. mixed with the distant lamentations of the CD that stays with me to this day.  I can’t really describe it any other way, this is one of my favorite recordings.

Arvo Pärt: Te Deum

CD 5901

There is not much I can say about this CD other than that it is worth listening to.

Seriously…

Do it…

Kronos Quartet: Uniko

CD 5887

I don’t think there is ground left to tread that the Kronos Quartet has not already stomped all over. Anyway, get ready for this; Kronos Quartet collaborates with Finnish composers Samuli Kosminen and Kimmo Pohjonen to create a studio album that blends a string quartet with electronics and accordion. Yeah, I thought so too…

Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass

CD 6835

Now who doesnt love some arpeggiated triads?

Copland Conducts Copland

CD 3412

This CD is worth picking up for Lincoln Portrait alone. It’s perhaps one of the most famous recordings of the work and features Henry Fonda as the narrator. However, you also throw in Billy the Kid and the original Appalachian Spring ballet edition…

and Copland conducting????

Yes.

Carley’s Staff Picks!

In recent months I have been fueled by Beethoven. Piano sonatas, string quartets, symphonies, concertos, everything. So, my first staff pick is the excellent documentary In Search of Beethoven. There are too many prominent ensembles, conductors and pianists featured in the film to count. The documentary truly takes the viewer on a journey. It catalogs his works and gives us some insight into Beethoven’s remarkable personality and his empathy for humanity.

In Search of Beethoven: A film by Phil Grabsky  ~  DVD 202

Chamber music. There’s so much of it! I think Mendelssohn is a good place to start. His piano trios are remarkable (the man DID write “Songs without Words”).

Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D minor was written in 1839, the year before Schumann experienced his most prolific year of songwriting. I love that Schumann viewed Mendelssohn as the Mozart of the 19th century, saying that he was the “most of illuminating of musicians”. High praise.

The Piano Trios of Felix Mendelssohn  ~  CD 9069

2013 is the bicentennial of Verdi and Wagner! Orchestras and Opera companies all over the world are celebrating with seasons dedicated to performing great works, from the most famous to the lesser-known. The AUSO began the celebration in March with the overture from  Die Meistersinger von Nurmberg and they will be joined by the AU Chorus in a couple of weeks to keep the party going with Verdi’s Four Sacre Pezzi.

Simon Boccanegra  ~  CD 8802

Birgit Nilsson Sings Wagner Arias with Hans Hotter and Leopold Ludwig  ~  CD 8173

This one’s for Robert:

Meredith Monk: Turtle Dreams  ~  CD 9697

A Mixed Bag of New Scores!

~~~~~Something for everyone! ~~~~~

Martin Bresnick  -  Going Home (Vysoke, My Jerusalem) for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Violoncello  -  M462.B74 G65 2012

Martin Bresnick  -  Prayers Remain Forever for cello and piano  -  M233.B74 P73 2012

The Spirituals of Harry T. Burleigh for high voice  -  M1670.B87 S65 2000

Michael Daugherty  -  Deus ex Machina for piano and orchestra (2007)  -  M1010.D38 D48 2012

Michael Daugherty  -  I Loved Lucy (Yo Amaba Lucy) for flute and classical guitar  -  M297.D38 Y6 2012

Michael Daugherty  -  Route 66 for orchestra (1999)  -  M1045.D38 R68 2011

Philip Glass  -  Sonata for Violin and Piano in 3 Movements  -  M219.G53 S66 2008

Osvaldo Golijov  -  How Slow the Wind for Soprano and String Quartet  -  M1613.3 .G65 H69 2011

Jake Heggie  -  Orcas Island Ferry: Suite for Violin/Viola and Piano  -  M220.H44 O73 2012

Jacques Hetu  -  Quatuor A Cordes (String Quartet) no. 1, opus 19  -  M452.H58 op. 19 2012

Katherine Hoove  -  Ayres based on songs by John Dowland for soprano saxophone and piano  -  M269.H66 A97 2011

James MacMillan  -  Sun-Dogs for mixed choir a cappella  -  M1582.M33 S86 2011

Telemann  -  Sonata in F Major for flute and piano  -  M242.T44 S66 1974

Telemann/Wummer  -  Suite in A Minor transcribed for flute and piano  -  M244.T45 O94 1979

Wowza – New CDs!

The East meets the West in our newest batch of CDs. And who knew that the clarinet would be the binding force?

Come check ‘em out.

Rainbow: Music of Central Asia vol. 8/Kronos Quartet with Alim & Fargana Qasimov and Homayun Sakhi * CD 10058

This wonderful collaboration is part of a ten part series produced by Smithsonian Folkways Records titled “Music of Central Asia”. The Grammy-nominated series is another in a long line of remarkable projects from Folkways. Come check it out and then go online and download the free program notes!

East Meets West: Clarinet Music by Chinese Composers * CD 10059

Surrealistic Soundscapes/Man Ching and Donald Yu * CD 10062

Revelry/Lowell Liebermann * CD 10061

A Musical Celebration: New Works for Clarinet Viola and Piano * CD 10060

Cold Fact/Sixto Rodriguez * CD 9974

Coming from Realitiy/Sixto Rodriguez * CD 9971

MORE New Arrivals!

The Opera America Song-Book  ~  M1507.O64 2012

The G. Schirmer Piano Collection: 33 Works by 25 Composers from 20th and 21st Centuries  ~  M21.G25 2012

Michael Daugherty  ~  Trail of Tears for flute and chamber orchestra (2010)  ~  M1020.D38 T73 2012

Gyorgy Ligeti  ~  Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1985-88)  ~  M1010.L54 C66 2005

Gyorgy Ligeti  ~  Concerto for Violin and Orchestra  ~  M1013.L54 C66 2002

Franz Liszt  ~  Etudes D’Execution Transcendante  ~  M25.L25 E88 2004

Matthias Pintscher  ~  Funf Orchesterstucke (1997)  ~  M1045.P56 S78 1997

Matthais Pintscher  ~  tenebrae for viola, small ensemble and live electronics  ~  M1014.P56 T46 2001

Matthias Pintscher  ~  Thomas Chatterton, opera (1994-8)  ~  M1500.P56 T56 1998

Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians  ~  M1528.R45 M87 2000

Heitor Villa-Lobos  ~  Douze Etudes pour guitare seule  ~  M127.V55 E88 2011

Paul Chihara: Viola Concerto and Music for Viola, Vol. 2  ~  CD 10054

Advent at Ephesus: Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles ~  CD 10050

Kurtag 80, conducted by Zoltan Kocsis  ~  CD 10052

Gabrieli: Sacred Symphonies  ~  CD 10049

Starfucker  ~  CD 10055

True Blugrass Banjo  ~  CD 10051

Austin Peralta: Endless Planets  ~  CD 10056

The Complete Atomic Basie  ~  CD 10057

We just got Eighth Blackbird’s GRAMMY NOMINATED “Meanwhile” (and other scores, CDs, DVD)

Get excited about our newest acquisition, Eighth Blackbird’s recent release “Meanwhile”: CD 10048.

“Is there an ensemble anywhere that conveys the sheer exuberance and joy of contemporary music like Eighth Blackbird? To listen to this brilliant young American sextet is to be constantly reminded of just how exciting, funny and ingratiating new work can be – especially when it’s delivered with these players’ characteristic blend of breakneck virtuosity and charm.”

- Joshua Kosman for the San Fransisco Chronicle

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The Kashmere Stage Band: Texas Thunder Soul, 1968-1974 - CD 10047

Paul Winter Sextet: Jazz Meets the Bossa Nova/Folk Song – CD 10046

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DVD

Chops – Music Library DVD 55

Follows a group of high school students from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, a public school in Jacksonville, FL, as they try to win a competition where the prize is being able to play at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Festival at New York’s Lincoln Center and an opportunity to work with famed jazz musician Wynton Marsalis.

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JOHN CAGE

Bird Cage  -  M1473.C34.B57 1972

Chess Pieces for Piano  -  M25.C34 C54 2005

 Nocturne for Violin and Piano  -  M221.C34 N63 1972

Radio Music  -  M1473.C34 R33 1961

Sonata for Clarinet  -  M72.C34 S66 1963

Sonata for Two Voices  -  M298.5.C34 S66 1979

String Quartet in four parts  -  M452.C32 S77 1960

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MORE NEW SCORES!

David Amram  -  Cancion de Verano: A Piano Quartet for Young Musicians  -  M412 A47.C36 2012

J.S. Bach  -  Sechs Partiten for Klavier, 1-3  -  M24.B115 S8 1958 v. 1

Ludwig van Beethoven  -  Three Equali for four Trombones WoO 30  – M457.4.B44 D74 2012

Luigi Carvelli  -  Serenata Napolitana for Violoncello and Piano  -  M233.C37 S47 2012

Richard Danielpour  -  Spirits in the Well for Soprano and Piano  -  M1621.4.D36 S65 2012

Michael Daugherty  -  Elvis Everywhere for String Quartet and Tape  -  M585.D38 E48 2010

Jacob Druckman  -  Dance with Shadows for Brass Quintet  – M557.4.D78 D36 2012

Beat Furrer (yes that is a name)  -  Phasma for Piano  -  M25.F87 P53 2005

David Friedman  -  Mirror from Another: A collection of solo pieces for vibraphone  -  M175.X6 F75 1987

Osvaldo Golijob  -  Tenebrae (Version III) for String Quartet  -  M454.G65 T46 2011

Aram Khachaturian  -  Double Fugue for string quartet  -  M452.K53 D68 2011

Lowell Lieberman  -  Six Songs on Poems of Nelly Sachs, Op. 14 for Soprano and Piano  -  M1621.L54 op.14 2012

Steve Mackey  -  Fusion Tone for Electric Guitar and Violoncello  -  M295.M33 F87 2012

Steve Reich  -  Know what is above you for Three Soprano Singers, One Alto Singer, and 2 Small Tuned Drums – M2019.5.R45 K66 2012

Igor Stravinsky  -  Circus Polka composed for a Young Elephant, for saxophone quartet  -  M459.S77 C57 2011

Just Keep on Doin’ It! ~ New CD’s ~

Well hello there! You came just in time, we have some new CDs to show you

Look! There they are:

The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues Vol. 1 ~ CD 10027

The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues Vol. 2 ~ CD 10028

Santa’s got Mojo 2 ~ CD 10029

Jeff Holmes Quartet ~ Of One’s Own ~ CD 10030

Michael Feinberg ~ The Elvin Jones Project ~ CD 10031

Dream Girls ~ Original Broadway Cast Album ~ CD 10032

Benny Andersson ~ Kristina ~ CD 10033

Herbie Hancock ~ Secrets ~ CD 10034

Dan Visconti ~ Lonesome Roads ~ CD 10035

Black Manhattan Vol. 2 ~ CD 10036