Evento

GRAVITAS: Investigating Gravity

Gravity: the force that keeps us grounded, even as were buffeted by extreme winds. In addition to its meaning as a physical force, the word gravity describes seriousness and imminent consequence. As we contemplate the extreme winds of uncertainty in the world around us, staying grounded - physically and figuratively - becomes ever more important.

GRAVITAS, The Esoterics' October concert, will present new choral music that explores the many facets of gravity, grounding us and inspiring us toward greater sincerity, depth, and community thoughtfulness.

The centerpiece of GRAVITAS will be world premieres by the three winners of this years POLYPHONOS competition. Conrad Asman (from Cape Town, South Africa), in My eyes are always hungry, set verses by Audre Lorde that were written in memory of Emmett Till, a black youth whose murder in 1955 is often considered the hate crime that changed America. Daniel Sabzghabaei (from Baltimore via Ithaca) composed The Blue Booby, setting a poem by James Tate that describes a day in the life of the Galapagos birds. His score is a vivid extension of Tates own poetic gravitas. In Mheri dur, Vahram Sarkissian (from Montreal via Yerevan, Armenia) recounts a portion of the ancient Armenian Epic of Sassoon, in which the weight of a warriors guilt impedes him from crossing the threshold to leave his self-imposed imprisonment.

All three composers will be joining us for the entire concert weekend. Were excited to meet our guest composers and share their music with you!

In addition to the world premieres, this concert program will feature two choral cycles by the New York composer Robert Paterson. The essence of gravity is Robs four-movement onomatopoeic exploration of love and war, orbits and tides, taking us from the violence of gravity bombs to the serenity of floating in outer space. Patersons Eternal reflections is a cycle of three heart-rending poems by Czeslaw Milosz, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Mary Elizabeth Frye. The ensemble will also reprise Steven Stuckys madrigal Gravitys dream, a whimsical setting of a poem by the composers longtime friend, Kate Light.

The Esoterics will offer three performances of GRAVITAS. Please join us for this extraordinary concert series!