Described by The New Yorker as “friendly, unpretentious, idealistic and highly skilled,” eighth blackbird promises its ever-increasing audiences provocative and engaging performances. It is widely lauded for its performing style – often playing from memory with virtuosic and theatrical flair – and its efforts to make new music accessible to wide audiences. A New York Times reviewer raved, “eighth blackbird’s performances are the picture of polish and precision, and they seem to be thoroughly engaged…by music in a broad range of contemporary styles.” The sextet has been the subject of profiles in the New York Times and on NPR’s All Things Considered; it has also been featured on CBS’s Sunday Morning, St. Paul Sunday, Weekend America and The Next Big Thing, among others. The ensemble is in residence at the University of Richmond in Virginia and at the University of Chicago. Visit eigthblackbird.com for more information on 3p's ensemble-in-residence.
I Gusti Putu Sudarta is a renowned musician, composer, dancer and shadow master from the village of Bedulu in Bali, Indonesia. He is a permanent faculty member in the theater department at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts in Denpasar, Bali. Mr. Sudarta has been studying the Balinese perfoming arts since the age of six and participates in weekly ceremonial and secular performances. Since the mid 1980s he has participated in yearly international tours of Balinese traditional and experimental music and dance. He has taken part in numerous inter-cultural experimental theater and music collaborations including the Theft of Sita project in collaboration with the Australian composer Paul Grabowksy and theater director Nigel Jameson. Mr. Sudarta is currently a visiting artist in residence at the University of Richmond where he teaches Balinese dance, gamelan music and theater. The performance will also feature Andrew McGraw, Semi Ryu, Stefano Faralli and eighth blackbird.
So Percussion has been called "astonishing and entrancing" by Billboard, ant "brilliant" by the New York Times. Coming together in the green pastures of New Haven, at Yale's graduate program, the group was created to give fresh voice to what co-founder Jason Treuting calls "funky contemporary music." Devoted to the conceptual dreamscapes of Reich, Iannis Xenakis, John Cage, and others, So established a disciplined work ethic, learning pieces whole -- memorized and absorbed -- instead of merely read. In performance, music stands were jettisoned for a stunning live dynamic. Learn more about So Percussion at their website.
Trollstilt (yep, like a stilt belonging to a troll) composes and performs new music inspired by the folk traditions of Norway and America. Combining the diverse musical interests of Dan Trueman (Hardanger and electric fiddles) and Monica Mugan (Classical and steel-string guitars), this duo derives its name from a traditional tuning used by Hardanger fiddlers, also known as the "Devil's Tuning." Trollstilt's original compositions are un-notated, co-composed, and often open form, involving improvisation. Formed in 1997, Trollstilt has performed widely (in concert and on radio) in the United States and in Norway, and has been featured on both contemporary art and folk festivals, including the Bang-on-a-Can Marathon, Den Norske Folkemusikkveka, and the Chamber Music America National Conference in NYC.
at the university of richmond
october 19 @ 7:30pm
october 20 @ 11am, 4pm, 7:30pm
all concerts are free and open to the public