Finding Harmony In Jewish, Christian, Arab Music Traditions

http://www.huliq.com/51399/finding-harmony-jewish-christian-arab-music-traditions
In one of its most innovative programs of the season, Seattle Symphony presents modern composer Osvaldo Golijov’s visionary song-cycle, Ayre, composed specifically for the incomparable Dawn Upshaw. This cross-cultural masterpiece will be performed by Upshaw and an ensemble of musicians known as Orquesta Los Pelegrinos, on Friday, February 29, at 8 p.m.

The Pacific Northwest premiere of Stephen Hartke’s Meanwhile, Incidental music to imaginary puppet plays, and George Crumb’s Vox Balaenae for amplified flute, cello and piano also will be performed.

Inspired by a time when Jews, Christians and Arabs coexisted in 15th century Spain, Ayre (A Medieval Spanish term meaning “air” or “melody”) finds harmony in the shard musical histories of these, at times, combative cultures. Mixing texts and melodies from each tradition, Golijov uses old-world and modern musical techniques, such as laptops and recorded sounds, to melt away the cultural barriers between these faiths. Amplified by Dawn Upshaw’s unmatched vocal capacity, Ayre both embraces the musical distinctiveness of these cultures and also expresses their common humanity.

Based on the mysterious beauty of Asian puppet theater, Stephen Hartke’s Meanwhile makes its Pacific Northwest debut, using creatively abstract elements – such as a stocking full of BB’s in the piano – to create exotic sounds and enchanting melodies. Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award–winner George Crumb’s Vox Balaenae uses imaginative techniques, including the ‘spoken flute’ (the musician speaks while blowing into the instrument) and amplified cello to interpret the hypnotic “voice of the whale,” for which the piece is named.

Beginning her career at the Metropolitan Opera in 1984, Dawn Upshaw has premiered more than 25 works in the past decade, including Ayre. With more than 50 recordings and four Grammy Awards, Upshaw was named a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation last year; this five-year award noted her as “a new model of a performer who is directly involved in the creation of contemporary music.”

Single tickets from $15 to $65. -- www.seattlesymphony.org