Premieres II Saturday December 1, 2018 at 8pm St. John’s in the Village 218 West 11th Street, Manhattan
Cheryl Aden C4's 2018-19 Featured Artist
C4 welcomes photographer Cheryl Aden as our 2018-19 Featured Artist and creative collaborator. She has contributed photos from her body of work to C4's season. Cheryl describes her artistic style and inspiration:
www.cheryladen.com
Nature is my photographic playground. From wideangle to micro-landscapes, and close-up portraits of organic life or inorganic forms, I explore the sensuosity and drama of the natural world. My training and background as an actress and singer lay the groundwork for a visual storytelling: my work investigates tension, relationship, tonality, vibrancy in what is discarded as well as what is saved, in what is mundane and commonplace as well as what is extraordinary. Always a bit of the rebel, I challenge the notion of beauty and traditional views.
Watch for your opportunity to own one of these beautiful photographs at an art auction in 2019, for the benefit of C4.
Many thanks to Cheryl for her generosity and creative dedication to C4.
C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective
PREMIERES II
Saturday, December 1, 8:00pm: St. John's in the Village, Manhattan, NY
Beatitudes
Tamsin Jones (b. 1972)
Gate of Dreamworld
Cem Güven (b. 1997)
Daniel Andor-Ardó, conductor
Perry Townsend, conductor
text from Matthew 5:3–12
Vanishing
Jamie Klenetsky Fay (b. 1984)
A Slave in the Land of Liberty
Anselm McDonnell (b. 1994)
Magazine Girls
Artemisz Polonyi (b. 1981)
Timothy Brown, conductor
Timothy Brown, conductor Sherwin Chao, tenor Brian Mountford, bass
Annie Beliveau, Alexandra Schleuderer, Melissa Wozniak, solo speakers Alexandra Schleuderer, soprano
poem by Jamie Klenetsky Fay
text by Thomas D. Reilly
poem by JoAnn DeLuna
Hashtactivism
Alexander Boostrom (b. 1986)
Brændte Skibe
Harriet Steinke (b. 1994)
Amber Evans, conductor Jennifer Wu, Melissa Wozniak, sopranos Jamie Klenetsky Fay, Leonore Nelson, altos Eli Berman, Perry Townsend, tenors Alexander Boostrom, Hayes Biggs, basses
Melissa Wozniak, conductor Artemisz Polonyi, soprano Leonore Nelson, alto Perry Townsend, tenor Alexander Boostrom, bass
text by Alexander Boostrom
poem by Henrik Ibsen
Each piece on this program is receiving its world premiere tonight.
A Note from C4 Over a decade ago, C4 was founded by composers who wanted to workshop the choral music they were writing, wanted to explore the limits and possibilities of music for voices by rehearsing and performing it together. Over the years, C4 moved more into the realm of a performing group. We have grown as an ensemble, and while we have always been happy to consider submissions of completed scores for programming, we've never invited composers to workshop material during the rehearsal process. This changes now. Welcome to the second concert of our Premieres series, in which several composers bring their work to C4 for critique, to help them figure out the most effective ways to create and notate music for chorus. Tonight you will hear music that has been refined through the workshop process, which can be challenging! You may wonder what the composers themselves think of the process. Here are a few words from tonight's composers: “This was a truly collaborative, educational experience that I won't forget.” “I am grateful for all the composer perspectives, as there were some brilliant ideas.” “My favourite part was to hear my piece being rehearsed. I learnt a lot, especially how to phrase something that enables and not disables.” “The feedback from each individual performer gives a totally new perspective about writing choral music.” “I felt supported and encouraged… I believe that I have become a better composer.” These composers are brave and wonderful: It takes courage to put a new work in front of 25 experienced singers, conductors, and fellow composers, and then ask for critique. We hope you admire this new music and the people who create it as much as we do; we are thrilled to help bring it to life, any and every way we can. - Martha Sullivan
Beatitudes
Tamsin Jones
text from Matthew 5:3–12 (King James Version) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness's sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Tamsin Jones Tamsin Jones comes from the UK. She was educated at Newcastle and Birmingham Universities, earning a doctorate for her research into the music of Schütz. She bases her “New Baroque” composing style on Renaissance and Baroque models, and also brings into play such exotic influences as the Okinawan pentatonic scale heard in “Beatitudes.” Tamsin’s music, with its contrapuntal play and bright sonorities, is becoming increasingly popular, both in the UK and overseas. Her flute trio “Fugue in Sepia” was toured in Canada by Trio Taco last summer, and several carols and others pieces including her 10-part canonic “Ave Maria” will be premiered in England and France in the coming months. With the help of Matthew Curtis and others, an album of Tamsin’s choral and organ pieces appeared in 2017 entitled Of a Rose. It is available on iTunes, Amazon and elsewhere online. More information at tamsinjones.co.uk.
Gate of Dreamworld Cem Güven
This piece has no text
Cem Güven Cem Güven is a composer from Istanbul, Turkey, who currently studies with John Corigliano at the Juilliard School in New York City. He graduated from Galileo Galilei Italian High School and he studied piano performance with Dr. Eser Bilgeman Şakir at the Istanbul University State Conservatory. He studied composition privately with Deniz Arat, who is on the faculty of Mimar Sinan Conservatory. He was also one of the youngest opera singers of Turkey. He performed the role of Miles in the opera The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten, which was organized by Süreyya Stage. He has attended several music festivals, such as Gümüşlük Music Festival, where he studied with the pianist Gülsin Onay and the pianist/composer Fazıl Say; Interlochen Summer Music Festival, where he studied composition with Dr. Robert Brownlow; and Curtis Summerfest, where he studied composition with Jonathan Holland, David Ludwig, and Shinun Lee.
Vanishing
Jamie Klenetsky Fay
poem by Jamie Klenetsky Fay I always walk down this street And smile at the fading painted sign The peeling vinyl stools It felt like some sort of home In this sea of gray and glass heights One day, something changed I saw a sign in the window It said: “The rent is too high.” And its contents were swept away Painted over a soft gray The sign, a Craftsman white And inside, there’s no light
Jamie Klenetsky Fay Jamie Klenetsky Fay is a vocalist and composer from Morristown, NJ. She currently sings with Manhattan’s C4: The Composer/Conductor Collective, a choir dedicated to the performance of music written within the past 25 years. Previously, she was previously an artist in residence with the Continuo Arts Foundation and a member of Eastern Opera of New Jersey. Her choral compositions have been performed by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, C4, and C3LA (C4's counterpart in Los Angeles). This year, Jamie participated in The Mile-Long Opera, a massive choral project that was performed on New York's High Line in October, and in Kansas City's inaugural Breath Mark Retreat. Learn more about Jamie at www.jamieklenetsky.com.
A Slave in the Land of Liberty Anselm McDonnell
text taken from a letter by Thomas D. Reilly, Albany, New York, to John M. Kelly, Dublin, April 24th, 1848. Dear John, I am a slave in the land of liberty. When I took out my prayer book in the chapel today, I thought my heart would break, not because it is weak, but, friendless, deserted and lonely… I left Dublin on February 19th, and the wind followed in our wake for three days on the Atlantic. The fourth day the monsters of the deep showed their heads, and truly Boreas spent his rage on us that night. We were tumbled out of our berths, the vessel rolling from side to side like a heavy log. Billows striking with the noise of a thousand hammers. Below no light, the hatches nailed down, some praying, some crying some cursing and singing, everything topsy-turvy, - barrels, boxes, children rolling about with the swaying vessel. Perhaps, I will return to Ireland with green flag flying above me. I care not if it becomes my shroud. It was enough for me to see you on the beach, all lonely…
Anselm McDonnell Anselm McDonnell is a Northern Irish composer based in Belfast. His instrumental and choral works often integrate extended techniques and theatrical elements such as vocalisation or stage directions alongside more conventional writing to increase the dramatic impact of the work. His work has been performed in Japan, Russia, France and various locations around the UK and Ireland. Anselm's music has been performed by ensembles such as the BBC Singers, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, The Ulster Orchestra, St. Salvator’s Chapel Choir, HRSE, The Assembly Project, Grosvenor Chorale, Rosetta Contemporary Music Ensemble (Japan) and Gallery of Actual Music Ensemble (Russia). Competitively, Anselm was privileged to be a finalist in the Peter Rosser Composition Award run by the HRSE (twice, in 2015 and 2018) and awarded 1st prize in the Irish Feis Ceoil twice. In July 2018 a collection of his choral works was awarded first prize in the 3rd International Kastalsky Choral Writing Competition, with the possibility of a performance in Moscow. His first recorded choral piece, "Hinneni," was commercially released by the St. Salvatore’s Chapel Choir on a CD celebrating the music of Sir James MacMillan, Annunciations. Anselm has been commissioned by the Rhinegold publication Choir & Organ to write a new work for Easter 2019, which will be printed in the magazine and available to choirs internationally. More info at www.anselmguitar.co.uk.
Magazine Girls Artemisz Polonyi
poem (excerpted) by JoAnn DeLuca ... I wanna be on the cover of a magazine living on billboards for eternity. I wanna hang like those naked girls in art galleries, whose financial worth, is exponential to my current salary, where men don’t touch the art, they let the art touch them. Where I am seen —AND heard, cherished, celebrated, admired, Handled with care. Where 80 percent of art is female —even if females created only 5 percent of art.
Artemisz Polonyi
I want to stand on pedestals naked brazen free authentic femininity. Standing before me in silence you contemplate my ethereal beauty. The bigger my belly, the more stimulating the painting. The darker my skin, the more complex the contrast. The more vivid my suffering, the more profound my existence. Female involuntarily becomes art. Art is indisputably respected. I am beautiful because I am art. I am art because I am woman.
Artemisz Polonyi is a vocalist, composer and voice teacher currently living in NYC. Born and raised in Hungary, her musical foundations are built on Hungary’s choral music, the Kodály method and the beautiful folk traditions of Eastern Europe. She holds an MA in sociology from ELTE, Hungary, and an MA in jazz voice from William Paterson University, NJ, which she earned as a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship. She sings, plays percussion and writes music for Asaran Earth Trio, a NYC-based vocal and percussion group, which performs music folk music from all over the world in both traditional and modern interpretations. Artemisz is a proud choir member at the Brick Presbyterian Church, and the Mendota Consort, where she sings early music. She sings and composes for C4, the Composers Conductors Choral Collective. She is a dedicated voice teacher, who believes that every human being has music inside, and strives to do everything in her power to help her students reach that. Artemisz is also a teaching artist for the 92Y’s Discover music program, and the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s Urban Voices and Students Compose Opera program.
Hashtactivism
Alexander Boostrom text by Alexander Boostrom 2008 #tcot #fem2 2013 #blacklivesmatter 2014 #icantbreathe #handsup #dontshoot #ferguson #crimingwhilewhite
#alivewhileblack #heforshe #whyistayed #notallmen #yesallwomen 2015 #bluelivesmatter #altright #everydaysexism #oscarssowhite #jesuischarlie
#prayforparis #istandwithahmed #lovewins 2016 #lockherup #maga #makeamericawhiteagain 2017 #takeaknee #metoo
Alexander Boostrom Alexander Boostrom grew up in Evansville, Indiana. With an interest in composition, he wrote several pieces while learning about music through score study and aural experiences. Alexander went to Lawrence University for his undergraduate degree. In 2009, he graduated with a bachelor’s of music in piano performance. Despite focusing mainly on piano during this time, he took every opportunity to enhance his compositional skills. He studied with Joanne Metcalf, David Dies, and the late Jennifer Fitzgerald. He also spent his free time reading through orchestration books and treatises. It was during this time that Alexander realized his fascination with film scoring. He discovered Richard Wagner’s concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, a synthesis of all the arts. This greatly influenced Alexander’s insight into the potential of music. He saw movies as an attempt to unify the visual with the aural, especially in the work of such film composers as Bernard Herrmann, Jerry Goldsmith, Alfred Newman, John Williams, Danny Elfman, Randy Newman and Thomas Newman. Upon graduation from Lawrence University, Alexander took time to grow as a composer while studying with Dr. Theresa Martin. In 2012, Alexander began his masters in music composition at the University of Florida. While there, Alexander worked with Drs. Paul Richards, Paul Koonce, and James Paul Sain. His master’s thesis consisted of three silent film scores that were performed by the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra accompanying the movies. Currently, Alexander is a freelance musician and the music director of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Brændte Skibe Harriet Steinke
poem by Henrik Ibsen Han vendte sine skuders stavne fra nord, søgte lysere guders legende spor.
To skies that were brighter Turned he his prows; To gods that were lighter Made he his vows.
Snelandets bauner slukned i hav; solstrandens fauner stilled hans krav.
The snow-land's mountains Sank in the deep; Sunnier fountains Lulled him to sleep.
Han brændte sine skibe; — blånende røg som en bro-banes stribe nordover føg. —
He burns his vessels, The smoke flung forth On blue cloud-trestles A bridge to the north.
Mod snelandets hytter, fra solstrandens krat, rider en rytter hver eneste nat.
From the sun-warmed lowland Each night that betides, To the huts of the snow-land A horseman rides.
Harriet Steinke Harriet Steinke is a composer and collaborator currently based in Detroit, Michigan. She has received recent recognition from the American Composers Forum as a composer-in-residence for the 2018 Showcase as well as summer fellowships at both the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival (Norfolk, CT) and Weekend of Chamber Music (Jeffersonville, NY). Performances of her work from the past year include premieres with the 2017 Ann Arbor SongSlam, the 7Songwriters Series (NYC), the Third Place Concert Series (Ann Arbor), the Circle City Chamber Choir (Indianapolis, IN), as well as forthcoming performances with the Grand Band piano sextet, Classical Revolution Cleveland, and the Soundstreams Emerging Composers Workshop (Toronto, ON). She currently organizes the Detroit Composers' Project, an outgrowth of some local collaborations, centered on facilitating performances of new music in the city of Detroit among area-based performers and composers. She studied composition with Michael Schelle, Frank Felice, and Ronald Caltabiano at Butler University and received additional training at the EAMA-Nadia Boulanger Institute in Paris, France. Some of her choral music is currently published by Hal Leonard Corporation and Colla Voce Music. Read more at www.harrietsteinke.com.
We wish to thank and acknowledge our donors: Concert Sponsors Feryal Algosaibi Lauren Mitchell & Michael David Ellen Stafford-Sigg & Daniel Sigg Cutting-Edge Circle Nan Bases David Hurd Innovative Circle Kit Smyth Basquin* Gayann Cotner Bruce Saylor Patricia Siegel Creative Circle Mark & Kathy Calkin John Evans Gerald Gelber Elizabeth Marker Mary Meyer Sue Backstrom & Jon Minikes Debby Katz & Ian David Moss Charles Natt Rochelle & Bernard Natt Linda Schrank* Harold See Kenneth & Jean Telljohann Bill Tribby David Wozniak Anonymous (1) Contemporary Circle Jeff Bairstow Thomas Baker Nicole Belmont Nina Bitton Craig & Loren Blum Lauren & Michael Blumenfeld Andre Bregegere
Contemporary Circle (cont'd) Gregory Brown Sandra Carlson Elizabeth Clark Martin & Lisa Cohen Nan & Lee Corbin Donald Crockett Charles Dorkey Orianne Dutka Neil Farrell Susan Feingold Katie FitzGerald Joseph Fong* Andrea & David Gelber Ellen Gesmer Grace Goodman Diane Gottlieb Jeanine Hartnett Ira & Becky Horowitz Jeffrey James Linnea Johnson Charles Katz Janet Keogan Sarah Kerner Bob & Jan Klump Rob LaDuca Jon & Miriam Lafferty Parky Lee The Levin-Delsons Linda & Leslie Libow Stanley & Nannette Lieblein Evelyn Liston James Stephen Longo Peter Lurye Stella McKeown Blair McMillen Angela Menghraj Edward & Rose Mermelstein Peter & Christine Metz Howard Miller
We wish to thank and acknowledge our donors (cont'd): Contemporary Circle (cont'd) Philip Morehead Ruth Mueller-Maerki Marjorie Naughton Lois & George Orzel Zahra Partovi* Laura Perrone Amy Rice Debra Rich Joseph Rubinstein Phillip Schroeder Gail Seiden Robert Smith Martin & Barbara Solomon Anne Thulin* Mary Ellen Townsend Gail Williams William Wydro Grant Yosenick
Includes donations from 7/1/17 - 11/12/18 Concert Sponsor: $1,000-$4,999 Cutting-Edge Circle: $600-$999 Innovative Circle: $350-$599 Creative Circle: $125-$349 Contemporary Circle: $1-$124 If we have made an error, please accept our apologies and notify us at info@c4ensemble.org.
C4 Board of Directors C4 could not function without the dedicated work of its board of directors. We are very grateful to: Fahad Siadat, Chair Maya Ben-Meir Colin Britt Karen Siegel Larry Siegel Melissa Wozniak, Treasurer
*Friend of C4
Advisory Board Eric Banks Lisa Bielawa David Harris David Hurd Aaron Jay Kernis Tania León Harold Levine Clara Longstreth Ian David Moss Tarik O'Regan Kent Tritle Toby Twining
Special thanks to our composer mentors for the Premieres II Workshop: Timothy Brown Mario Gullo Brian Mountford Perry Townsend
Don't miss C4's next concert! C4 presents Voices Up, a collaborative concert with the winners of Fordham University's Poets Out Loud competition, Julia Bouwsma and Henk Rossouw. C4 composers have set poetry from Bouwsma's Midden and Rossouw's Xamissa to music, to be premiered along with other choral works. For tickets and more information, visit c4ensemble.org/april-2019-cycle-2.
VOICES UP Tuesday, April 30, 2019 - 7:30pm Fordham University Lincoln Center 113 West 60th Street New York, NY
St. John's in the Village St. John’s in the Village is a place where music, both sacred and secular, is almost part of the architecture, whether presented liturgically or in concert or recital. St. John’s professional choir sings regularly from September to June (11:00am on Sundays) and the children’s chorister program runs in school term time, as do piano tuition and youth chorus. Concert series are presented seasonally, featuring musicians local to Manhattan and from farther afield. St. John’s is home to a Steinway C grand piano, a Yamaha grand, a two-manual harpsichord, and is the USA home of the Ferrara International Piano Festival. See the website for all concerts and other musical events in the arts series: stjvny.org Contact us at admin@stjvny.org to receive the weekly e-bulletin listing upcoming events.
C4 exists to enrich artists and audiences alike, through passionate advocacy of new choral works, performing pieces written within the last 25 years, premiering and commissioning new choral works, and mentoring emerging singers, composers, and conductors of today's choral music. www.c4ensemble.org
Support Us! Please consider joining C4's family of supporters by donating online at c4ensemble.org/support-c4 or sending a check made out to C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective, to: C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective c/o The Artist Co-op 500 West 52nd Street, 3W New York, NY 10019
C4 is proud to be a part of the
C4's activities are funded in part with the generous assistance of:
C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective Sopranos Amber Evans Artemisz Polonyi Alexandra Schleuderer Joy Tamayo Melissa Wozniak Jennifer Wu
Tenors Eli Berman Sherwin Chao Mario Gullo Perry Townsend Richard Tucker
Altos Annie Beliveau Catey Esler Jamie Klenetsky Fay Jane Lawson Leonore Nelson Hilary Purrington
Basses Daniel Andor-Ardó Hayes Biggs Alexander Boostrom Timothy Brown Brian Mountford David See
For more information on C4 members, visit our website: c4ensemble.org/the-ensemble.html