Brooklyn Rider

With their gripping performance style and unquenchable appetite for musical adventure, Brooklyn Rider has carved a singular space in the world of string quartets over their fifteen-year history. Defining the string quartet as a medium with deep historic roots and endless possibility for invention, they find equal inspiration in musical languages ranging from late Beethoven to Persian classical music to American roots music to the endlessly varied voices of living composers.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

The concept of four classical elements – Earth, Air, Fire, Water – as foundation for the physical world was shared across ancient cultures, included those in Greece, Egypt, Persia, Babylonia, India and beyond. In parallel, the unique musical ecosystem of the string quartet is a balance of four equal and living elements, collectively capable of giving voice to the vast beauties and mysteries of our world as well as the highly destructive forces which, taken together, represent the single greatest challenge of our time.

In their latest project, Brooklyn Rider has assembled a novel program anchored by four works symbolically representing earth, air, fire water; all created within the last century of accelerated and unprecedented planetary change. In addition, Brooklyn Rider has asked four brilliant composers to write new works that reflect current realities and serve as a musical call to action.

EARTH: New commission by Dan Trueman & Ruth Crawford Seeger (arranged by Colin Jacobsen) – Suite of American Folk Songs
AIR: New commission by Andreia Pinto-Correia & Henri Dutilleux –Ainsi la nuit
FIRE: New commission by Akshaya Avril Tucker & Dmitri Shostakovitch – String Quartet #8
WATER: New commission by Conrad Tao & Osvaldo Golijov

Brooklyn Rider will collaborate with presenters to craft presentations around these 8 works which can contextualize the work, as well as a community-wide discussion of the ecological discussions we currently face.

Watch the video below for a peak at these wonderful performers in action!

Adult $45 | K-12 free with accompanying adult | All fees included

Thank you our Chamber Music Series sponsor:

and thank you to our Chamber Reception sponsor:

Please note that we no longer have any COVID restrictions, but we encourage everyone to follow CDC Quarantine & Isolation recommendations. UMaine’s current COVID policies can be found here.