Primavera

Festival of Contemporary Arts and Digital Media

March 8–April 13, 2011, UCSB

March 8 and April 6 — Ensemble for Contemporary Music

Rustlin’ Up Spring

Here’s part of ECM’s gift to the 2011 PRIMAVERA festival roundup even before Spring’s official. The concert says “spring is coming” with a strong tilt in the direction of UCSB seed product and seminal American composers, although Aussie Peter Sculthorpe’s in the mix with his Sonata for Viola and Percussion, [Gentry Hill, violist; Dylan Morrow-Jones, percussion]. Faculty composer Joel Feigin presents a significant selection from John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano, a landmark work. Violinist Dimitry Olevsky looks into movements from Lou Harrison’s rollicking Grand Duo, and there are UCSB-authored premieres of Joann Cho’s Golden Winter State and David Gordon’s The Distant Sound, both for ensemble. A late addition is a memorial tribute as we take the first occasion afforded us to remember Henryk Gorecki, internationally famed composer who just died in November. By way of remembrance, ECM offers Gorecki’s Muzyczka 3 for violas [Rachel Galvin, Gentry Hill, Shannon McCue, violas].

All for One, One for All

After a spirited reunion ECM’s members detach to perform singly in this concert unique in the group’s history. You’ll see multiple composers alone onstage premiering their own pieces, just as happened in the Classical era. Featured repertoire includes: rapid.fire by Jennifer Higdon, with Katherine Stuwe, flute; Salute for the Earl of Seafoth by Santa Barbara’s Stephen Wilcox [Kacey Link, piano]; Leslie Hogan’s Organizing Principles, [Virginia Kron, cello], La Llorona, for amplified piano and efx, premiered by its composer Jeremy Haladyna; Material, in the version for saxophone and electronics, premiered by its composer Joel Hunt, and music by Joann Cho with first performance by its composer.

The University of California–Santa Barbara’s Ensemble for Contemporary Music, directed by Dr. Jeremy Haladyna, is the resident contemporary music ensemble for the UCSB Department of Music. Its members include outstanding student and faculty performers. Formed in 1992, it has performed to high acclaim both on campus and in the Santa Barbara community.

“The ECM is the place to go for new music.” — Santa Barbara Independent

“When it comes to the sparse portions of contemporary music available in Santa Barbara, eager ears tend to lean toward UCSB, where its Ensemble for Contemporary Music presents several academic concerts each year.” — Santa Barbara News Press

“The Ensemble for Contemporary Music continues to play an important role in the musical life of Santa Barbara.” — Santa Barbara Independent

“This important event (New Music Festival) has quietly worked wonders over the past several years. Among the composers brought to town for past festivals are Milton Babbitt, Mel Powell, Lou Harrison, and Henry Brant.” — Los Angeles Times

Jeremy Haladyna, Director

Jeremy Haladyna holds prizes and academic qualifications from three countries. He is a diplòmè of the history-rich Schola Cantorum on Paris’ Left Bank. He also holds the Master’s degree with Distinction from the University of Surrey (U.K.). He has taught undergraduate composition at UCSB since 1991 and was awarded the Ph.D. in composition in 1993. In addition to his responsibilities with ECM, he teaches orchestration and is on the faculty of the College of Creative Studies, UCSB. As pianist, composer, conductor and organist, he has long been committed to the espousal of new music. Prizes from the Friends of Lili Boulanger and Britain’s MCPS Ltd. bear witness to his creativity, and his own music has recently been heard at St. John’s Smith Square, London; South Bank Centre, London; St. Paul’s Cathedral, London; BMIC, London; and the National Museum of Art, Mexico City. His On The Mat of The Jaquar Priest, written for Jill Felber, appears on Neuma records.