by Jarrett Hoffman
IN THIS EDITION:
•On the calendar: a period-instrument trio, and solo piano plus electronics
•MLK Community Chorus visits the Cavs, and competition news from Cleveland Chamber Choir
•An article about cultural institutions facing decisions about presenting Russian art and artists
•Almanac: Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, and a musical memorial offered by flutist and composer Hong-Da Chin
HAPPENING TODAY:
Today’s calendar begins with a period-instrument trio, and ends with new music for solo piano and electronics.
At 12:00 pm, Baroque violinists Andrew Hatfield and Guillermo Salas Suáre join Baroque cellist Jane Leggiero on the Tuesday Noon at the Covenant series — free whether in-person or online.
And at 8:00 in the evening, the duo of pianist David Friend and composer Jerome Begin (pictured above) will present a preview performance of their upcoming album Post, a set of pieces exploring the uncanny valley “where human, acoustic, and electronic/processed elements interact and overlap in hard to define, disorienting ways.” The free recital takes place at Kent State’s Ludwig Hall and is presented by No Exit and KSU.
More details in our Concert Listings.
CHOIR, CAVS & COMPETITION
The MLK Community Chorus was featured at halftime of a Cavaliers game last week, performing Turn Me ’Round and Guide My Feet as part of the team’s multi-week Black History Celebration. Watch the video here.
And keep an eye on news coming from the Cleveland Chamber Choir, which has been named a semifinalist for the American Prize, professional choral division — finalists to be announced soon.
INTERESTING READ:
As Russia presses on with its widely-condemned invasion of Ukraine, cultural institutions continue to grapple with decisions about presenting Russian art and artists, as well as what to do about Russian donors. “The situation is tense and fast moving,” Javier C. Hernández writes in The New York Times. “Leaders of organizations are facing pressure from donors, board members and audiences, not to mention waves of anger on social media, where campaigns to cancel several Russian artists have rapidly gained traction.”
TODAY’S ALMANAC:
Over the past two weeks, eyes have been glued to the news as people around the world lament the start of a war.
A different kind of tragedy, one that also garnered extensive coverage in the media, occurred on this date in 2014, when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members, disappeared from radar. After an extensive search, the plane was never found, though debris from the aircraft washed ashore in the western Indian Ocean in the subsequent years.
The mystery surrounding the plane’s disappearance has invited a great deal of curiosity. That’s only natural. But we shouldn’t forget that at its core, this event likely meant the cold fact of 239 lives lost.
During an interview with this publication in June 2018, Malaysian-born composer and flutist Hong-Da Chin noted that his flute duo …one gallon of tears… was his way of offering condolences in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“It’s written in memory of the 239 victims of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, which went missing on March 8, 2014,” he said, recalling those figures and that date without hesitation. “The plane still hasn’t been found. And since I’m Malaysian, this incident means a lot to me. It was a dark day for Malaysians, and for the Chinese and everyone else on the plane.” He added that the work’s microtonal lines, often written in descending, stepwise fashion, are “like tears flowing down one’s cheek.”
Flute duo is not the only instrumentation in which the work has been heard. Hong-Da joined No Exit clarinetist and fellow Bowling Green alum Gunnar Owen Hirthe in a performance of the work in July 2018 at Heights Arts. As ClevelandClassical.com’s Mike Telin wrote in a review:
“After a slow introduction by the flute, the clarinet slips in with a unison pitch. The ensuing micro-tonality produces eerie, foreboding sounds that build to a high-pitched scream from both instruments — until the unexplained tragedy ends in silence.”
Listen to …one gallon of tears… here, as premiered by flutists Yeji Oh and Cristian Dohler Rodas on the University of Maryland’s New Music Series in 2018.
Looking ahead to April 22, 2022 at 7:30 pm, it’s worth marking down No Exit’s appearance at Kent State, where they will premiere works for cimbalom and ensemble. The composers on the program? Douglas Knehans and — Hong-Da Chin.
Last year on March 8, our almanac honored International Women’s Day. Read that article here.