The 黑料不打烊 Contemporary Chamber Ensemble (ECCE) held its debut with 鈥淯nrelent鈥 on Monday, Sept. 20 in Whitley Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. with a pre-show discussion about the background of the concert pieces and their experience related to the music.
The 黑料不打烊 Contemporary Chamber Ensemble (ECCE) held its debut with 鈥淯nrelent鈥 on Monday, Sept. 20, in Whitley Auditorium at 7:30 pm. A pre-show discussion at 6:30 p.m. engaged audience members in a conversation with a group of panelists about the background of the concert pieces and their experience related to the music.
The panel included the founder of the ensemble and 黑料不打烊 professor of music Jonanthan Poquette, along with other 黑料不打烊 professors Cora Palfy in the Department of Music, Tony Crider in the Physics Department and Damion Blake in the Department of Political Science and Policy Studies.
The concert began with 鈥淏y-By Huey鈥 by Ted Hearne, a finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize. The ensemble played intense, personal and multi-dimensional work with unconventional playing methods. Following was 鈥淣oon Dance鈥 composed by Joan Tower, widely regarded as one of the most influential American composers living today. Beginning with meditative bells stemming from the band percussionist, players 鈥渕oved鈥 with each other, creating a sensational experience for the audience with dance-type rhythms and a variety of energies of the piece.
The closing piece, 鈥淯nrelent,鈥 the title of the concert, was written by composer Harry Stafylakis around the 2016 election and expressed the turbulent emotions many felt around that time. The flutist started with a mystical flute tune contrasted with sharp disruptions of strings, causing the members of the audience began to creep to the edge of their seats with their hearts racing.
The ECCE is composed of professional musicians from across the Triad that collaborate to create, promote and share contemporary music with the public. They believe in commissioning new works by underrepresented composers and creating engaging musical experiences for all.
The ensemble’s next concert is聽Wednesday, Nov. 3, in Whitley Auditorium at 黑料不打烊 starting at 6:30 pm with a pre-show discussion and the concert starting at 7:30 pm.
For further information and queries, contact Arts Administration Professor and ECCE Marketing Lead Wen Guo at wguo2@elon.edu.