As previously announced, the 2011 Ecstatic Music Festival, presented by New York City's Merkin Concert Hall in association with New Amsterdam Records, is a showcase of imaginative collaborations between more than 150 genre-pushing composers, songwriters and performers who represent a new generation of artists combining diverse influences and techniques to explore the intersection of classical and pop music. All concerts will include premieres. The festival opens with a free seven-hour marathon on January 17, 2011, and continues with 13 additional concerts until March 28, 2011. All concerts will take place at Merkin Concert Hall.
January 2011 Ecstatic Music Festival Schedule:
Sun. 1/16/11, 7 pm @ Apple Store on Broadway at 67th Street, FREE
Panel discussion with Ecstatic Music Festival artists -- moderated by Nadia Sirota, featuring panelists Dan Deacon, Nico Muhly, Valgier Sigurdsson, Missy Mazzoli and Tristan Perich.
Mon. 1/17/11, 2-9 pm, FREE
Ecstatic Music Festival Marathon
Headliners Buke & Gass and Victoire are joined by So Percussion, Nadia Sirota, Timo Andres, Gabriel Kahane, Chiara String Quartet, John Matthias, NOW Ensemble, Lisa Moore and others.
Wed. 1/19/11, 7:30 pm
Creator/Curator, vol. 3: The Chiara String Quartet and the Music of Nico Muhly & Valgeir Sigurdsson
The Chiara String Quartet presents the third in their Creator/Curator series, focusing on composer Nico Muhly. The luminous quartet will perform world premieres of Muhly's Diacritical Marks and Valgeir Sigurdsson’s Nebraska Quartet, plus other music by Muhly and Sigurdsson as well as music that has influenced Muhly. A long-time collaborator with Muhly, the acclaimed Icelandic composer/producer Sigurdsson is well known as a producer for Björk and Bonnie “Prince” Billy.
Thu. 1/20/11, 7:30 pm
So Percussion & Dan Deacon
In a series of new collaborative works, the electronic iconoclast Dan Deacon, whose visceral and sophisticated work has inspired a near-cult following, joins the entrancing So Percussion quartet for an evening of new works and arrangements of his older music. So Percussion will also perform selections from their own vast and varied output.
Sat. 1/22/11, 7:30 pm
Craig Wedren, Jefferson Friedman & ACME (American Contemporary Music Ensemble)
Former Shudder To Think lead singer Craig Wedren and rising contemporary classical star Jefferson Friedman premiere the complete version of their critically-acclaimed song cycle “On In Love” with ACME. ACME will also perform Meredith Monk’s Stringsongs and arrangements of film music by Wedren, who will additionally present solo versions of a selection of his own songs.
Sun. 1/30/11, 8 pm
Alarm Will Sound & Face the Music
The 20-member chamber giant Alarm Will Sound is joined by Kaufman Center’s teen new music ensemble Face the Music for a performance of Steve Reich's Tehillim. The program also features an array of electronic musicians whose work is transferred to the acoustic realm, as Alarm Will Sound presents the premiere of a new arrangement by Ben Frost, along with music of Aphex Twin, Preshish Moments and Matt Marks/Stefan Freund, while Face the Music plays music by Tristan Perich.
