Performers:
Flannau + Quijote
Kyle Flens, percussion
Jonathan Hannau, piano
Juan Horie, cello
Sixto Franco, viola
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Picosa
Peter Ferry, percussion
Jennie Oh Brown, flute
Andrea R. DiOrio, clarinet
Elizabeth Brausa Brathwaite, violin
Russ Rolen, cello
Daniel Schlosberg, piano
Program:
Flannau + Quijote: Hammer & Bow
Xenia St. Charles Iris Llyllyth | Won’t Swim, Can’t keep swimming
Ben Zucker † | New work*
Sixto Franco † | New work*
Jorge Amado † | New work ‡
Kyong Mee Choi † | Unlearning
Shawn Decker † | PROXIMITY
Picosa
Valerie Coleman | Hair, Cloth, and Thread I. Mom's Wisdom; II. AR/JW
James Stephenson † | Persephone
Benjamin Horne | I Remember You
Shawn E. Okpebholo † | Redlin[ing]
*World Premiere Performance
† Illinois-based Composer
‡ Micro-Grant Awardee
Hammer & Bow features the Flannau Duo and Quijote Duo, bringing together viola, cello, piano, and percussion in a unique exploration of co-creation and unifying musical forces. The concert features premieres of new compositions by Jorge Amado, Ben Zucker, and Sixto Franco. This program explores many aesthetics and moods, catering to a wide variety of listeners.
Picosa’s program explores transformative struggles through diverse musical perspectives. Coleman's "Hair, Cloth, and Thread" voices Black ancestry through Clark's textile art. Stephenson's "Persephone" reimagines mythological battles and internal conflict. Horne's "I Remember You" portrays dementia's journey from confusion to recognition. On "Redlin[ing], the central work of the program," Okpebholo writes: "This piece represents my musical response to the discriminatory practice of 'redlining.' I aimed to portray the perpetuating cycles of poverty and segregation resulting from such systemic injustices. To explicitly tie the work to Chicago, the composition's vibe is also informed by the iconic 'red line' on the L system."
