Seattle Modern Orchestra: Double Portrait – Robert Erickson & Stuart Dempster
$10-$25
Robert Erickson — The Idea of Order at Key West
Robert Erickson — Pacific Sirens
Stuart Dempster — Milanda Embracing
Stuart Dempster — S.M.O.R.E.S.
Robert Erickson – The Idea of Order at Key West for soprano, flute, clarinet, trumpet, viola and cello (1979)
Robert Erickson – General Speech for solo trombone (1969)
Robert Erickson – Pacific Sirens for percussion and variable instruments / voices (1969)
Stuart Dempster – Milanda Embracing for various instrumentation (1993-94)
Stuart Dempster – S.M.O.R.E.S. for ensemble and voices (2017) – world premiere
Seattle Modern Orchestra celebrates the centennial of American composer Robert Erickson and the 80th birthday of legendary Seattle trombonist and composer Stuart Dempster. Erickson (1917-1997) crystallizes the American pioneering spirit in music. He was one of the first American composers to explore Schoenberg’s twelve-tone system, experimented with custom-made percussion instruments and instrumental extended techniques, and worked extensively with sounds recorded on tape with or without live performers. The three works on this program give a glimpse into this underrated American artist.
Erickson will be paired with another pioneer, Stuart Dempster. Dempster – whose motto is “put ‘play’ back in playing music” – and SMO collaborate on precomposed and improvised works, including a world premiere written for SMO, titled S. M. O. R. E. S.
Tickets: General $25, seniors $15, students $10