Monday March 31, 2014
12:15 pm
Chicago Cultural Center
We will be premiering Rural Sketches for Marimba and Six Double Basses, newly written (the laser toner is still warm!) by composer Igor Iachimciuc.
We are the guests of percussionist Matthew Coley on the Cultural Center’s Classical Monday series. Rural Sketches will be second on the program.
The Chicago Cultural Center lists this on their Classical Mondays page, but doesn’t give much detail. The link from that page goes to Matt’s schedule, but he’s such a busy guy, he doesn’t have time to write much there.
For this concert:
- Jacque Harper
- Josh Harrison
- Julian Romane
- Andrew Anderson
- Doug Johnson
- Charlie Macko
Conducted by Leslie B. Dunner
Rural Sketches by Igor Iachimciuc consists of ten movements:
- Morning
- “Tsurca” game
- Bycicle in the field
- The flock
- Forgotten well
- The story of the old man
- The dialogue at the gate
- Harvest
- Lullaby
- Wedding pass
Matthew Coley will also be performing a number of pieces for solo marimba, I believe. The noontime concerts at the Cultural Center usually last just short of an hour. Perfect lunch diversion for those of you who work downtown.
As always, this page will get updated as details emerge!
March 1, 2014: we had our first rehearsal last night. Working on a brand new piece is always a challenge, and this one is no exception. But getting together with one’s colleagues is a great way to find out what will be hard and what only looks hard. Our rehearsal last night revealed that a lot of this only looks hard. And it promises to be fun to play!
March 10, 2014: the score is finished, ten movements in all. More rehearsals this weekend.
March 23, 2014: added Leslie B. Dunner as conductor.
March 31, 2014, (early morning): clarified links to Chicago Cultural Center, noted that we’re second on the program.
Tags: Igor Iachimciuc, Leslie B. Dunner, Matthew Coley, premiere
Will this be available – streaming – or by some other method after the performance for West Coast listeners?
Here in Chicago, we sometimes call ourselves the “third coast.” I guess that means California is the “second coast?” I’ll look into means of transmitting the event there!
I learned earlier today that the Cultural Center will be recording the performance. So as long as Matthew doesn’t have any objection, we’ll try and get you left-coasters a copy to listen to!
Jacque
[…] A small group of large instruments « March 31, 2014, Chicago Cultural Center […]
[…] very pleased — and also relieved — that for our performance on March 31 we will be joined by conductor Leslie […]
[…] I hinted at the stages I’ve gone through in preparing Rural Sketches for its premiere (See March 31 for more on the premiere). Here’s some additional thinking, using the framework I sent in my […]
Best wishes to you all for this third coast performance looking already so appealing and beautiful, just by its description.
From a second coaster, Chicago Bass Ensemble fan, sorry to miss it,
Brigitte
Definitely interested if any way to hear it, other than being there 🙂
Greetings from Salt Lake City. Igor is putting together a bass ensemble here in Utah to perform this piece next month. Thank you for your blog posts about the process–we haven’t rehearsed it yet, but the music looks just as intimidating as you mentioned.
I’m curious though if you have recorded any rehearsals or intend to record the performance, and would that be available for study as we’re trying to wrap our heads around it? I look forward to hearing from you and much luck at your concert!
Best Regards,
Justin Morgan
Hi Justin! The premier — this coming Monday — will be recorded. We’ll certainly get you a copy. And we’ll try to wear Igor down on some of the notation things that could be easier for reading 🙂
I would also say, don’t delay in getting started on learning the parts! There aren’t any that are “easy” all the way through.
Thanks for your comments and good wishes!
Jacque
[…] over the last 4 hours rehearsing Rural Sketches one more time with five of the six bassists for Monday. Leslie B. Dunner (won’t tell me what the “B” is for, leave a comment if you […]
Jake, Where in the Cultural Center? There’s something else listed for Preston Bradley Hall. I was planning on attending…
Wilbur, it is in fact in Preston Bradley Hall. We are the guests of Matthew Coley, Marimba. The program starts at 12:15; Rural Sketches will be second on the program.
-Jake
[…] I’m writing this post just as I arrive home from our performance at the Chicago Cultural Center, premiering Rural Sketches by Igor Iachimciuc with Matthew Coley, marimba (click for more details). […]
[…] our successful premiere of Rural Sketches, marimbist Matt Coley and I have been kicking around the idea of taking the piece on tour to some […]