Commissioned by Copland House for its acclaimed CULTIVATE 2020 emerging composers institute, Slow Cancellation by Sunbin Kim is a provocative, musical-philosophical dive into the notion of the “slow cancellation of the future” – the shrinking ability of culture to create new ideas, and the corollary of constantly recycling the same basic concepts. Kim’s piece is constructed out of fragments of three diverse “lost” pieces:  a work by the 1920s Russian Futurist Nicolas Roslavets, the unfinished last composition by J. S. Bach, and an existing but unperformable piece by homeless composer Julius Eastman. Kim’s music “interrupts” the collage of these pieces, in a struggle between humanity and machine. Includes a brief introduction by the composer, and a post-performance Q&A with CULTIVATE’s Director, Grammy-nominated composer-clarinetist Derek Bermel.

Music from Copland House artists: Moran Katz, clarinet; Pala Garcia, violin; Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello; Margaret Kampmeier, piano.

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As a young woman in late-19th-century New England, Amy Beach defied conventions to become America's most famous and accomplished female composer. The 300 works she composed during her career brought a distinctive, affecting musical perspective to the exalted world of Brahms, Wagner, and other great Germanic masters, out of which her work emerged. Among her greatest compositions is the luxurious, grandly passionate Quintet for Piano and String Quartet of 1908, in which her formal mastery unerringly guides a soaring, rhapsodic musical narrative – by turns, turbulent, serene, and ecstatic. Performed over 40 times during her lifetime (often featuring the composer, who was also a brilliant pianist), this epic work fell into obscurity following her death, but was revived in the 1970s, as interest grew in American Romantic music. Please join Music from Copland House for an all-too-rare performance of one of the early landmarks of the American chamber music repertory, as well as a brief introductory conversation about Amy Beach and her music, and a concluding, live Q&A between viewers and artists.

Music from Copland House artists: Curtis Macomber and Siwoo Kim, violins; Kathryn Lockwood, viola; Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello; Michael Boriskin, piano

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Commissioned by Copland House for its CULTIVATE 2020 emerging composers institute, Between the Lines by Scott Lee explores the idea of a “groove” that is both patiently-developing and incessant. The colorful and noisy flourish that opens the piece is relentlessly repeated to form this groove. A wandering melody, shared among the three instruments, slithers in between the grid of pulses formed by the repeated opening flourish – hence the title. The music charts a journey of this tune, as it returns in many guises, always accompanied by the pulse, and eventually leads to a raucous climax. Ghostly echoes follow, but once again the opening flourish slowly begins to dominate the texture, bringing the piece to a boisterous close. Includes a brief introduction by the composer, and a post-performance Q&A with CULTIVATE’s Director, Grammy-nominated composer-clarinetist Derek Bermel.

Music from Copland House artists: Pala Garcia, violin; Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello; Margaret Kampmeier, piano.

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Please join us for the virtual premiere of Annika Socolofsky’s mesmerizing new work, “to sing of sins,” Copland House’s second HARVEST Commission, recognizing outstanding young artists from its acclaimed CULTIVATE emerging composers institute. The meditative piece features the Music from Copland House ensemble embroidering, responding to, or in dialogue with electronic samples of the composer’s own fiddle and accordion playing famed, and more prominently the Irish singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, who intones words from the old spiritual poem, “Lament your own sins.” Includes a brief introductory conversation with the composer and singer, as well as a live post-performance Q&A with viewers.

NPR's popular Tiny Desk (at Home) Concerts come to Copland's beloved studio (with his not-so-tiny desk in view!) for a short program featuring Music from Copland House performing selections from the Duo for Flute and Piano (composed in that very room!), Sonata for Violin and Piano, and Three Moods for Piano. The program is available for streaming beginning on November 13th, and then accessible indefinitely.

Music from Copland House artists: Carol Wincenc, flute; Curtis Macomber, violin; and Michael Boriskin, piano.

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