projects & new works
Anubis Quartet
Founded in 2007, Anubis Quartet (Allison Balcetis, Ryan Muncy, Sean Patayanikorn, David Wegehaupt) is a new generation modular saxophone ensemble dedicated to the creation and performance of contemporary art music. Quartet members regularly perform on all members of the saxophone family, resulting in varied and engaging performances which exponentially increase the possibilities of expression through sound.
As winner of the Edes Foundation Prize for Emerging Artists, Anubis Quartet established a self-produced Chicago concert series in 2010-11.
RYOT PROJECT
(text by Kristofer Covlin)
New Music has entered a stage of development where no longer are composers simply composers and performers simply performers. Instead, works that have emerged have blurred distinctions between the process of composing and the process of performing. This new music reflects the organic; ordinarily, structure is provided by the composer while the performer tends the sonorous growth of the work. Yet in these works, the music exists within predetermined structural boundaries. What would happen to the music if these boundaries were removed completely, if the seed of music was allowed to grow without any further structural suggestions?
On November 4, 2010, Anubis Quartet with Kristofer Covlin presents the first performance of the multi-year RYOT PROJECT, a new type of collaboration between composers and performers. Composers for phase one of Ryot Project are:
Thierry Alla
Marcos Balter
Daniel Peter Biro
Aaron Einbond
Lee Hyla
Robert Lemay
Philippe Leroux
David Reminick
Etienne Rolin
For more information about Anubis quartet, visit www.anubisquartet.com
Ensemble Dal Niente
Founded in 2004, Ensemble Dal Niente has since established itself as one of the country’s leading new music organizations by bringing today’s most revolutionary, ambitious and virtuosic contemporary concert music to the forefront. Bringing new music to new audiences in new venues is the ensemble’s mission and passion.
The ensemble presents engaging musical programs throughout the Chicagoland area, playing to packed halls as diverse as the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, legendary jazz club The Green Mill, the Chicago Cultural Center, and Nichols Concert Hall of the Music Institute of Chicago. Dal Niente has premiered over 50 new pieces in its five-year performing history and has collaborated with visual artists and playwrights to create rich new experiences for audiences and artists of various disciplines and styles. With a strong commitment for commissioning and premiering new works, Dal Niente demonstrates the vitality and relevance of the composer in today’s artistic world and ensures that contemporary music will be an engaging and exciting presence on concert stages for years to come.
In October 2010, I became the Executive Director of Ensemble Dal Niente.
For more information about Dal Niente, visit www.dalniente.com
Commissions & Premieres
Alla, Theirry. Trichromie
(French & North American premieres)
Allison, Shawn. Currents*
Andrews, Paul. Shir Avel for alto saxophone and live electronics*
Baker, Drew. Microscript*
Balter, Marcos. Growth*
Balter, Marcos. Strohbass*
Balter, Marcos. Wicker Park*
Bouchot, Vincent. Méfie-toi des blancs
(North American premiere)
Brown, Eliza. Apart Together*
Buegger, Megan. For Bb soprano saxophone*
Cassidy, Aaron. Asphyxia
(Asian Premiere)
Chin, Pablo Santiago. Como la Leyenda de la Gran Muralla China*
Crutchley, Ian. Jackals*
Dillon, James. The Nine Rivers (including “Oceanos” and “La Femme Invisible”)
(North American Premiere)
Djupstrom, Michael. Walimai
(European premiere)
Fedele, Ivan. Magic
(North American premiere)
Fetherolf, David. Bìlà Noc*
Fujikura, Dai. Reach Out
(North American premiere)
Fujikura, Dai. Sakana
(North American premiere)
Fisher-Lochhead, Christopher. Suicide Squeeze*
Gabriele, Claudio. Barche dell’alba
(North American premiere)
Gabriele, Claudio. Bleu Rouge Brun Violet
(North American premiere)
Gabriele, Claudio. Coéfficient de Viscosité Angelique
(North American premiere)
Gabriele, Claudio. L’animation de l’âme
(North American premiere)
Gabriele, Claudio. Shif-Shaft*
Grella-Mozejko, Piotr. ...dans l’ombre d’un jardin oublié...*
Guzman, Edgar. After Tomorrow*
Hamel, Edward. Countenance*
Hjertmann, Ben. The Mares of ’33*
Kemper, Steven. Gliding Through A Misty Phosphorescence*
Knoll, J. Corey. DogsArePeopleToo...*
Kuehn, Mikel. Etchings*
Kuehn, Mikel. Objet/Ombre*
Kusterer, Keith. Perfora*
Laval, Philippe. Chose grave sans conséquence*
Llaneza, Aristides. The second time I have looked out the window*
Marx, Aaron. Sonata Di Chiesa for Solo Soprano Saxophone*
McCallum, Clint. they don’t make that part anymore*
McKenna Lee, Andrew. Obstinate Snakes*
Netti, Giorgio. avvicinamento: tre studi sul quarto centro
(North American premiere)
O’Brien, Carolyn. Escapement*
O’Brien, Carolyn. Thing Contained*
Paha, David. Parable*
Peringer, Patrick. Contrast for alto saxophone duo and tape*
Pieslak, Jonathan. Replisome Strands & Facades*
Poppe, Enno. Salz
(North American Premiere)
Rogers, Erin. Duluth*
Rolin, Etienne. Articulation Box*
Schulz, Allen. Pundits*
Shrude, Marilyn. Fantasmi*
Stulman, Timothy. Such A Small Card*
Torstensson, Klas. Licks & Brains I
(US Premiere)
*indicates world premiere
For more information on these works, email info@ryanmuncy.com
copyright © 2011 Ryan Muncy
Photo by Leslie Hull
Current Commissions
-Marcos Balter, Chicago-based composer and Head of Composition at Columbia College Chicago.
New work for Anubis Quartet for spring 2012, commissioned by Chamber Music America.
-Nathan Davis, composer (NYC) and percussionist with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE).
Large work for baritone saxophone and live electronics for spring 2012.
-Edward Hamel, Chicago-based composer
New works for Anubis Quartet and Ensemble Dal Niente to be premiered in 2011-12.
-Shawn Jaeger, Chicago-based composer.
Work for solo saxophone to be premiered in spring 2012.
-Evan Johnson, emerging international composer based in Massachusetts.
New work for eight musicians (featuring baritone saxophone, oboe, and violin) commissioned by Ensemble Dal Niente for the 46th International Summer Music Courses in Darmstadt, Germany.
-David Reminick, Chicago-based composer
New work for Anubis Quartet to be premiered in fall, 2011.
-Pablo Chin, Chicago-based composer
New work for 11 players of Ensemble Dal Niente for the 46th International Summer Music Courses in Darmstadt, Germany
-Robert Lemay, Canadian composer
New work for Anubis Quartet to be premiered in April, 2012
-Ian Crutchley, based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Expansion of Jackals into a major 20-minute work for Anubis Quartet, to be premiered in April, 2012