Local folks restore an early electronic instrument for a UB recital.By Bill Raffel, WBFO
Buffalo, NY – A local electronic instrument maker revives a pioneering technology for the University at Buffalo. Good morning. I'm Bill Raffel with Music Notes.
Tomorrow night, Magnus Martensson leads the Slee Sinfonietta in a work of Edgard Varese, Ecuatorial in the first performance with its intended instrumentation since 1934. The work calls for two theremin cellos, in addition to organ, percussion, and bass soloist.
Varese envisioned electronic music before such instruments were available. And Leon Theremin was a pioneer who developed such instruments in the Soviet Union. UB Musicologist Olivia Mattis says when the two men finally met in 1933, Thermin agreed to build an instrument especially for Varese.
See this performance of Ecuatorial by Edgard Varese Tuesday (10/15) at 8 p.m. in Slee Hall on UB's North Campus. Our guest this morning, Olivia Mattis will give a preconcert lecture at 7 p.m. Thanks to our guest as well, Floyd Engels. Soloists include a brass ensemble Metalofonico which be in concert Thursday (10/17) night in Slee, along with organist Kevin Boyer who will give a full recital on Saturday night (10/19). Both of those performances also begin at 8 p.m. Percussionist Anthony Miranda performs his original compositions on Saturday (10/26) at 8 p.m.
The Eroica Trio joins the Buffalo Philharmonic Saturday (10/19) at 8 p.m. and Sunday (10/20) at 2:30 p.m. as soloists in Beethoven's Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano. Music Director Joann Falletta will also conduct the Sibelius Symphony No. 1 and John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine.
The following weekend, Bernedette Peters joins the BPO for a pops concert Saturday, October 26 at 8 p.m. And Ron Spigelman leads music from the film Harry Potter for a children's concert on Sunday, October 27 at 2:30 p.m. A costume contest is part of the fun.
The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus Chamber Singers present "An American Quilty: a Tapestry of Sound." Dale Adelmann directs colonial works by William Billings through works of contemporary composers Libby Larsen, Daniel Hurd, and Daniel Gawthrop. Pianist Bettyalice Riehle will accompany in Westminster Presbyterian Church on Friday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Saint Paul's Cathedral presents free half-hour recitals every Friday at 12:30. On October 18, Clarinetist Victor Chiodo will be accompanied by Pianist Paul Hartley. Then on October 25, a klezmer ensemble called Klezaria will be featured.
The choir of downtown's other Cathedral, Saint Joseph's, presents Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Canticles, a celebration of 20th century art song, on Sunday, October 27 at 4 p.m. The admission is free, and the cathedral is located at 50 Franklin Street downtown.