Bowerbird to Present 14 SEQUENZAS this Month

Bowerbird will present 14 SEQUENZAS, the Philadelphia premiere of the complete Sequenzas, one of the seminal compositions of the influential Italian modern composer Luciano Berio (1925 - 2003) at the First Unitarian Church, September 18 to 20, 2014 as part of the 2014 Rarely performed, Berio's Sequenzas (14 in total, each one for a different solo instrument) are widely acclaimed as essential repertoire of the 20th century. While some of the music from that century (the dreaded 'new music') has been cast off as "academic" or "unapproachable", these works have thrived because they appeal as much to a listener's ear as to a musician's sense of adventure.

Rather than presenting the works in a typical, static concert environment, this production (conceived and organized by Elizabeth Morgan-Ellis) offers the Sequenzas performed live in an immersive, site-specific, interactive environment set throughout the entire First Unitarian Church. During these performances, audiences may choose to watch all fourteen works as they move from room to room, or to move freely at their own pace for up to three hours, choosing where to go and what to see, so that each individual's journey is unique. Beyond the live performances, each room will feature listening stations where the audience may listen to pieces that influenced a particular sequenza, read written letters about the pieces, watch documentary materials on the life of Berio, or hear more about a particular piece if they wish to fully immerse themselves in just one work for a period of time. They may also exit the premises at any point.

Thursday, Sept.18, 2014 - 7pm to 10pm; Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 - 7pm 7pm to 10pm; and Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 - 12pm to 3pm. Approximate run time 3 hours; audiences may come and go as they please.

Tickets are $20, $15 for students and under 25 and will be available online in advance or at the door. The First Unitarian Church is located at 2125 Chestnut St Philadelphia, PA 19103. There will be a brief chat and Q and A beginning 30 minutes before each performance.

Sequenza I -flute- Katie Ambacher
Sequenza II -harp- Elizabeth Morgan-Ellis
Sequenza III -voice- Alize Rozsnyai
Sequenza IV -piano- Christopher Oldfather
Sequenza V -trombone- Justin Moore
Sequenza VI -viola- Kristina Giles
Sequenza VII -oboe- Jocelyn Plant
Sequenza VIII -violin- Rebecca Schlappich
Sequenza IXb -alto sax- Aaron Stewart
Sequenza X -trumpet- Kenneth Bean
Sequenza XI -guitar- Jordan Dodson
Sequenza XII -bassoon- (Recorded and projected into a soundspace) Martin Kuuskmann
Sequenza XIII -accordion- Bill Schimmel
Sequenza XIV -cello- Mirjam Ingolfsson

Situated at the forefront of artistic experimentation, Bowerbird is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that presents music and interdisciplinary events by local and internationally recognized artists at a variety of venues across the region. The mission of Bowerbird is to raise the public's awareness and understanding of provocative and divergent music traditions by providing numerous and diverse opportunities to directly experience the work of today's leading artists. For more information, visit bowerbird.org.

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