Brooklyn Rider’s Stillwater Festival opens Thursday (Aug 22)

This Thursday, Brooklyn Rider is in Minnesota to launch the 2013 Stillwater Music Festival, with a program that includes works from recent installments of their ongoing Brooklyn Rider Almanac, Bartók’s String Quartet No. 2, and Mozart’s String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K. 421. The group will later be joined by colleagues from Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, to which all four quartet members also belong. Wu Man, virtuoso of the pipa, Sandeep Das, leading exponent of the tabla, and clarinetist/composer Evan Ziporyn all team up with the quartet for events including a family concert on August 26 and the festival finale on August 27. Highlights of this final program include the world premiere of Ziporyn’s Qi for string quartet; Ziporyn’s Sulvasutra, a Silk Road Project commission; and Brooklesca, Brooklyn Rider violinist Colin Jacobsen’s signature work for the ensemble, in an expanded version that is also scored for pipa, tabla, and clarinet.
 
Now in its eighth season, the Stillwater Music Festival is a weeklong festival founded and led by Brooklyn Rider in Stillwater, Minnesota. The festival offers a platform for the quartet – three of whose members have Minnesota roots – to work with old friends and new partners in a familiar setting. Events take place in the Stillwater area, with the Washington County Historic Courthouse serving as the principal concert venue. Last season’s festival featured collaborations with cellist Edward Arron, kamancheh master Kayhan Kalhor, and 14-time Grammy Award-winning banjo player Béla Fleck.
 
“As with seasons past, we are excited to invite some of our dearest musical friends,” says Brooklyn Rider violist Nicholas Cords. “Wu Man, back by popular demand, was with us six years ago. Sandeep is a first-time guest to the Stillwater area and is a totally awe-inspiring and generous performer. And Evan’s music creates the perfect setting for all of us to come together. This summer really focuses on things that we care deeply about – exploring great works from the string quartet tradition, bringing new works to life, and collaborating with friends.”
 
Stillwater Music Festival performances:
 
 
Aug 22
Stillwater, MN
Stillwater Music Festival
Mozart: String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K. 421
Brooklyn Rider Almanac (premieres)
Bartók: String Quartet No. 2
Romanian traditional tunes
 
Aug 26
Stillwater, MN
Stillwater Music Festival
Family concert, featuring Wu Man (pipa); Sandeep Das (tabla); Evan Ziporyn (clarinet)
 
Aug 27
Stillwater, MN
Stillwater Music Festival
Festival finale, featuring Wu Man (pipa); Sandeep Das (tabla); Evan Ziporyn (clarinet)
Ziporyn: Sulvasutra
Ziporyn: Qi (world premiere for string quartet)
C. Jacobsen: Brooklesca
 
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© 21C Media Group, August 2013