Houston, TX (September 1, 2016) — Musiqa announces the first of its free, informal loft concerts at the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, on September 15 at 6:30 PM. The concert is presented in conjunction with the CAMH’s current exhibit, “Right Here, Right Now: Houston, Volume 2.” Since the exhibit features three women who are Houston-based painters, Musiqa has created a program with similar parameters: works by four female composers who have studied in Houston.
The program begins with Two Movements for string quartet by Hilary Purrington, who received a degree in composition from Rice University before pursuing studies at Juilliard and a DMA at Yale University. While in Texas, her works were performed by such organizations as HGOco, Houston Grand Opera’s initiative in community collaboration, and Dallas-based Voices of Change.
The next work is Angelique Poteat’s Water Pastel, a work for violin and viola. Poteat, who studied with Musiqa composers Anthony Brandt and Pierre Jalbert, is originally from the Pacific Northwest, and writes music that has been described as “nicely crafted…[with] convincing expressive power” (American Record Guide). Water Pastel is a new work, from 2016.
Also featured on the program is Shadow Lines by Gity Razaz. Razaz, composer in residence at the New York venue National Sawdust, is recipient of the Jerome Foundation Award. Shadow Lines was written for cellist Jeffrey Ziegler (former member of the Kronos Quartet), who included the work on his debut album Something of Life.
The program concludes with Alexandra Bryant’s Lady Isabelle Was That Kind of Woman for string quartet. Bryant, who studied with Musiqa composer Pierre Jalbert at Rice University, has been commissioned by such ensembles as the Kronos Quartet and the Aeolus Quartet. Lady Isabelle was inspired by a folk song from the Appalachian Mountains.
In the fourteen years since Musiqa’s debut before a full house at the Rothko Chapel in April 2002, we have presented the music of nearly 170 established and emerging composers, including over two dozen world premieres. Reflecting the global vitality of modern concert music, we have presented works from Asia, Africa, North and South America, Europe and Australia. In recognition of our efforts, Musiqa has earned two Adventurous Programming Awards from Chamber Music America and ASCAP (2013 and 2016), and commissioning grants from Chamber Music America and New Music USA. Musiqa has established itself as a premiere presenter of contemporary music in Houston.
Musiqa is comprised of four composers with careers of international renown: Anthony Brandt, Karim Al-Zand, Pierre Jalbert, and Marcus Maroney. The composers write, “As Houston establishes itself as an international center for innovation in industry and medicine, there’s no more enjoyable and exhilarating way to experience the leading edge than through the arts.”
ON THE PROGRAM:
Hilary Purrington: Two Movements for string quartet
Angelique Poteat: Water Pastel for violin and viola
Gity Razaz: Shadow Lines for cello and electronics
Alexandra Bryant: Lady Isabelle Was That Kind of Woman for string quartet
THE MUSICIANS:
Dian Zhang, violin
Ling Ling Huang, violin
Jebat Kee, viola
Max Geissler, cello
Chapman Welch, electronics