In our at the CROSSROADS Series, we celebrate together the work of legacy composers alongside cutting-edge voices from across generations: By meeting at these generational crossroads we reveal how the latest works are grounded in timeless questions.

Inspired by Julius Eastman’s politically powerful and sonically persuasive works Stay on It and Gay Guerilla, we launch into our cross-generational “at the CROSSROADS Series” with two major commissions. One is a new work by Sidney Corbett, an American composer living in Germany best known for his theatrical and emotionally powerful compositions. Also featured is an SFCMP commission from Bay Area composer, pianist, and improviser Myra Melford, featuring herself as improvising piano soloist with the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. SFCMP will premiere a new piece by exciting Brazilian-Californian composer Fernanda Aoki Navarro, while LJ White offers his own version of the interplay between freedom and structure in a work for solo violin and electronics. SFCMP also sponsors its 3rd Annual SF Search for young composers—this time writing for trios of players drawn from the instrumental forces for Myra Melford’s premiere—to complete the multi-generational portrait.

SCHEDULE

FRI, MAY 10, 2019
4:00pm-5:15pm How Music is Made Program: Open dress rehearsal of “New Work”  by Corbett followed by a composer talk hosted by Eric Dudley
6:45pm Pre-concert discussion with SFCMP Players
7:30pm Concert with intermission
9:00pm Reception

PROGRAM

Julius Eastman, Stay on It  (1973)
clarinet, saxophone, 2 percussion (drums & vibraphone), piano, violin, cello

Fernanda Aoki Navarro, New Work (2018) (World premiere)
flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, cello

LJ White, fly, into the light (2013) (West coast premiere)
solo vln + electronics

Sidney Corbett, New Work (2018) (SFCMP Commission, world premiere)
clarinet/bass clarinet, trumpet, tuba, e.guitar, harp, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello

SCHEDULE

SAT, MAY 11, 2019
4:00pm-5:15pm How Music is Made Program: Open dress rehearsal of “New Work”  by Melford followed by a composer talk hosted by Eric Dudley
6:45pm Pre-concert discussion with SFCMP Players
7:30pm Concert with intermission
9:00pm Reception

PROGRAM

SF Search composer, TBD (2018)
flutes, percussion, cello

SF Search composer, TBD (2018)
flutes, percussion, cello

SF Search composer, TBD (2018)
flutes, percussion, cello

Julius Eastman, Gay Guerilla (1979)
2 pianos

Myra Melford, New Work (2018) (SFCMP Commission, world premiere)
flute/alto flute, oboe/english horn, clarinet/bass clarinet, trombone, percussion, harp, 2 pianos, violin, viola, cello, double bass