When the Odeonquartet performs Wayne Horvitz's piece "These Hills of Glory" at the Gallery 1412 on Sunday, April 16, the piece will never sound the same again. With a strong emphasis on improvisation, the presentation will be a unique performance that will only live on in the minds of those in attendance.
The piece, written specifically for the Odeonquartet, has been performed with a string quartet and a guest improviser. As with some of the best new music, the piece combines experimentation and improvisational techniques with a high level of musicianship.
Described as "a new music adventure which has ignited our imaginations about the unexplored possibilities of chamber music," the written and improvised sections of the piece aim to challenge the listener.
"He [Horvitz] wrote the piece with us in mind," said Gennady Filimonov member of the Odeonquartet. "It is one of the best things he's written in this idiom."
The Odeonquartet is comprised of Gennady Filimonov and Jennifer Caine on violin, Heather Bentley on viola and Page Smith on cello. Each member was classically trained and all have performed with numerous different orchestras and groups.
Filimonov has been a member of the Seattle Symphony since 1994 and has worked in collaboration with Linda Rondstadt, Rod Stewart, Tony Bennett and many others. Bentley is a part of the Northwest School music faculty and has performed with the Seattle Chamber players and at the Olympic music festival. Smith is the principal cellist for both the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra and the Northwest Chamber Orchestra.
The members of the Odeonquartet have also been personal friends of Seattle-based Horvitz for years. Their friendship has blossomed into a strong working relationship, one their Seattle connections help facilitate. They have also performed together before, including a memorable date at the Triple Door last year.
"We were the first string quartet to play that venue," said Filimonov, adding that the Triple Door was very impressed by their performance.
Horvitz first made his name in the avant-garde circles of New York in the 1980s. He has recorded over 23 albums in this time, leading such groups as Pigpen and Zony Mash. Highly regarded in the Seattle music scene as well as both nationally and internationally, his work has never been constrained to one genre or feel, but continues on a journey across many different sonic landscapes.
"These Hills of Glory" feature the Odeonquartet with a different improviser for each of the six performances. The improvisers play on various instruments such as saxophone, cello, viola and trumpet, meaning each night promises to provide a unique sonic experience.
"Our parts are beautifully written. The written parts are a complete piece on their own," explained Filimonov. "Played with an improviser, it is a whole new language."
The addition of improvisers helps to keep the piece fresh and injects a freedom that is not always apparent in string quartets. "These Hills of Glory" aims to create a new sound and stretch the definition of what a string quartet can do.
"Each new improviser adds a completely new feel each time and it becomes a whole different work," said Filimonov.
Part of this new feel arises because each improviser receives only limited practice with the quartet. Filimonov explained that usually the improviser only rehearses with the quartet an hour before each performance, which adds another unique aspect to the piece. This lack of preparation was quite a departure for the quartet, who are used to long hours of rehearsal prior to a performance.
Powered with this unique freedom, "These Hills of Glory" helped the Odeonquartet to explore their own musicianship. The varied nature of the rotating soloists allows the piece to remain fresh and innovative.
"These Hills of Glory" is ambitious, not only because of the music, but also in its hope to put Seattle back on the map for experimental classical and jazz music.
"Though New York and L.A. might be thought of as hubs for cutting edge new music, they are not the only places where fresh ideas are being conceived and received," the press material exclaimed.
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"These Hills of Glory" will be performed Sunday, April 16, at the Gallery 1412 (18th Avenue and Union St). Gus Burn will be the featured soloist. In addition to this performance, the Odeonquartet will also be performing on April 20 at the City Hall "Noon Concert Series" with Tom Swafford.
William Crane is an intern with the Capitol Hill Times. He can be reached at editor@capitolhill times.com.
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