WMV Music Web Log

I want to listen to new music before it becomes old. WMV is the best way to do that.

A review by Andrew Lindemann Malone, writing in the Washington Post:

Tuesday, October 25, 2005; C07

Washington Musica Viva

The Atlas Performing Arts Center was developed from the bones of the old Atlas Theatre as part of the ongoing effort to revitalize the H Street NE corridor. Washington Musica Viva is one of the arts groups bringing energy to the attractive new facility; its concert at the Atlas on Sunday afternoon was the first in a series concentrating on composers born in or working in Washington.

As is common at Washington Musica Viva concerts, though, other arts were brought into play; Burmese poet Kyi May Kaung read her work protesting the Burmese military dictatorship, both live onstage and in Lisa DiLillo's video "Tongues Don't Have Bones." Although Robert Schumann was not a Washington composer, the group gave a fine autumnal reading of his "Marchenerzahlungen" for clarinet, viola and piano. Washington-born Scott Wheeler conducted a piano quartet in a performance of his "Dragon Mountain," an appealing mix of pastoral Celtic influences and nervous, tight oscillations.

Two of the Musica Viva musicians deserve special mention. Carl Banner, a co-founder of the group, made the Atlas upright piano sound good all afternoon and played fluently in a kaleidoscopic array of styles. Banner often accompanied bass Gary Poster, whose lustrous voice, flawless diction and sensitive phrasing enlivened songs by Washington area composers Thomas Kerr, George Walker and Michael Strand. Longtime local Maurice Saylor's "Alta Quies," a cycle containing five bleak poems by A.E. Housman, made a fine finale: evocative, communicative, powerful music that Poster and Banner brought vividly to life.

-- Andrew Lindemann Malone

(But if you want to get the real dope, you've got to go to HIS blog: http://www.spam-o-matic.org/index2.html).

It's over! It was a big success! Karren Alenier sent this review to her email list:

The October 23 concert by Musica Viva at the Atlas Performing Arts Center featured music by composers born or living in Washington, DC, and many DC area composers were present in this full house that also drew poets, artists, singers, and musicians.

Topping the bill were two significant contemporary works Scott Wheeler's chamber music composition "Dragon Mountain" and Maurice Saylor's song cycle "Alta Quies." Wheeler, who now lives in Boston, conducted the able chamber ensemble of June Huang on violin, Betty Hauck on viola, Jodi Beder on cello, and Carl Banner on piano. The piece, although Celtic in inspiration, evokes the magic of Asian dragons. The lyric music is also full of surprises that keeps the mind bright with eagerness to know where the composer will take the ear. Saylor's song cycle based on the poetry of A.E. Housman was blessed by the agile voice and precise enunciation of Gary Poster who rose impressively to the challenge of both and high and low notes.

Michael Strand's tango song "My Soul is Dark" based on the poetry of Lord George Byron was dashingly rendered by Gary Poster's bass voice.

The featured poet was Kyi May Kaung who presented a short video by Lisa DiLillo that blended images of Burma with Kaung's poems. Kaung's work is political and often mines texts found on the internet which she translates.

Stay tuned for the next Atlas-Musica Viva event scheduled for March. The Atlas is located at 1333 H Street NE, right next door to the new Joy of Motion studios. Marilyn Banner's art show of musical images is now on display there. She uses an age old technique that involves bees wax and heat application. Plan a lunch time visit because on the other side of the Atlas is the Phish Tea Café, a fine lounge serving creative and tasty Caribbean food.

Karren L. Alenier
President
The Word Works

Send email to editor@wordworksdc.com
Visit www.wordworksdc.com for more info

All of my energy is going to promoting and preparing for the new series at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Here is the press release:

On Sunday October 23 2005 at 3:00 pm, Washington Musica Viva will initiate a new series of performances in Theatre II of the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St NE, celebrating the amazing diversity, history, and creativity of Washington DC area composers, artists, and poets.

WMV’s cutting edge, risk-taking approach to performance emphasizes contemporary issues, a direct encounter with creative process, community building, and the crossing of traditional boundaries. The first program will feature music by DC composers George Walker (1996 Pulitzer Prize Winner), Thomas Kerr, John Philip Sousa, Michael Strand, Maurice Saylor, and Scott Wheeler ("Dragon Mountain"), as well as Robert Schumann’s “Märchenerzählungen” for clarinet, viola, and piano. Burmese refugee poet Kyi May Kaung is also featured. Musicians will include violist Betty Hauck (founding member of Apple Hill Chamber Players), clarinetist Benjamin Redwine, violinist June Huang, cellist Jodi Beder, bass Gary Poster, baritone Scott Kenison, and pianist Carl Banner.

Many wonderful composers, including George Walker, John Philip Sousa, Edward “Duke” Ellington, and Scott Wheeler were born in Washington DC. Exciting present day composers live in the DC area, among them Janet Peachey, Sis McKay, Andrew Simpson, Lori Laitman, Maurice Saylor, Jessica Krash, and many others. Washington Musica Viva will feature these and other past and present DC composers on its new series at The Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St NE, in the spirit of Washington cultural revitalization.

Tickets are $25 general admission, $15 for students, seniors, artists. Call the Atlas Theatre box office, (202) 399 7993, for reservations.