As I type here, with strings tied around every finger, I’m lucky if I can remember what day it is. But the Singularity Quartet, with youth on its side, has managed to put together an entire program constructed on the theme of memory. Join me for today’s Noontime Concert on The Classical Network for four pieces performed by this remarkable saxophone ensemble.
The program will open with a setting by the quartet’s Scotty Philips of Josquin de Pres’ 16th century chanson, “Mille Regretz.” Philadelphia composer David Ludwig’s “Josquin Microludes” weaves fragments of the material into his own original composition, which he likens to “channel surfing,” as recognizable snippets of Josquin emerge throughout the work’s five movements.
Pulitzer Prize winner David Lang’s “revolutionary etudes” references Frederic Chopin’s famous etude. The three-movement piece grew out of the composer’s fascination with Chopin’s ability to “make a ridiculously fast and vaguely minor scale last forever.” Lang is the current artist-in-residence at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study.
Finally, Dutch composer Tristan Keuris’ “Music for Saxophones” conjures a memory of significance for Singularity Quartet alto saxophonist Cole Belt, since encountering this piece in his years as an undergraduate contributed significantly to his decision to take up the instrument.
The original concert took place on December 4 at the Institute for Advanced Study’s Wolfensohn Hall, as part of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s chamber music series.
Singularity Quartet will do the heavy lifting. All you need to remember is to tune in today at 12:00 EST, to WWFM – The Classical Network or wwfm.org.
PLEASE NOTE: The members of Singularity, Saxophone Quartet – (left to right) Thomas Giles, Bryan McNamara, Scotty Philips, and Cole Belt – will appear as guests of my colleague, David Osenberg, on this week’s “Cadenza,” which will be broadcast on Thursday at 10 p.m.