Alia Musica Pittsburgh returns January 30th with their annual Winter Chamber Concert; featuring the best of this summer’s recital series, including pieces by composers near and far, such as Burkhardt Reiter, Steven Stucky, Francis Poulenc, and many others.  Come join us at James Laughlin Hall on the Chatham University campus (music building) at 7:00 PM.  Tickets are $12 at the door, $10 in advance (through the website www.alia-musica.org, or from an Alia Musica Pittsburgh member).

James Laughlin Music Center, Chatham University
Free

Pauline Rovkah, Director of the Piano Program at Chatham University, will perform solo piano music by Bela Bartok. It’s a great opportunity to hear these formative works from the 20th-centruy master.

Saturday, March 27, 2010 @ 8:00 pm, Mellon Board Room, Chatham University – Free Admission: The Bay Players Experimental Music Collective (www.bayplayers.com) performs new works and performance installations by Mike Boyd (Pittsburgh), Stephen F. Lilly and Steve Wanna (Washington, D.C.), and Kristian Twombly (Twin Cities). The event features a world premiere performance installation as well as soprano Stacey Mastrian performing John Cage’s 20th-century classic “The Wonderful Widow of Eighteen Springs.”

If it seems as though the new music scene has been a little feast or famine this season, well then prepare to feast! 2010 gets underway in grand style starting this Saturday night at the Warhol when Music on the Edge hosts ICE (the International Contemporary Ensemble). And to make things just perfect, the high on Saturday is supposed to be a whopping 16º! (Is it too late for them to change their name to BALMY?)

The following week includes concerts by the Polish Cultural Council presenting Zygmunt Krauze at Frick Fine Arts Auditorium (January 13), Alia Musica Pittsburgh’s winter chamber music concert at Chatham University (January 14), and on January 18, the Emerson Quartet performing music by Ives, Janacek, Barber, and Shostokovich. While the Emerson concert isn’t new music per se, it’s hard for me to imagine anyone appreciating this program more than the new music community.

That’s what I know of for January; you can find more details at the Events Calendar. I’ll begin posting events for the rest of the winter and spring soon, so as always, if you have info about an upcoming performance, do tell.

James Laughlin Music Center, Chatham University
Tickets are $12 at the door, or $10 for students, seniors, and in advance online at www.alia-musica.org/tickets

Centered around Morton Feldman’s 1951 piece Projections II (for trumpet, flute, violin, cello, and piano), Alia Musica will perform its first concert of 2010 (the third event in its 2009-10 season) on Thursday January 14th, at 7pm, at the James Laughlin Music Center of Chatham University in Shadyside.

The program also includes music for 2 and 3 performers by Mark Fromm, Ivan Jimenez, Federico Garcia, Matthew Heap, Ayo Oluranti, and new composer member Lenny Young. Also featured is Pittsburgh-native guest composer Chris Catone, whose Le Mirlitone, for flute and fixed electronics, will be given its Pittsburgh premiere by flutist Kerrith Livengood.

For more information visit Alia Musica Pittsburgh’s home page.

Update: This concert begins at 7 p.m.

James Laughlin Music Hall

Chatham University will celebrate the Global Focus Year of West Africa at the Sounds of Africa Music Festival, Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3. Pauline Rovkah, professor of music and the festival director, has assembled Pittsburgh’s finest music scholars and musicians for an incredible weekend of free events in the James Laughlin Music Hall. For more information contact Pauline Rovkah at 412-365-1676 or rovkah@chatham.edu.

Friday, October 2, 4:00 p.m.

“Jazz Imaginings of Africa: Aesthetics, Memory, and the African Cultural Continuum”

This talk will include discussion and performance of select jazz composers’ works, which demonstrate the creative connections between traditional African music and modern jazz.

Dr. Kenan Foley, professor of music

Dr. Anicet Mundundu, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), is an expert in traditional and contemporary music from the central African region

Immediately following: Trio performance featuring Dr. Mundundu

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Saturday, October 3, 2:00-4:30 p.m.

“Composition in Africa: Transmission and Reception” (Panel discussion, 2:00-3:00)

Moderator: Dr. Margit Hawelleck

Dr. Akin Euba, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Music, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Kenan Foley

Mr Charles Lwanga

Dr. Eric Moe, composer and pianist, professor of music, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Anicet Mundundu

Mr. Ayo Oluranti

Chamber Music Concert

Works by African composers: Kwabena Nketia, Akin Euba, Vindu Bangambula, Joshua Uzoigwe, Ayodamope Oluranti.

Performers: Kelly Lynch, Eric Moe, Roger Zahab, Robert Frankenberry, Oye

Dosunmu, Ayodamope Oluranti, Richard Page*, Pauline Rovkah, Alia Musica Sextet

*Principal Bass Clarinet of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

You are not going to believe this, but there is a third event featuring new music on Sunday night in this town. We need to have more alternative realities to be able to go to everything!!!

Kelly and Walter perform music by Berg, Vali, Griffes, and R. Strauss at Chatham’s James Laughlin Music Center Sunday night at 7 p.m. Details about this and all the other upcoming concerts (at least I think so) on the Events Calendar.