JANUARY 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lexington, VA -- The first Sonoklect concert of 2005 presents Luna Nova in a concert of twentieth-century classics and a world premiere. The quintet will present works by George Crumb and Arnold Schoenberg, as well as the premiere of Washington and Lee professor Terry Vosbein’s Paris Quintet. The concert is on Saturday evening, January 22nd at 8:00 at the Lenfest Center at WLU and is free and open to the public.

Luna Nova, a group of musicians devoted to contemporary music, was formed in 2003 at the Associated Colleges of the South New Music Festival. This flexible ensemble performs works ranging from classic twentieth-century repertoire to new works by emerging composers and is especially interested in the education of young musicians. In addition to focusing on classics of contemporary music, its concerts have featured new works by all the members of the ACS Composers Forum as well as by selected outstanding undergraduate composers. The purpose of Luna Nova is to advance the cause of new music in liberal arts colleges and beyond.

During the summer of 2004 Vosbein once again lived and composed in Paris. His Piano Quintet was written in June during a residency that also produced a Rhapsody for cello and clarinet and a Trio for clarinet, cello and piano, both with scheduled New York premieres. The Quintet is based on Vosbein’s Paris Sonata, premiered by WLU professor Timothy Gaylard on a 2000 Sonoklect concert.

George Crumb composed Voice of the Whale in 1971 for flute, cello, and piano, all of which are amplified. The work was inspired by the singing of the humpback whale. Each of the three performers is required to wear a black half-mask and the piece is performed under blue lighting. Also on the program is Arnold Schoenberg’s landmark Chamber Symphony of 1906 in a transcription by his student Anton Webern.

For more information contact Sonoklect director, Terry Vosbein at 540/458-8851 or at tvosbein@wlu.edu.


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