The purpose of this two-part series is to provide listeners with a basic overview of the musical language and landscape of the two world premieres Orpheus will present during the 06/07 Season, as preface to their first performances. The defining feature of the genre of contemporary western classical music is the multiplicity of styles that pervades the art form, which can make digesting a new piece on the first listening a challenging experience, even for trained musicians.
On-stage Guided Listening Tours will provide a clear “roadmap,” in words and music, for the exciting journey of a premiere performance. Orpheus musicians will perform live musical examples of themes and important structural elements, and will offer insights into their experience of preparing the new works, Stephen Hartke’s A Brandenburg Autumn and Ingram Marshall’s Orphic Memories.
Guided Listening Tours will be incorporated into Carnegie Hall performances on December 2 nd 2006 and April 14 th, 2007 as well as for Orpheus audiences on tour in New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.