Basso Moderno Duo Holiday Concert

The Basso Moderno Duo gave their Annual Holiday Concert with special guests The Capitol Pride Singers and Native American musicians Eric Marczak and Dawn Standing Woman at the WAMC 'The Linda' in Albany, NY.

The concert began with a one hour Basso Moderno Duo Recital which featured composers from all over the world including the US Premiere of YOU by Radiohead/O'Riley/BMD. In attendance at the concert was famed composer Pauline Oliveros for whom BMD commissioned 'Blue Heron' in 2007.

BMD were joined on stage by Native American flute player Eric Marczak and storyteller Dawn Standing Woman. The collaboration aims to bring audiences in contact with contemporary Native American artists. This was the second opportunity that BMD has had to work with these fantastic performers and it was a very memorable experience. Eric is also a talented instrument maker and co-owner of Mohawk Valley Guitars.

The Finale of the concert came with the performance of the Capitol Pride Singers who presented a joyful holiday program. The lighthearted music touched on all celebrations of the season including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. The music was fun they brought about an exciting finale.

The Basso Moderno Duo would like to thank Graeme McKenna and Staff for the opportunity to performe once again at WAMC 'The Linda'.

Basso Moderno Duo in Romania

BMD at the George Enescu Museum in Bucharest, Romania

The Basso Moderno Duo recently returned from giving two concerts in Romania. BMD made their Bucharest debut at the famed George Enescu Museum as part of the Meridian Contemporary Music Festival. Several leading composers were present at the concert including Liana Alexandra, Fred Popovici, Ulpiu Vlad amongst others. The program featured mostly new works composed in 2007-2008 as well as other works commissioned by the Basso Moderno Duo. Watch a clip of the performance HERE.

BMD returned for their second recital in the once capital of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca, performing at the Music Academy alongside composer Iulia Cibicescu-Duran and her notable husband Eugen Cibicescu-Duran, a well known violinist/violist. Afterwards, Eugen demonstrated Romanian fiddle styles by playing music from various regions. BMD discussed future collaborations with Iulia including the composer’s possible first US visit. In addition to the concert, BMD met with composer Ionica Pop and reviewed a recently composed sacred work.

Basso Moderno Duo Mentioned in Chamber Music ‘Rorem at 85’

The Basso Moderno Duo would like to thank Ned Rorem and Frank J. Oteri for mentioning us in the recent Chamber Music cover story ‘Rorem at 85’. Chamber Music is a journal published by Chamber Music America.

“At the other extreme of the string resister is Nocturne, for double bass and piano (2007), a three-minute work in which the bassist plays a soaring melody from its lowest to highest registers, as the pianist maintains a steady flow of eighth notes.

Nocturne was premiered last year at the Smithsonian by the Basso Moderno Duo”.

December 2008 by Frank J. Oteri

Basso Moderno Duo Wins Montpelier Concert Series Competition

The Basso Moderno Duo was selected as the winner of the Montpelier Concert Series Competition. In addition to an honorarium, they will be giving a recital on October 11, 2009. The concert will featured newly composed works written especially for the Basso Moderno Duo by member composers of the New York Women Composers, Inc.

Basso Moderno Duo Awarded New York Women Composers Seed Money Grant

The Basso Moderno Duo was granted the 2008 New York Women Composers Seed Money Grant.

The purpose of this grant is to bring attention to composer members of the NYWC and the BMD plans to do so through a series of concerts, a radio broadcast, and recordings. To learn more about the NYWC visit: www.newyorkwomencomposers.org

Basso Moderno Duo at United Nations

The Basso Moderno presented a program of recently composed works at the United Nations in New York City alongside the Izabel Gozkowsky Dance Company at the ‘Women in Crises’ Conference.

The performance took place in the Dam Hammarskjold Auditorium with a very nice Steinway Grand, which has the United Nations seal carved on the side.

Izabel Gotzkowsky choreographed a dance solo for herself to ‘Nocturne’ by Ned Rorem, a work we commissioned in 2007 and premiered at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Program
Larry Bell - Pop Set
Sonia Megias Lopez - Tango No. 2
Felix Yanov-Yanovsky - Dialogue
Liana Alexandra - Melody
Betty Beath - From a Lake of Honey
Ned Rorem - Nocturne

Basso Moderno in Bulgaria & Romania

The Basso Moderno Duo has just returned from giving a series of recitals in Bulgaria and Romania.

Lyubomir Denev, composer, hosted us for one week as we gave three recitals throughout Bulgaria. Each concert was performed alongside a solo recital by Denev and our program included Denev's 'Funky Talking', which was composed especially for the Basso Moderno Duo. The first concert was at the Czech Cultural Center in Sofia on March 19. Hosted by the US Embassy in Bulgaria and the New Symphoy Orchestra, the standing room only concert was a great success. On March 20, we attended the double bass class of Petya Bagovska, the talented teacher at State Academy of Music in Sofia. After attending a recital conducted by Sir Neville Marriner we gave our recital at the March Music Days Festival in Rousse on March 22. Our program was positively reviewed in Bulgarian newspaper KULTURA by Ekaterina Docheva saying "The Basso Moderno Duo, from USA, presented the newest music - the works were created during the last two years. They are phenomenon, quite interesting, shocking the traditional taste and make up for a deficiency in the Festival." Our final Bulgarian performance took place as the opening event of the Springfest Festival at the American University in Blagoevgrad on March 23. The recital was mentioned in VERVE Magazine.

Iulia Cibisescu-Duran, composer, hosted our trip to Cluj, Romania. We gave a recital at the Music Academy which included also include performances of Cibisescu's 'Piece for Basso Moderno' and 'Melody' by Liana Alexandra.

Basso Moderno Review: KULTURA

The following review was published in KULTURA, a leading Bulgrian newspaper in Rousse, of the recital at the March Music Days Festival:

"The Basso Moderno Duo, from USA, presented the newest music - the works were created during the last two years. They are a phenomenon, quite interesting, shocking the traditional taste and make up for a deficiency in the Festival."
- Ekaterina Docheva
26 March, 2008

Read the Full Review HERE

Basso Moderno Duo Recital at Women Composers Festival in Hartford, CT

The Basso Moderno Duo will perform the works of 11 contemporary women composers, including 7 premieres, at a recital on March 7, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, CT at the 8th Annual Women Composers Festival of Hartford!

THIS ONE GOES TO ELEVEN !!

Program

Sonia Megias Lopez (Spain) 'Tango n.2'
Pauline Oliveros 'Blue Heron'
Yoko Ono-Lennon 'Secret Piece II'
Emma Lou Diemer 'Old Movie'

Seven Premieres

Iulia Cibisescu (Romania) 'Piece for Basso Moderno'
Alla Penkina (Russia) 'Illustrations'
Betty Beath (Australia) 'From the Lake of Honey'
Elinor Armer (USA) 'Minotaur'
Emanuela Ballio (Italy) 'Tilia Tormentosa'
Ruth Schonthal (Germany) 'Moth Variation'
Liana Alexandra (Romania) 'Melody'

Composition:Today! An Interview with Basso Moderno Duo

The Basso Moderno Duo has been featured in Composition:Today! An interview took place with composer David Bruce in February of 2008 and appeared in the British online Journal.

Composition:Today was created with the intension of bringing together the widest possible range of resources for Composers and anyone interested in New Music.

Read it HERE

Basso Moderno Duo Premieres Music of Stockhausen

The Basso Moderno Duo recently gave the North American Premiere of a work by celebrated German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen.

The Basso Moderno Duo performed the work for Bass included in 'Orchestra-Finalists' from 'Wednesday' of his cycle of Operas 'Licht: Die sieben Tage der Woche' ("Light: The Seven Days of the Week").

The performance took place at the Sitar Center, in Washington DC, and was hosted by the Great Noise Ensemble.

Feature: Basso Moderno in Cape Gazette

Cape Gazette - Friday, August 12, 2007

Milton's 'House on the Hill' Presents Music & Art
by Kevin Spence
Cape Gazette Staff

Basso Moderno Duo, a musical group that has performed pieces written by Yoko Ono and other noteworthy composer composers, will play compositions specifically written to highlight the paintings of Heather Levy, who is holding a solo exhibition. "Flights of Fancy," contains 34 paintings described by Levy as modern art with an avant-garde flair."The whole body is a whimsical collection of pieces highlighting the miracle of flight, whether literal or figurative," she said. Guests will have the opportunity to hear and perhaps participate in a musical performance, as the Basso Moderno Duo will play to celebrate Levy's collection.

Members Allan von Schenkel and Kristen Williams have returned to Lavinia Street to perform for their third time at the artists' refuge, however this time, they'll play 'Whimsy' [premiered at the Smithsonian American Art Museum July 15, 2007]. Dr. Harold Colin Cowherd, a prominent African American composer, wrote 'Whimsy' over the summer and Schenkel said the piece appropriately fits the theme of the art show.

"We promote this music to nontraditional classical musical audiences", he said. Schenkel and Williams present new music commissions from worldwide composers including pieces written by Yoko Ono, Ned Rorem, and Pauline Oliveros. To date, the pair has worked with over 100 composers from 37 countries. In July, Basso Moderno Duo played in the D.C. Fringe Festival where they performed their own written work, '69 Ways to Fall in LOVE'.

Schenkel strums his bass while his partner, Williams, plays the piano.

Levy and the group often collaborate together, but pairing music with Levy's work is a new venture, said Williams. To nontraditional audiences, "Chamber music can be more accessible or easier to understand in an art gallery or a dance performance," said Williams. Jeannie Greenhaugh, 205 Lavinia St owner, said audiences are encouraged to literally join in the Saturday nigh affair. "At times, we include audience participation works, where everyone becomes part of the piece," said Schenkel.

Contact Kevin Spence at kevin-spence@hotmail.com

Basso Moderno Wins Award

The Basso Moderno Duo has received an award from the Washington DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities for '69 Ways to Fall in LOVE'.

Music Web International: Interview by Dominy Clements

Basso Moderno Duo's August 2007 interview by
Dominy Clements of Music Web International.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Aug07/Basso_Moderno_Duo.htm