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Thank you for making HEAR NOW 2014 a success!
In three concerts on May 2nd, 3rd and 4th HEAR NOW 2014 presented 23 compositions by 23 contemporary Los Angeles composers. Full houses were stunned and fascinated by the richness , diversity and beauty of the concert music being imagined by Los Angeles composers.
For the first time in its four year history the HEAR NOW composers preceded the performance of their compositions with brief presentations. 17 year old Milo Talwani explained his quartet ‘Memory Yields’ as” having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time”. 90 year old Bill Kraft gave a hilarious description of how he had generated his ‘Encounters II’ for solo tuba.
The May 2nd concert was a collaboration between HEAR NOW and People Inside Electronics. and launched HEAR NOW’s presentation of LA composers working in the electro-acoustic genre.
Saturday’s ‘Marathon concert’ began at 6 pm with Steven Williams’ gorgeously developed and performed duo for bassoon and piano, Veils. Next was ‘All the Wrong Notes’, by Nick Norton, ‘a crazy piano deconstruction,’ in the words of LA Times music critic, Mark Swed.Peter Knell’s violent and rapturous string quartet, ‘Three California Landscapes’ closed the first part of Saturdays’ concert.
After a break for dinner (food trucks), the concert resumed at 8 pm. Nine more compositions were presented. Esa-Pekka Salonen’s wind quintet, ‘Memoria’ ,ended Saturday night’s concert.
On Sunday, May 4th, works by Sean Friar, Milo Talwani, Hugh Levick, Anne LeBaron, Jeffrey Holmes and Adam Schoenberg brought HEAR NOW 2014 to a close. Composers, performers and audience left Sunday evening looking forward to HEAR NOW 2015.
Please read Sequenza21′s review of our Friday electroacoustic concert.
Esa-Pekka Salonen now our Honorary Artistic Advisor
We are extremely pleased to announce that LA Philharmonic Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen has become the Honorary Artistic Advisor of the HEAR NOW Festival. Learn more about Esa-Pekka at his website and find out more about our recent benefit evening, featuring him and his music, on our Past Events page.
Join the Composer Conversations
Composer Conversations is located in the Navigation Bar under the “Community” menu and has been created to give composers a space to discuss their work, their artistic vision, and other issues in the arts. Click here to be taken there directly. Hear Now encourages all composers to join the conversation, comment, and post your own thoughts. You must sign up to our website in order to participate!
Donations
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The Hear Now Festival’s work continues throughout the year. Planning, organizing, spreading knowledge about the fine, gifted composers in the midst of Los Angeles are ongoing, 24/7 activities by a dedicated group of determined musicians!
Your contributions keep the flame alive and show how much the LA community supports their composers. Please consider a donation in any amount, and click here to make a donation today.
THANK YOU!!
Hear Now 2012 Group Photo Credit (Header): Bonnie Perkinson