Argento Chamber Ensemble presents SINGULARITIES Saturday, December 19, 2020, 2pm EST Reiko Füting - tanz.tanz (2010) Doori Na, violin Allain Gaussin - La chevelure de Bérénice (1990) Andile Khumalo - Tracing Hollow Traces (2013) Carol McGonnell, clarinet Selections from Mystery Variations Giuseppe Colombi - Chiacona (17th century) Pascal Dusapin - 50 notes en 3 variations (2010) Fred Lerdahl - There and Back Again (2010) Martin Matalon - Polvo (2010) Magnus Lindberg - Duello (2010) Michael Katz, cello Arthur Kampela - Layers for a Transparent Orgasm for horn solo and player's voice (1991) Karl Kramer, horn Stephanie Griffin - Un cygne des temps (2016) Franz Gruber - Silent Night arr. Matthew Greenbaum for seven violas (2011) Stephanie Griffin, viola

Steve Reich - "New York Counterpoint" Carol McGonnell, clarinets

"Flicker" for clarinet and piano Michel Galante, Composer Performers: Carol McGonnell, clarinet Michel Galante, piano

This performance of "in vain" by Georg Friedrich Haas is by the Argento Chamber Ensemble, Michel Galante, Conductor and Artistic Director.  The event took place at EMPAC (The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) in November, 2010. The video was created in collaboration with the composer.  The original score includes portions of darkness and flashes of light.  It is recommended that it be viewed in a fully darkened room and may benefit from some adjustment of screen brightness.

Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas’ first appearance in New York was in 2009, when Argento brought him to the United States for the US Premiere of his masterwork “in vain.” Both the composer and his work became game-changing influences for contemporary music in America. Fellow Austrian composer Bernhard Lang describes what happens in this extraordinary piece, which has since become one of the watershed works of music in the 21st century. Argento's performance of "in vain" can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAwvWLVfSkM&t=1s

Argento was eagerly preparing to perform Gretel by Sang Song, when all NY concerts were cancelled this Spring. This piece explores, among other things, the dark and deadly side of family. We are sending you a “Rain Check” for this piece, in the form of a short conversation with the composer. We look forward to performing Gretel for you in person, once music lovers can congregate safely. All the best from Argento! Take care of yourselves and others!

Argento was excitedly preparing for a performance of Bethany Younge’s multi-media “Bodyscape” for singer, video, oboe, percussion, bass flute, electronics, and audience participation, when all NY concerts were cancelled this Spring. This was to be Bethany’s first time ever performing this work as the soloist, and so here is a “Rain Check” for this piece, in the form of a short conversation with the composer. We look forward to sharing this work with you in person once concert life resumes. Until then, here are a few words to give our audiences something to look forward to when the Corona Virus is behind us all. All the best from Argento, we miss you!