{"id":111829,"date":"2025-02-14T11:43:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T16:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=111829"},"modified":"2025-02-14T11:43:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T16:43:59","slug":"preview-prelude-concert-2-runner-esprit-orchestra-presents-canadian-premiere-steve-reichs-recent-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/02\/14\/preview-prelude-concert-2-runner-esprit-orchestra-presents-canadian-premiere-steve-reichs-recent-work\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Prelude Concert #2: Runner \u2014 Esprit Orchestra Presents Canadian Premiere Of Steve Reich\u2019s Recent Work"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Composer
Composer Steve Reich (Photo: Wonge Bergmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Esprit Orchestra returns to the stage on February 23 with the second of their Prelude Concerts, featuring three concerti and the Canadian premiere of a work by Steve Reich. Esprit\u2019s Prelude Concerts are a lead up to their Edge of Your Seat International Festival later this Spring.<\/p>\n

EO\u2019s Artistic Director Alex Pauk\u2019s own work, Concerto for Harp & Orchestra, is also on the bill. Pauk composed the piece, which he describes as a kind of musical self portrait, for Canadian harpist Erica Goodman<\/strong>, who\u2019ll be reprising it for the concert.<\/p>\n

Soloists Mark Fewer<\/strong>, violin, and Kevin Ahfat<\/strong>, piano, will perform Hans Abrahamsen\u2019s Double Concerto, a delicate and evocative work. Harpsichord virtuoso Wesley Shen<\/strong> takes centre stage for Henryk Gorecki\u2019s Harpsichord Concerto, a rapid fire piece in two movements that showcases the instrument\u2019s power and versatility in contemporary music.<\/p>\n

Steve Reich & The Runner<\/h2>\n

Steve Reich has been called \u201cAmerica\u2019s greatest living composer,\u201d and his influence on contemporary music is undeniable.<\/p>\n

His work has been recognized with two GRAMMY awards, a Pulitzer Prize, and the Gold Medal in Music by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, among other accolades. At 88, he\u2019s still active, with another premiere, this time the world premiere of Different Trains (String Orchestra version), on the program later this month with the Oregon Symphony.<\/p>\n

Reich is considered a giant in the genre of minimalism, and his take on it is unique. He incorporates influences from around the world, like the Ghanaian standard bell patterns he uses as the basis for the third movement of The Runner.<\/p>\n

The Runner (2016)<\/h3>\n

Reich says<\/a> Runner is written, \u201cfor a large ensemble of winds, percussion, pianos, and strings. While the tempo remains more or less constant, there are five movements, played without pause, that are based on different note durations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The piece saw its world premiere in November 2016 at the Royal Opera House, London, commissioned by Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Ensemble Signal through New Music USA’s Commissioning Music\/USA program.<\/p>\n

The composer plays with rhythmic durations throughout the five movements, beginning with sixteenths, followed by eighths, then quarters, then the same pattern occurs in reverse. Pairs of pianos and vibraphones provide the rhythmic compass for the winds and strings to add the melodies.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a dynamic work by an always fascinating composer.<\/p>\n