Photo: Manuscript Illumination with David in Prayer in an Initial M, from a Psalter
Artist: Girolamo dai Libri (Italian, Verona 1474–1555 Verona), Date: 1501–2. "Like the singing monks in Girolamo dai Libri's miniature executed for the same psalter (displayed nearby), David appears here in prayer with his mouth open and his gaze turned heavenward. In many images of David, God the Father appears above him as the object of his inspiration. Like the monks, he appears to look beyond the frame of the initial, as if he were reading the text of the psalter." To learn more about this piece, see: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
An evening of original musical reflections on the ancient and timeless verse of the Poet-King David, performed by Contemporaneous, directed by David BLOOM; and Ghostlight, directed by Evelyn TROESTER DEGRAF. Tickets are $10/open seating, and are available online, by mail, and at the door. To download the invitation, click here: Psalms
HOW TO BUY YOUR TICKETS
- Purchase tickets online through PayPal:
- Cost $10 per ticket
- Open seating
- Purchase receipt necessary to pick up tickets
All tickets must be picked up at the ticket window, starting from Friday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 pm through Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8:30 pm (half hour before the performance starts). Please bring your receipt with you.
- Purchase by check issued and mailed to New York Encounter, 28 Attorney Street, New York, NY 10002. Please specify "For PSALMS" A receipt will be sent by e-mail (please be sure to provide your e-mail). TICKETS WILL NOT BE MAILED. You will need to pick them up at the ticket window.
- Purchase at the door from the evening of Friday, Jan. 15th, through Saturday, Jan. 16th, at 8:30 pm
“God has entered the reality of ancient Israel as a companion who determines the meaning of a path that has included both fidelity and betrayal, always showing Himself to be the Lord of history. The sweep of the Psalms tell this history with the evocative power of poetic song.”
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
CONTEMPORANEOUS
Contemporaneous
Contemporaneous is an ensemble of 21 musicians whose mission is to bring to life the music of now. Recently recognized for a “ferocious, focused performance” (The New York Times) and for its “passionate drive...setting an extremely high bar for other ensembles to live up to” (I Care If You Listen), Contemporaneous performs and promotes the most exciting work of living composers through innovative concerts, commissions, recordings, and educational programs.
Based in New York City and active throughout the United States, Contemporaneous has performed over 80 concerts at a wide range of venues, including Lincoln Center, (le) poisson rouge, Merkin Concert Hall, Baryshnikov Arts Center, St. Ann’s Warehouse and the Bang on a Can Marathon. The ensemble has worked with artists as diverse as David Byrne, Donnacha Dennehy, Yotam Haber, Julia Wolfe, and Dawn Upshaw.
Contemporaneous has premiered more than 60 works, many of them large-scale pieces by emerging composers. Through its commissions and readiness to play challenging music, the ensemble encourages composers to take risks and defy constraints. Contemporaneous' debut album, Stream of Stars — Music of Dylan Mattingly (Innova Recordings), has been featured on radio programs around the world, including WNYC's “New Sounds”.
Dedicated to spreading new music to new audiences, Contemporaneous leads participatory programs for students in the communities where the ensemble performs. The ensemble has held residencies at Simon's Rock College, the University of New Orleans, Williams College, and Bard College, where the group was founded in 2010. Find out more at contemporaneous.org.
GHOSTLIGHT
Ghostlight, Germany, 2015, 14th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf
GHOSTLIGHT is an elite New York City chamber choir that maintains a rigorous calendar of performances which showcase its varied repertoire of sacred and secular a cappella choral compositions from the 16th to the 21st centuries. Founded in 2010 by artistic director Evelyn Troester DeGraf, the ensemble is made up of 16-20 singers who work to achieve superior musicality, intonation, and choral blend through highly skilled vocal aptitude and musicianship.
Recent performances include such highlights as the PS1 Benefit at the MoMA New York, sold-out concerts in prolific venues in Germany, world premieres of new compositions, and a live performance with the Rolling Stones at the Barclays and Prudential Centers. In May of 2015 GHOSTLIGHT was invited to participate in the prestigious Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition in southern Germany and was awarded 3rd prize. Read more at ghostlightchorus.com/home
ABOUT THE COMPOSERS
ANDREW BLOCH is a founding partner of Human, one of the most highly regarded and successful music and sound design production companies in advertising today. Since opening its doors in 2001, Human has garnered numerous awards from Cannes Lions, LIA, Clio Awards, AICP, D&AD, the International Andy Awards, ADDY Awards, International Awards, First Boards Awards, and critical praise from all corners of the industry. An active composer, creative director and managing partner, Andy has been involved in the production of thousands of commercials and long form dramatic projects for television and film. Read More
DAVID BLOOM is founding co-artistic director of Contemporaneous, a New York-based ensemble of 21 musicians dedicated to performing the most exciting music of the present moment, and recently lauded in New York Times for a “ferocious, focused performance.” A devoted advocate for new music, he regularly works with living composers to bring new and recent works to life. David has conducted over 120 world premieres at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, (le) poisson rouge, Merkin Concert Hall, and the Bang on a Can Marathon. He is a frequent guest conductor for NOW Ensemble, Hotel Elefant, JACK Quartet, Mantra Percussion, and TILT Brass, among others. Read More
TIMOTHY DUSENBURY (b. 1982) studied music composition with Howard Frazin at Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. He received an MA in Liturgical Music from St. John’s School of Theology • Seminary in Collegeville, MN, where he studied with Brian Campbell and Robert LeBlanc. Recent collaborations include works for the NIH Community Orchestra (2013), The National Catholic Youth Choir (2014), and Trio d’Amis (2015). He is a regular contributor for the WordSong Project in Boston and Washington, D.C. He and his family live in Falls Church, VA, where he teaches music and serves as organist and music director at St. Philip Catholic Church. Read More
JONATHAN FIELDS is a composer, music teacher and lecturer who in his career has explored many regions of the musical world. After graduating first in his class from Mannes College of Music in 1981, he joined David Horowitz Music Associates, and has been an award-winning composer of music for advertising, film and television. An accomplished guitarist, he has played for numerous recording sessions as well as for composers Phillip Glass and Glen Branca. In recent years he has been a frequent lecturer and musical educator, and the author of several publications aimed at introducing new audiences to the treasures of European and American classic and traditional music. Read More
DAVID HOROWITZ is a composer who began playing piano by ear at age 3. As a young adult, he played with Gil Evans and Tony Williams, and later became Composer in Residence at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.; he also arranged albums for Peter Allen, Carol Hall and others at Elektra Records. Horowitz composed for choreographer Twyla Tharp, and for the art films of Ian Hugo and Anais Nin; for the Japanese mime Yas Hakoshima; and a number of European features. Horowitz composed for choreographer Twyla Tharp, and for the art films of Ian Hugo and Anais Nin; for the Japanese mime Yas Hakoshima; and a number of European features. Read More
SEBASTIAN MODARELLI studied at the National Conservatory of Music in his native Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1998 he was awarded the highest prize at the National Composers’ Competition Promociones Musicales and, a year later, he won the First Prize in the triennial Composers’ Contest of the National Academy of Arts in Argentina. He held the position of Organist and Music Professor at the Seminary of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, guided by then Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (now Pope Francis). In 2005 Modarelli moved to Rochester, Minnesota after being offered the position of Music Director and Organist at St. John the Evangelist Church. Read More
EVELYN TROESTER DEGRAF (Founder and Artistic Director of GHOSTLIGHT) is an internationally accomplished musical director, choral conductor, and music educator. Originally from Germany, Evelyn received her Masters degree with a dual concentration in performance and music education at the renowned University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich in 2005. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate and Teaching Assistant at Columbia University’s prestigious Teachers College. Read More
GABRIELE VANONI was born in Milan in 1980. After a few international experiences as a very young composer, he started his musical studies at the Conservatory of Milan, where he graduated in Piano with Maria Isabella De Carli and in Composition with Giuseppe Giuliano. He continued his education with a Ph.D. in Music Composition at Harvard University, under the guidance of Julian Anderson, Chaya Czernowin and Hans Tutschku. At Harvard, he also received instruction by Helmut Lachenmann, Brian Ferneyhough, and Tristan Murail. Read More
