New Currents Music Festival Presents: LaSaM

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Sunday, February 1st, 2009
8:00 PM

Presented by LaSaM

Kristy Farkas (melodica, harmonium, percussion), Tina Pearson (accordion, flute, percussion) and Chris Reiche (keyboards, percussion) with guest performers Alfons Fear (trumpet), Rodney Sharman (flute), George Tzanetakis (sax), Max Murray (tuba), Mason Koenig and Corey Rae (percussion).

Pauline Oliveros’ Removing the Demon or Getting Your Rocks Off opens this evening of ritualistic works by 3 of the most adventurous new music composers of the past century. Oliveros’ Sonic Meditations encourage a new kind of interacting and listening between performers and audience and frequently provoke a changing of minds. Martin Bartlett’s deeply focused Five Directions is an improvisation score for mixed ensemble based on the concept of the manadala and text from ancient Tibetan practice. Closing the concert is Gavin Bryars’ Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet, known to have a powerful effect on audiences. The work uses a looped recording of an old hymn sung by an unnamed hobo, accompanied by a building sonority of instrumental sound to a beautiful and poignant end.

Tickets are $10 for each performance at the door, open seating.
Festival pass for all 5 shows $25 available only from the Victoria Symphony Box Office.