Event

The Argus Quartet plays Tuesdays@MONK Space

Program:

Ben Phelps "The Angels" (premiere)
Thomas Kotcheff "scratch cradle" (premiere)
Andrew Norman "Peculiar Strokes" (premiere)

Description:

The premieres by Ben and Andrew are similar in their form and vividness. Ben's quartet
"The Angels" is a series of vignettes that paint evocative scenes of the City of Angels. The ten short, aptly titled scenes movements like The Suburbs, La Fiesta, or Carmageddon cleverly form what the composer calls "tangents to life in Los Angeles."

Andrew's "Peculiar Strokes" is a collection of miniature movements that explore the unusual sounds that can be made with different types of bow strokes. An ongoing project for Andrew, he has been adding to this witty and amusing project over the years. His ever-increasing musical imagination is matched by his growing prominence he has had commissions from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic, among many others.

A new work by the composer Thomas Kotcheff will round out the program. Thomas has received a number of recent prizes, such as the Presser Award and 2014 Hermitage Award from the Aspen Music Festival. This commission will represent the true spirit of collaboration through the quartet's close work with Thomas.