Next Event:
Program "Life, the Universe and Everything"
Distant Star, by Alexina Louie
Solitaire, for piano and electronics, by Barbara Kolb
Cygnus, for mixed media and piano, by Doug Harbin
I leap through the sky with stars, by Alexina Louie
Program Notes
"Life, the Universe, and Everything" explores the idea of finding human-connection and peace in solitude. We live in a time where social media has connected us more than ever, yet loneliness runs rampant and our mental health suffers. Our inner and outer worlds become blurred and we question what is real or imaginary. This program takes the listener on a meditative, relaxed journey through the voices in our minds to the vast openness of outer space. It combines calmness with chaos in its search for “Life, the Universe, and Everything” (to quote Douglas Adams).
Solitaire, by Barbara Kolb, creates a dynamic interplay between the pianist and their electronic counterpart. Both parts share the same musical material, however the material never occurs simultaneously. Instead, one hears an echo chamber of musical patterns and events. Various ostinatos and minimalist gestures are juxtaposed with familiar Classical melodies, creating an atmosphere that invokes the essence of Solitaire - playing games with oneself and one’s own thoughts.
Cygnus, by Doug Harbin, is inspired by Andrew Krivak’s novel, The Bear, which is about a father and daughter who are the last two humans on the planet. The piece depicts feelings of isolation and insignificance the characters may have felt as they gazed into the night sky. The video for Cygnus includes twelve time-lapse scenes from around the world, shot by Michael Abramyan. All electronic sounds come from the NASA website, manipulated by the composer. The piano part is inspired by Alexander Scriabin’s Mystic Chord.
Rounding out the program are Distant Star and I leap through the sky with stars by Alexina Louie. Many of her works are inspired by the juxtaposition of death and eternal life. In her own words, “Along with the pain of loss comes the realization that an artist’s life ultimately endures through his/her art.” I leap through the sky with stars is based on the following Zen poem, meant to serve as a summation of the author’s life and an inspiration to others:Four and fifty yearsI’ve hung the sky with stars.Now I leap through - What shattering!Dogen(1200-1253)
Dr. Jennifer Waleczek is a pianist and dedicated teacher. She is an enthusiastic new music performer, having appeared with the Bang on a Can All-Stars featuring Meredith Monk, Crossing 32nd Street, Cactus Chamber Ensemble, Northwestern’s Contemporary Music Ensemble and Arizona State University’s ACME Ensemble.
Jennifer enjoys collaborating with other musicians to create unique performances. Her most recent program, Piano Portraits, featured evocative, water-themed works by Ravel and Mel Bonis, as well as synergistic two-piano pieces by David Borden. She was also a featured artist with the Oracle Piano Society, where she premiered lesser-known solo and chamber music works from the “Czech Quartet” - Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček and Martinů.
Dr. Waleczek received her BM from Northwestern University, and her MM and DMA from Arizona State University, as well as a Performance Certificate from the Prague Conservatoire, Czech Republic. She currently maintains an active piano studio and freelances in Denver metro area, where she also serves as VP for the local music teachers’ association, for which she organizes community outreach recitals and special events.
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