"A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS," Contemporary Music Consortium, Salt Lake City Library Auditorium, Sunday
In connection with the University of Utah's celebration of National Women's Week, the Contemporary Music Consortium devoted its concert Sunday to music by female composers.
The program, held in the Salt Lake City Library Auditorium, was more than a tribute to women composers, however. It was a multimedia presentation that included poetry readings, dance and visual arts.
It was a departure from the usual concerts that CMC presents. Branching out into new territory can be a risky venture, but the program was an unqualified success, thanks to the many talented people involved.
Three local poets read from their works — Kellie Jensen, Danielle Dubrasky and Nancy Takacs. Each of them made some pointed observations on womanhood that were surprisingly reflected in the music that was performed. In blending and contrasting the poetry and music, CMC director, and flutist, Laurel Ann Maurer made some wise choices. Each complemented the other perfectly.
The musical side of the program began with Maurer playing Katherine Hoover's "Kokopelli" for solo flute. The evocative piece creates images of American Indians in its soundscape. And Maurer's lyrical playing captured the mysteriously otherworldly character.
The next piece, Judith Shatin's "Coursing Through the Still Green," continued the mood set forth in Hoover's work. Once again playing unaccompanied, Maurer captured the seamless lyricism of Shatin's piece with unerring perceptiveness and clarity.
Maurer played two other solo pieces, this time for alto flute — Marilyn Bliss' "Lament" and Ann Hankinson's "Soaring," which was written for her and received its world premiere Sunday. In both, Maurer was accompanied by dancer Ai Fujii from the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company.
The anguished and intense "Lament" is musically and visually quite striking. Intended to be performed with a dancer, the work's fluid phrases were mimicked in Fujii's gracefully choreographed lines.
"Soaring" is a sensual work, one that is both evocative and provocative. Maurer and Fujii capably captured the long fluid lines with their thoughtful interpretation. Clarinetist Russell Harlow and violist Leslie Harlow played Rebecca Clarke's Prelude, Allegro and Pastorale. Nostalgic at times and certainly reflective, even in the martial middle movement, Clarke's piece is weighty in its impact and utterly compelling. The Harlows put feeling and passion into their performance.
Another Hankinson piece was on the program as well. "Reflections" for flute, viola and piano (with Maurer, Leslie Harlow and pianist Jeffrey Price) was accompanied by a slide show featuring the photography of Sandy Duncan and the paintings of Jean Arnold. Intense in mood, yet captivatingly expressive, the slide show brought out the strong imagery of each of the three movements ("Clouds," "Montecastello" and "Cathedral").
E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com