Emerald City Music: Evolution
March 27, 2020, 8PM (415 Westlake, Seattle, ticket incl. open bar)
Chronicling the history of the world’s most versatile family of instruments, the keyboard, this evening is packed full of both iconic and eclectic tunes for harpsichord, piano, prepared piano, and synthesizer. Featuring: Henry Kramer, piano • Vicky Chow, piano and prepared piano • Jeremy Jordan, piano and synthesizer • Kenneth Weiss, harpsichord
Jordan Machine Poem no. 2 for piano and synthesizer
Scarlatti Sonata in A Major, K 212
Ravel Gaspard de la nuit : Ondine
Beethoven Piano Sonata in E Major, op. 109
Glass Piano Etude no. 2
Cage Selections from Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano: Sonata No. 1; interlude No. 3; Sonata No. 5
Tallis . Felix Namque II
Chopin Polonaise no. 6, op. 53 “Heroic”
The Story
This epic performance tells the tale of the world’s most loved and versatile instrument. Listeners will follow its physical evolution and the iconic music written at each stage of technological development: from the harpsichord through the forte-piano, contemporary piano, prepared-piano, and modern day instruments like synthesizer. Early composers like Thomas Tallis (1505-1589) and Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) were defining masters of the instrument, inspiring the likes of Beethoven and Chopin to write more challenging and dynamic music as the technical ability of the piano developed during the Industrial Revolution. Pianos soon became progressively larger, louder, and wider range of octaves (five by the 1790s and seven by 1820). Enter John Cage, who for a time resided in Seattle creating music that again redefined the abilities of the acoustic piano by “preparing it” by placing objects in the instrument to alter the tonal ability. The evolution of modern day technologies again reinvented the keyboard to infinitely expanding the range of the instrument via the computer-aided synthesizer.
LATE NIGHT W/ JEREMY JORDAN - $25
Emerald City Music offers something never done before! Following our 8PM EVOLUTION show, pianist Jeremy Jordan navigates over to the 415 Westlake/Kakao Coffee lounge for a spontaneous BONUS late-night show. Jordan – an avid composer, pianist, and improviser – will get total artistic liberty to shape this special event as it unfolds! There’s no program, no set format; just come, hang out, get cozy and enjoy a unique exposé of this amazing emerging pianist!