Music of Shostakovich, Healey and Gabel
KBPS All Classical 89.9 Northwest Previews' Andrea Murray interviews Jack Gabel
To hear the entire program, click here, select On Demand and choose Northwest Previews
Listen live to FM 91.1 OPB's Think Out Loud (click here) June 3rd, 9 AM - call-in/discussion about the Tienanmen 20 Year Anniversary and a sneak preview of Farewell to Wang Wei
June 1989, in the wake of the Tienanmen Square Massacre, American composer Jack Gabel, living in Japan at the time, responded to the event by composing In the Land of Wu to an evocative poem of Li Po about his longing for home and family.
The work was premiered in 1991 by The Oregon Repertory Singers and Virtuosi della Rosa.
 Click to hear excerpt.
It has received only one other performance by the Dale Warland Singers in 1993. Around this work by Jack Gabel, a founding member of Cascadia Composers - NACUSA, we offer a full concert of related works.
String Quartet No. 8 of Dimitri Shostakovich is included in the program for its legendary stance against totalitarianism. The Dickson String Quartet is engaged especially for its strong interpretation of the work.
Click to hear excerpt.
Derek Healey's The Silvered Lute: A Wang Wei Song Album is an especially touching recent work by a masterful composer, setting the lyric poetry of one of China's most beloved Tang Dynesty poets.
The Silvered Lute: a Wang Wei Song Album
soprano & piano
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1) The Ravine
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2) The Grove of Dark Bamboo
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3) Green Creek
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4) Green Willows
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5) Cold Mountains
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6) The Autumn Moon
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7) The Hunt
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8) Old Home
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9) The Empty Mountain
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The program concludes with the world premiere of Gabel's reflection on Tienanmen, a choral setting of Tan Zi Chang's English translation of poet Meng Hao-lian's
Click to hear excerpt.
Farewell to Wang Wei
Lonely, Lonely, for what am I waiting?
Day after day, I come back with emptiness.
I like to go where there is sweet grass.
I am sorry to be parted from my old friend.
Who of those in power will give you a break?
Understanding friends are really precious.
I realize I should keep to myself quietly,
And stay in my old home behind closed doors
June 3, 2009 at 8:00 PM
First Congregational UCC
1126 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
[get map]
TICKETS AT THE DOOR:
$20 general admission, $15 seniors, $10 students
children under age 13 admitted free of charge
online pruchases - add $1 fee
info: 800.757.7384
email: ArtixPdx@comcast.net
www.url = www.JackGabel.com
children under age 13 admitted free of charge
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 Porland Vocal Consort
The Dickson String Quartet
 Dimitri Shostakovich
 Derek Healey
 Jackie T. Gabel
photo © 2006 Chris Leck
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