Montclaire Concert May Be Once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity

On Saturday night (January 31), Kanawha United Presbyterian Church will be the site of the Montclaire String Quartet's second subscription concert. Beginning at 8 p.m., the group will present an array of works by American composers including Charleston-born George Crumb.

There is no good way to describe all the possibilities and combinations of sound that this concert will feature.

The Crumb composition "Black Angels" employs maracas, three sets of crystal glasses, metal thimbles, paper clips, 15" gong, contrabass bow, glass rods, a 24" gong, electric instruments all hooked into amps (thanks to rental from Horace Mann Middle School), and amazingly enough--no guest artists required.

The Montclaire players will use all of those "exotic instruments" over the 13 movements of the work. The picture above is a quick look at part of the oversized score from which players read. Oh yeah, and if that's not enough, they will hum, whistle and chant in several languages as well.

The remainder of the concert will feature other works by American composers including Darol Anger, Zhou Long, Scott Lindroth, Ljova and William Grant Still.

Tickets may be purchased at the door: $10 for adults and $5 for students.

The 2008-09 Montclaire String Quartet Chamber Music Series is sponsored in part by
James Wilson Douglas and Rita Jo Douglas, by Dr. Steven Jubelirer, in Honor and Memory of Richard and Jean Jubelirer and Susan Jubelirer Nesi, and by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas G. Potterfield.