We are so restless to perform Augusta Read Thomas’s “Selene” for you with Third Coast Percussion at the inaugural Ear Taxi Festival! We did this one backwards, recording the piece first for Gusty’s latest portrait album, Of Being is a Bird, before ever performing it live, and this show will be your opportunity to hear it live for the very first time.

We had been looking for an excuse to collaborate with Third Coast, one of our favorite ensembles, and of course it was Gusty who made it happen. There was a glowing BBC Music Magazine review of the record that stated, “...Third Coast Percussion and the Spektral Quartet interlick with exhilarating precision in Selene." We suppose they liked it?

The interplay between string and percussion quartets here, often swirling into exuberant exclamations, is what makes the piece so riveting. Not only is the work expertly-crafted...it is absolutely lovely to listen to. You don’t have to take our word for it. You can hear it for yourself:

We’ll be joined by the one and only James Lyon (aka Clara’s dad, aka professor of violin at PennState) for this one, so there is literally a connection at a molecular level between our violinists. Seeing this interlocking live is a party for your retinas, so ink this one on your calendar immediately.

PROGRAM
Third Coast Percussion: Reaction Yield (World Premiere)
Augusta Read Thomas: Selene (Moon Chariot Rituals) (Chicago Premiere)