The Williams Symphonic Winds to Perform De Materie
WILLIAMSTOWN - The Williams Symphonic Winds will give a concert on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. in Chapin Hall on the Williams College campus. There will also be a pre-concert talk in Presser Hall in the Bernhard Music Center at 7:15 p.m. This free event is open to the public.In De Materie (1985-1988)--called "one of the most significant scores produced by a European composer in the last 20 years"--Dutch iconoclast Louis Andriessen explores the porous boundaries between objective and subjective truth by examining relationships between physical matter and atomic physics, religious ecstasy, artistic inspiration, love, and death, with texts ranging from a vision by the 13th century Dutch mystic Hadewijch to a treatise by the 17th century Dutch scientist/philosopher Gorlaeus, from Marie Curie's journal to recollections about Piet Mondrian's love of boogie-woogie, from a sonnet by Willem Kloos to mathematical and shipbuilding textbooks.
The Williams Symphonic Winds is a 40-50 member ensemble dedicated to presenting performances of the most significant music written for the chamber and large wind ensemble mediums. Now in his eighth year as Music Director, Steven Dennis Bodner has developed the ensemble's identity as a leading proponent of the performance of new music on campus. The ensemble has commissioned and premiered a number of works by contemporary composers, including Williams faculty and alumni. Recognized as one of the premier wind ensembles in New England, the Symphonic Winds performed at the 2006 College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference.
