Chicago Composers’ Consortium kicks off its 2024 Season with Cyberpairings, a concert of works that pair live performance with electronic music — sound with visual art. Music of Kotoka Suzuki, Kyong Mee Choi, Brent Lee, Shelby Lock and Kari Watson and the video work of Sigi Torinus and Antonia Contro.

Always, Sideways (2023) is a piece for piano with live audio processing and video mixing by Brent Lee and Sigi Torinus. The pacing of the piece and character of the audiovisual gestures reflect the slow and relentless nature of changes to our environment, particularly the melting of the polar ice caps. The title is reminiscent of the movement of glaciers, with the video exploring themes of transformation, fluidity, fragility, and the transformative qualities of water and ice. Ephemeral shapes constantly change and evolve, matched by periodic shifts in timbre and harmony in the piano music.

Always, Sideways was commissioned by Megumi Masaki for her HEARING ICE project that seeks positive social and environmental change through the sharing of personal stories, scientific facts, and interactive artistic works.

Program

Vista (2022) for piano, video and ice by Kotoka Suzuki — video by Antonia Contro — animation by Joseph Merideth — pianist Megumi Masaki

Always, Sideways (2023) for piano, live electronics and visuals by composer Brent Lee and visual artist Sigi Torinus — pianist Megumi Masaki

Flowering Dandelion (2020) for violin and electronics by Kyong Mee Choi — violinist Sarah Plum

utterance (2024) for modular synthesizer, video and synthesized voice by Kari Watson

PANDog (2022) audio/video by Shelby Lock

Blue Rising (2019) for piano and transducers by Kotoka Suzuki — pianist Megumi Masaki

 

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The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, August 30, 2024.

Thanks to the fantastic Isabel Bader Centre sound recording, film, and lighting production team led by Aaron Holmberg, Jesse MacMillan, and Thomas Loguisto – a DREAM TEAM! Working together in Kingston was an excellent preparation for our upcoming performances in Toronto, Windsor, and Chicago.