Sonic Open Orchestra Presents:
Minimalism
Artists:
Sonic Open Orchestra
Jason Martin Castillo, conductor
Carolina Eyck, theremin

Program:
Philip Glass: Mishima String Quartet No. 3 (arranged for string ensemble)
John Adams: Shaker Loops
Carolina Eyck: Fantasias for Theremin

Tickets here!

This program features works of some of the greatest minimalist composers of all time. Mishima, originally written for quartet based on music from the film "Mishima" is a gorgeous piece of music that explores many emotions in traditional Philip Glass fashion using rapid arpeggios, minimal note motifs, and heart wrenching violin melodies. 

Shaker loops is a dramatic piece of music originally written for string septet that features many musical ups-and-downs. Shaker Loops gets its name both because of the 'shaking' of the strings as they oscillate between notes and the idea Adams had of Shakers dancing to repetitive, energetic music. 

Fantasias is a piece written in 2016 by theremin player and composer Carolina Eyck. Sonic Open Orchestra will perform this piece with a 12 piece string ensemble though it was originally written for string quartet. Eyck’s compositions range from slow-evolving arpeggiations reminiscent of Reich and Glass (see “Oakuunar Lynntuja” and “Dappa Solarjos”), to alternative bowing and fingering techniques that achieve an ethereal ambience (see “Leyhomi”), to athletic explorations reminiscent of Bartók’s String Quartets (see “Dappa Solarjos”).

Eyck’s striking theremin performances on Fantasias showcase her dead-aim intonation, her command of microtonality, her fluid melodicism, and—perhaps most importantly—her utter lack of self-consciousness as an improvisor. This latter quality is no accident, as Eyck has practiced improvisation for years, and has even studied techniques typically aimed at athletes for entering flow-states and shutting down critical inner dialogue.