Posted on: March 6, 2011 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The 2011 Ecstatic Music Festival, presented by New York City’s Merkin Concert Hall in association with New Amsterdam Records, is a showcase of collaborative evenings between more than 150 genre-pushing composers, songwriters and performers who represent a new generation of artists combining diverse influences and techniques to explore the crossover of classical and pop music. All concerts include premieres. Concerts during the first two months of the festival featured collaborations by Roomful of Teeth & tUnE-yArDs, Newspeak & Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Buke & Gass & Victoire, Dan Deacon & So Percussion, The Chiara String Quartet and the Music of Nico Muhly and Valgeir Sigurdsson, Alarm Will Sound & Face the Music, and many more. The distinctly captivating lineup continues in March.

March 2011 Ecstatic Music Festival Schedule:

All shows at 7:30 PM

Wed, 3/9/11 at 7:30 pm

Nadia Sirota & Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) with Owen Pallett

The evening will include the world premiere of a new work by Owen Pallett (formerly Final Fantasy) written for violist Nadia Sirota. Sirota will also join Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) to perform new songs by Bartlett and premieres by Nico Muhly and Missy Mazzoli. The two will join Pallett for arrangements of his songs as well.

Sat, 3/12/11 at 7:30 pm

Clogs & Brooklyn Youth Chorus

The Brooklyn Youth Chorus, heralded as “a polished ensemble of miniature professionals” (New York Times), joins the legendary chamber/rock quartet Clogs for an evening of new works by Clogs’ Bryce Dessner (The National) and Padma Newsome.

Wed, 3/16/11 at 7:30 pm

Shara Worden, Sarah Kirkland Snider & yMusic

A Special Presentation of New Sounds® Live with WNYC’s John Schaefer

Composer/vocalist Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) is joined by the diversely talented sextet yMusic for an evening of works by Worden and Sarah Kirkland Snider, “a composer with an enviable knack for crafting moody, strikingly beautiful works” (Time Out New York). The show will include a selection of new and recent works by both composers, including the premiere of an instrumental work by Worden for yMusic, a premiere by Sarah, and selections from the duo’s standout 2010 album, Penelope.

Mon, 3/28/11 at 7:30 pm

So Percussion & Bobby Previte with Zeena Parkins, John Medeski, DJ Olive & Jen Shyu

A Special Presentation of New Sounds® Live with WNYC’s John Schaefer

Composer Bobby Previte, whose ensembles “speak in visionary tongues” (The New Yorker), premieres TERMINALS, Part 1: DEPARTURES – five concertos for the quartet So Percussion and star soloists Zeena Parkins, harp; John Medeski, keyboards; DJ Olive, turntables; vocalist Jen Shyu; and Bobby Previte on drums.

Single tickets: $25; Students with ID (in person sales only): $15

Subscriptions: Tickets are $20 each for 4 or more concerts.

Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center
129 West 67th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam)

Tickets and information at 212 501 3330 or http://www.kaufman-center.org

Hi-res photos for download at http://kaufman-center.org/press/image-library

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