June 26, 2001
Volume #10 No. #24
Judy Malloy, Editor
jmalloy@nyfa.org

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Arts Wire CURRENT features news updates on social, economic, philosophical, and political issues affecting the arts and culture. Your contributions are invited. Contact Judy Malloy, editor.

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JUNEAU, ALASKA - Aug. 3 - 7:30 PM
SITKA, ALASKA - Aug. 4 - 7:30 PM

CROSSSOUND NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL - SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY
PROGRAM ONE: STEPHEN'S PASSAGE

During the 1940's internationally famous Russian pianist Maxim Shapiro came to Juneau to give a concert. Favorably impressed with the place, he suggested an "Alaska Music Trail" with a series of four artists or groups yearly. His hand-picked musicians from all over the world contracted concerts in eighteen Alaskan towns and in about six Canadian towns. He hoped that the "Music Trail" would last at least ten years, but he died in the ninth year, and his wife, Jane, carried his project through twenty-five years.

The CROSSSOUND FESTIVAL continues the spirit of this Alaska Music Trail in Southeast Alaska, but not only does CrossSound present musicians from all over the world in Southeast Alaska, it also provides newly written compositions for them to play together with musicians from Southeast. The goal is the creation of integrated, balanced ensembles that give especially amateur and student musicians the opportunity to experience the multiple artistic standards heard today in professional performances internationally.

Including as many as six world premieres each year, the programs focus on contemporary music and incorporate new compositions for non-western instruments. The festival will travel through Southeast communities that agree to host the concerts via the Alaska Marine Highway.

Composers for this Summer's PROGRAM ONE: STEPHEN'S PASSAGE include:

HIROKO ITO's current interest includes a composition for an ensemble using non-western instruments and European orchestral instruments. She is also working on a reference addressing problems and issues associated with composing and performing works for such an ensemble, and the project with CrossSound satisfies her strong interest in the topic. She is currently writing a dissertation, while teaching at Asahi Gakuen in Los Angeles. She is also an active performer of Gagaku in Southern California.

KEN UENO is a composer who actively involves himself in a wide range of activities in order to evangelize for modern music. Besides having composed for such traditional ensembles and genres as the symphony, string quartet, and Pierrot ensemble; Ken has written for such diverse instrumentation as amplified Big Bird toys, amplified Mbira, electric guitar, amplified bucket with water spray, and typewriter. He performs regularly with his new music ensemble, the Cambridge Underground Music Manifesto, in subway stations around the Boston area. As DJ Moderne, Ueno hosts and produces a weekly live half-hour public access television show devoted to introducing new music and new music composers and performers to the public at large.

Other Composers include John Luther Adams, Konrad Boehmer; Paul Cox; Marti Epstein; Stefan Hakenberg, Yuriko Hase Kojima; Bun-Ching Lam; Thomas Oboe Lee, Minoru Miki, Ryo Noda, Karola Obermler, Carl Schimmel, and Kurt Stallmann.

"Through rehearsals and concerts, and with out-reaching ancillary programs, CrossSound involves musicians and audiences of all ages from all communities in Southeast Alaska," the Fesitival states. "CrossSound aims to bridge cultural and social barriers, facilitating cross-cultural interaction and encourage reciprocal learning. Over time it allows audiences and artists to embrace new and unfamiliar music and inspires individual explorations into new musical worlds."

Crosssound is directed by Jocelyn Clark and Stefan Hakenberg. They are open to applications to participate in the concerts from individual musicians, groups of musicians, as well as composers of all ages and heritages.

For more information, visit http://www.crosssound.com