Chamber Music at Centrum

Atlas Eclipticalis in the Cistern

Mark your calendars now--August 22. 8:30pm.

Those of you who attended the Stuart Dempster cistern concert during our 2007 Chamber Music Festival remember what a special performance it was. 45 second reverb. Surround sound on the lawn above the 4 million gallon underground water tank.

Well, we're upping the ante.

On the date that you have now marked on your calendar, Matt Kocmieroski, Walter Gray and Seth Krimsky (both of the Seattle Symphony), along with Stuart Dempster, will perform the landmark modernist work Atlas Eclipticalis, by John Cage.

Composed via star charts, Atlas Eclipticalis takes listeners on a journey. Listening to it within the context of the cistern, while looking at the stars? We feel this will simply be an incredible experience.

It's a free concert, and we hope you can join us. Learn more by visiting our performance page.

Announcing the Contemporary Stringband Workshop

We've just opened registration on an exciting new workshop here at Centrum.

Somewhere beyond or behind all musical borders lies a creative terrain where bluegrass, jazz, classical, pop, and various world musics mingle, played by musicians who care more for inspiration than they do for genre.

Our Contemporary Stringband Workshop is designed to take you there, and there is no better guide than Darol Anger, along with his fellow faculty members Scott Nygaard, Tristan Clarridge, and Matt Flinner.

Visit our CSW page for complete information on this premium experience taking place November 13-16, 2008 here at Fort Worden State Park.

String Quartet That Also Whistles, Whispers and Wails

Fresh off their week in Port Townsend, the Attacca Quartet just performed in New York City and were reviewed by Steve Smith in the New York Times.

"...the concert was, in a word, sensational. [...] The first two pieces had something else in common: each called on performers to do more than just play. In a striking moment early in Huang Ruo’s “Three Tenses” (2005), Mr. Yee whistled a high, keening melody while playing a low drone. Moments later Ms. Schroeder simulated a gust of wind by blowing into her instrument."

For those of you who caught the Attacca's performances during their week here at the 2008 Festival, I'm sure you'd agree with that assessment. It's exciting to see a young ensemble begin to make its mark in the world. Best wishes to the Attacca Quartet.

Chamber Music Festival Review

Critic Bernard Jacobson attended the 2008 Port Townsend Chamber Music Festival, and posted his review online. An excerpt...

"The concept of this week of activities was particularly promising: after several days of master classes led by established instrumentalists, the Tokyo String Quartet, an ensemble of undoubted international stature, and the much younger Attacca String Quartet shared responsibility for two concerts given in the charming Joseph F. Wheeler Theater in Fort Worden State Park. At the Friday concert, the 280-seat hall was full, the acoustics seemed excellent, and the performances were splendid."