January 23, 2016
An Evening of New Works for String Quartet
Luke Martin and Aaron Bresley
This program features five new works for string quartet, composed by Luke Martin and Aaron Foster Bresley. Performed by Luigi Polcari, Jonathan Tang, Yvette Holzwarth, and Joy Yi, the pieces explore the use of graphic scores, poetry, vocalization, noise, and alternate tuning systems. The first half of the concert will be a premiere of a new, long-form work by Aaron Foster Bresley. Titled “barrier – bend/erect,” the piece is based on motion void of direction and destination. The four performers are posited as a circuit of unique and precise states, and given music through which they may become music(al). Following this, the second half of the concert will feature four shorter graphic score string quartets, by Luke Martin. These pieces are from his new CD (to be released on the FWD: rcrds label in December 2015), “residues.” The works seeks to explore the uncertain relational space between subjects and everyday objects existing as residue due to their leftover or forgotten status. In this space, there can be a dissolving of that subject-object relationship, creating a sort of faded, yet vibrant mingling; a potential for new combinations, momentary sparks, and the slippage of selves.
Luke Martin is an experimental composer, musician, and poet currently living in valencia, CA. his work focuses on the concepts of liminality, neutrality, and fragility, often seeking to explore the listener/performer's limits of perception. in particular, he is interested in the role of silence both in and out of music, and how to increase the listener, composer, and performer's consideration of silence. he is currently in his last semester of the MFA music composition program at CalArts.
Aaron Foster Bresley composes, programs, and sometimes dabbles in performing. he enjoys having his birthday on an holiday weekend. he has probably not yet met you, but he hopes to. aaron always asks celebrities what flavour of jello they would be. aaron currently lives in new york city, and is the east-coast half of the experimental music label FWD: rcrds. he thinks he would probably be lime. he has never learned to do a handstand or to juggle. many of these are things that belong in bios. aaron is lucky to spend his time pursuing things that do, and most of it doing things that do not.