MUSIC

Xanthos Ensemble presents a program of works inspired by visual and literary themes.
la tristesse durera toujours, a work by composer in residence Geoffrey Gordon draws on letters written by Vincent Van Gogh to his brother Theo in the last years of his life, from 1888-1890, and incorporates all the lyricism and violence in Van Gogh's paintings and prose.

Andrew Norman's Light Screens was inspired by the geometric patterns in Frank Lloyd Wright's stained glass windows, while Caduceus by Curtis Hughes is loosely inspired by the image of the mythical winged staff carried by Hermes, with its two entwined serpents.

Finally, Xanthos Ensemble will give the world premiere of Jordan Kuspa's Nitwit, Oddment, Blubber, Tweak, whose four word title comprises the entirety of a speech
made by a rather important character in the popular literary series Harry Potter.

Special guest performers include soprano Aliana de la Guardia, conductor Tiffany Chang, violist Alexander Vavilov, and cellist Ashima Scripp.

The program for the March 9 performance is as follows:

la tristesse durera toujours (2003) • Geoffrey Gordon
(soprano, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, and piano)

Light Screens (2002) • Andrew Norman
(string trio and flute)

Caduceus (2007) • Curtis Hughes
(violin and cello)

Nitwit, Oddmont, Blubber, Tweak (2011)• Jordan Kuspa
(flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano)