Aug. 8 at Birch North Park Theatre, SummerFest interviewer Marcus Overton asked two composers, Huang Ruo (b. 1976) and Steven Mackey (b. 1956), “What is the music that you haven’t yet written?”
That’s like asking the poet what is the poem not written; or the parent, the child yet to be conceived. We do not know until the moment of birth, and indeed, we even may not recognize what comes as music or poem, and especially not as something that may lead to the profoundly creative work. The visual artist makes the first mark. The poet scribbles a fragment or a phrase. The composer often plays with music in his/her mind before taking out the music paper.
As Mackey said, “Even the artist is mystified by the creative process, stumbling over a series of accidents.” Ruo likened composition to digging in a pit, looking for treasure.
The profound question and answer period was prelude to “SummerFest Commissions,” which also included two ephemeral works by renowned Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho (b. 1952) and Christopher Rouse’s (b. 1949) rousing, roof-raising percussion works, “Ku-Ka-Ilimoku” and “Ogoun Badagris,” played by UCSD’s ensemble in residence, red fish blue fish ” Justin Dehart, Ross Karre, Fabio Oliveira, Steven Schick and Greg Stuart.
The most surprising composition, in that it experiments with tonal beauty, is Mackey’s 2007 “Groundswell.” With a rock background (he was a guitarist), the composer is known for his wild classical style, which frequently includes guitar. “Groundswell” is scored for an instrumental ensemble that complements viola soloist Hsin-Yun Huang and includes two violins, viola, cello, oboe, clarinet, horn and piano. As Mackey said, the work is uncharacteristically Old World and was a particularly enjoyable close to a long evening of sometimes challenging new music.
Leila Josefowicz’s Aug. 6 concert of 20th-century Russians ” Igor Stravinsky, Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev ” fulfilled expectations, with Shostakovich’s sunny Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano (arranged by Atovmian) the clear audience favorite. But Prokofiev, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and particularly Sergei Taneyev captured the soul of the romantic listener in “Russian Kaleidoscope” Aug. 10.
Played by violinists Cho-Liang Lin and Michelle Kim, violist Cynthia Phelps, cellist Eric Kim and pianist Joyce Yang, Taneyev’s Piano Quintet in G Minor, Opus 30, was profoundly affecting, causing one to weep tears of joy during the emotional catharsis of the Finale: Allegro vivace.
Rimsky-Korsakov’s Quintet in B-flat Major was equally impressive, but more for its sunny quality and intricate scoring. It was played by Catherine Ransom Karoly, flute; Sheryl Renk, clarinet; Keith Popejoy, horn; Valentin Martchev, bassoon; and Yang, who proved herself an extraordinary pianist.
Then it was off to the San Diego Symphony’s SummerPops program of light classics, a fine evening under the stars at Embarcadero Marina Park South. On the big television screen during their solos were Renk, Martchev and Popejoy, doing double duty.
Tonight at 7:30 p.m. SummerFest presents a free “SummerFest Under the Stars” at Ellen Browning Scripps Park. Friday, Aug. 15 at Birch North Park Theatre it’s “Jazz at SummerFest” with the Jacques Loussier Trio and Saturday, Aug. 16 at Sherwood, “Messiaen Centennial Music for All Time.” The week concludes at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17 with “Legends and Rituals.”
SummerFest continues through Aug. 24. For program details, visit www.lajollamusicsociety.org or call (858) 459-3728.
SummerPops continues through Aug. 31. Remaining programs may be accessed at www.sandiegosymphony.com or (619) 235-0804.
