Hinge and Improbable Beasts Present World Premieres at Boston Conservatory.

Hinge presents two brand new commissioned works from composers with whom the ensemble has especially close ties: longtime Boston Conservatory faculty member Curtis Hughes in an energetic and schizophrenic new piece Tensile, and Hinge’s pianist Keith Kirchoff in his contemplative new work Emergence. Rounding out the program is Julia Wolfe’s Lick, combining funk, minimalism, and the avant-garde into one energetic and unstoppable package.

The Improbable Beasts present a program of reflection, mourning, and hope, in response to the many shattering and upending events of the past two years. Jonathan Russell‘s epic 20-minute work A Requiem for 2020 was composed in response to the extraordinary upheaval of that singular year, from a global pandemic, to massive racial justice protests, to the wild spread of conspiracy theories and the unprecedented refusal of a U.S. president to accept the outcome of an election. The piece was “premiered” virtually in video format in August 2021; this will be its live premiere. Divination is meditative and chant-like, acting as a prelude to the Requiem. Originally scored for four bass clarinets, this will be the premiere of the expanded bass clarinet ensemble version.

PROGRAM:

Hinge:

Keith Kirchoff: Emergence (2022) WORLD PREMIERE

Curtis Hughes: Tensile (2021) WORLD PREMIERE

Julia Wolfe: Lick (1994)

Philipp Stäudlin, saxophones. Dan VanHassel, electric guitar. Matt Sharrock, percussion. Keith Kirchoff, piano

Improbable Beasts:

Cornelius Boots: Divination (2004/2022) WORLD PREMIERE

Jonathan Russell: A Requiem for 2020 (2021) WORLD PREMIERE

Jonathan Russell, Amy Advocat, Bill Kirkley, Rane Moore, Walter Yee, Wolcott Humphrey, Hunter Bennett, Thomas Carroll, Marguerite Levin, Monica Duncan, Celine Ferro, Diane Heffner, Julie Stuckenschneider, Nicholas Brown, bass clarinets; Matt Sharrock, conductor