As we move out of isolation, there is a renewed sense of urgency to reunite as a community. Emergence seeks to examine this journey from separation to togetherness, and the anticipation of venturing out from silence and dissonance to life and harmony. Verge is Liang’s nod to the beginning of life, written as a dedication in anticipation of the birth of his son and inspired by traditional music of Mongolia. The divergent lines of the music are asynchronous and interchanging, yet they sing together. Britten’s first string quartet continues this musical search to try and converge. At times eerie and wistful and at other times playful and inventive, the music shifts between various instrumental interactions that step in and out of harmony, modulate, and vie for attention with new musical ideas. Finally, we find harmony in Janáček's Suite for String Orchestra. The six dance-like movements that comprise this work shine as a reminder of what it is like to emerge reunited at the end of our collective journey.

Musical Program:
Lei Liang | Verge for 18 Solo Strings
Benjamin Britten | String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25, arr. A Far Cry
Leoš Janáček | Suite for String Orchestra, JW 6/2