Music Arts@Amherst Presents "Words and Music: An Arts Faculty Showcase"

The public is invited to Words and Music: An Arts Faculty Showcase, which brings together composers and poets from the Amherst College faculty in four musical premieres alongside three poetical readings, with two of the performances blending music and text. The event does not require advance tickets. FREE and open to the public. Parking is available on campus for this performance.

Presented by the Arts@Amherst Initiative, this program features distinguished performers from the college and from around New England. Ravi Krishnaswami’s Collide-scope (Grief is not our only name) features text by Meghana Mysore in an electronically enhanced setting, as well as live movement by Nicole Cox. Sonata 1 for Clarinet and Soprano Saxophone brings together reed players Darryl Harper and Carl Clements in Clements’ new composition inspired by the duets of Yusef Lateef. Vocalist Aaron Engebreth joins composer/pianist Eric Sawyer in States of Mind, a new song cycle concerning the intersection of fantasy and technology. An all-star band joins composer/saxophonist Jason Robinson in premieres of The Wandering and Of Salt and Sun and Air. These selections from his composition series Ancestral Numbers and For Yusef Lateef feature trumpeter Zoe Murphy, pianist Anastassiya Petrova, bassist Jacob William,and percussionist Richie Barshay.

Three faculty poets—Kirun Kapur, Amy Dryansky and Dennis Sweeney—intersperse readings from their work with the musical selections. All are members of the Amherst College English department faculty.

Performance and Ticket Information

Admission is FREE, and tickets are not required. For more information, contact the Amherst College concert line at (413) 542–2195 or email concerts@amherst.edu.