New Voices

A bevy of modern performers bring the future of music to town

I saw classical music’s future and its name is … Roomful of Teeth? That takeoff on Jon Landau’s famous 1974 encomium to a young Bruce Springsteen might be a little over the top.

But then again, with nearly 30 million Americans singing in choirs and a cappella music a genuine populist phenomenon, an ensemble that combines the universal human instrument — voices — with contemporary artistic ambition might well be a key to bringing new listeners, as well as new singers, to 21st-century classical composers, and vice versa.

Based in New York, Roomful of Teeth (RoT), which performs this Sunday, Jan. 31, at the UO’s Aasen-Hull Hall, has already won a Grammy and made one of its members, composer Caroline Shaw, the youngest-ever Pulitzer winner for her Partita for Eight Voices, written for the group. Admittedly, some of the wild vocal techniques the group has worked diligently to master are beyond the reach of amateurs, and its eight members, including the amazing soprano Esteli Gomez, who’s currently completing a teaching residency at the UO, are spectacularly talented singers.

But by dramatically expanding the musical palette for contemporary composers and showing young singers the seemingly limitless possibilities of the human voice, RoT is opening an exciting new chapter in the music of this century. The group’s UO concert will feature music from its ravishing new album, Render, and more.

Some groundbreaking contemporary classical music is being born here in Oregon, too, much of it among the members of Cascadia Composers. This Saturday, Jan. 30, at First Christian Church (1166 Oak St.), performers including Eugene’s exciting new Delgani String Quartet, pianist Alexander Schwarzkopf, singer Nancy Wood and other accomplished musicians from Eugene and Portland will perform new music by Eugene’s Paul Safar and Schwarzkopf. Joining along are some of Portland’s top composers, including opening act John Berendzen and his “robohorn.” But this isn’t just a performance for the ears. It’s a full multi-sensory extravaganza with projected video art, live cymatics display, special lighting effects and various other multimedia enhancements. In fact, some performances will happen in the dark. It’s a great chance to catch up on the state of the art in homegrown modern music created by our own fellow Oregonians.

Along with hosting RoT, the UO is also bringing Seattle guitarist Michael Partington to Beall Hall this Saturday, Jan. 30, to play music by Piazzolla, Albania, Portland composer Bryan Johanson and more. On Feb. 6, the UO’s Aasen-Hull Hall is hosting Beta Collide, the new music ensemble led by UO faculty members Brian McWhorter and Toby Koenigsberg, in crazy arrangements of this year’s Grammy music nominees. UO students are also producing one of the great Baroque operas, Gluck’s Orfeo and Eurydice, the tragic Orpheus myth, Jan. 29 and 31, at LCC’s Ragozzino Hall. Earlier on Feb. 6, First United Methodist Church (1376 Olive), brings Russian pianist Andrei Andreev to play Romantic classics by Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert and Rachmaninov.

A couple of fine Oregon jazz musicians come to town Jan. 30 — though you can only catch one of them, as the shows conflict. At the intimate Broadway House, Portland pianist-drummer-trumpeter-composer George Colligan, who made a sterling reputation in New York jazz circles before taking a faculty position at Portland State University, returns with his trio to play originals and jazz standards. Meanwhile, over at The Jazz Station, you can hear Oregon sax master Tom Bergeron’s Brasil Band, augmented by three guests: his old partner, New York jazz drummer Art Lillard, pianist Dan Gaynor and trombonist Keller Coker, along with singer Rosi Bergeron and bassist Page Hundemer.

Another musical family, banjo masters Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, perform duets on Feb. 10 at The Shedd. Fleck’s incomparable skill, 15 Grammies and wide range of musical explorations, along with Washburn’s singing and songwriting — not to mention their debut album’s varied styles (from Dixieland to bluegrass to British folk to originals) and their profusion of different sounding banjos — promise a show that’s more than just pickin’ and grinnin’, although there’ll be plenty of both.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!