Grossman Ensemble performing Actuate/Resonate at the University of Chicago
Actuate/Resonate was commissioned by the Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition for the premiere performance by Grossman Ensemble, UChicago's incredible ensemble-in-resedence. This piece was written to take advantage of the specific acoustic qualities of the Performance Hall at the University of Chicago, where even the quietest sound on the stage is heard as if it were right in front of the listener. The piece begins with an attack of synthesized drum sounds and instrumental orchestrations of those same drum sounds. After a brief introduction, time freezes, and we enter ten minutes of relative stasis, as if we have zoomed into a single attack to examine its gradual unfolding. Suddenly, around the 11 minute mark of the work, we continue where we left off in the fifth bar. The ensemble has become a giant analog drum machine. Electronics can’t help but join in on the fun. The piano goes on a roque mission.
Tim Munro, flute
Andrew Nogal, oboe
Katie Schoepflin, clarinet
Taimur Sullivan, saxophone
Matthew Oliphant, horn
Greg Beyer, percussion
John Corkill, percussion
Ben Melsky, harp
Daniel Pesca, piano
Spektral Quartet:
Clara Lyon, violin
Maeve Feinberg, violin
Doyle Armbrust, viola
Russell Rolen, cello