“Rhythm Nation”
November 1, 2024
Emerson Hall, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
Atlanta, GA – USA
Curtis Stewart & Jannina Norpoth, violins; Nick Revel, viola; Hamiltpon Berry, cello.
Jesse MONTGOMERY: Voodoo Dolls(2008)
MIND | THE | GAP: Pavement Pounding Rose (2019)
Henry THREADGILL: Sixfivetwo (2018)
Vijay IVER: Dig the Say(2012)
Jeff SCOTT: Blues for Buddy (2024)
Fodé Lassana DIABATÉ (arr. Jacob Garchik): Sunjata’s time (2015)
Julia PERRY (arr. Hamilton Berry): Prelude for Piano (1946, rev. 1962)
MIND | THE | GAP: Wild Women (2021)
Mark Gresham | 13 NOV 2024
Known for their innovative approach to string quartet music, the New York City-based PUBLIQuartet (violinists Curtis Stewart and Jannina Norpoth, violist Nick Revel, and cellist Hamilton Berry) presented a dynamic performance at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts at Emory University on November 1 as part of the Center’s Artists -in-Residence program. The program was a rich mix of 20th and 21st-century compositions showcasing the quartet’s versatility and deep commitment to genre-blending.
The concert commenced with Jessie Montgomery’s Voodoo Dolls, which vibrates with rhythmic energy and thematic folk influences. Inspired by her experiences in New Orleans, Voodoo Dolls was commissioned in 2008 and choreographed by JUMP Dance Company as a collaborative faculty-student work that consisted of a set of dances, each embodying the spirit of classic children’s dolls such as Matryoshka (Russian nesting dolls), marionettes, rag dolls, Barbie, and voodoo dolls (hence the music’s title). Drawing inspiration from West African rhythmic drumming, melodic chants, and elements of spontaneous improvisation, Montgomery’s music and its vibrant performance by PUBLIQuartet set the overall boundary-exploring tone for the evening.
Following that, PUBLIQuartet introduced Pavement Pounding Rose” from their MIND | THE | GAP project, a 2019 collaborative improvisation based on Fats Waller’s “Honeysuckle Rose.” This segment allowed the musicians to explore jazz influences through their strings, creating a fresh yet nostalgic soundscape that resonated well with the audience.
Henry Threadgill’s composition Sixfivetwo (2018) also offered a significant improvisational component in a complex tapestry of sound that demanded creative interplay. The quartet easily navigated the technical demands of Threadgill’s score, highlighting their ability to tackle avant-garde music.
Vijay Iyer’s Dig the Say, a piece commissioned by the Brooklyn Rider string quartet and premiered by them in 2012, continued the emphasis on innovation.
Jeff Scott’s “Blues for Buddy” (2024), commissioned by PUBLIQuartet for its Rhythm Nation project, was a highlight of the evening, is a tribute to Buddy Guy, one of the most influential blues guitarists, known for his expressive and dynamic style, translating the guitar’s voice and the blues genre’s emotional depth into the string quartet format.
A cross-cultural exploration came with Sunjata’s Time by Foclé Lassana Diabaté, arranged by Jacob Garchik. Like Montgomery’s Voodoo Dolls, Diabaté’s piece draws upon West African musical traditions, again showcasing the quartet’s ability to adapt and integrate diverse musical and cultural languages.
Julia Perry’s “Prelude for Piano, arranged for string quartet by Hamilton Berry, offered a more classical moment. Originally composed in 1946 and revised in 1962, the piece’s lyrical lines were elegantly translated to strings, providing a serene contrast to the more modern works.
The concert concluded with another MIND | THE | GAP piece, Wild Women, featuring collaborative improvisations on songs by Tina Turner, Betty Davis, Alice Coltrane, and Ida Cox. This set paid homage to powerful female voices in music.
PUBLIQuartet’s ability to merge classical techniques with jazz, blues, and world music elements inthis concert demonstrated why they are one of the groups at the forefront of the continuing “eclectic” lineage in contemporary classical music. ■
PUBLIQuartet in concert at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, November 1, 2024. (credit: Bill Head)
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- PUBLIQuartet: publiquartet.com
- Schwartz Center for Performing Arts: schwartz.emory.edu
Read more by Mark Gresham.
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