From the Missoula Chamber Music Collective:
The Missoula Chamber Music Collective strives to feature musicians from our community. There is no better way to kick off the season than with the feature of Songbook, by David Maslanka. Maslanka lived in Missoula for the last 27 years of his life and became a well known member of our community. His works for winds and band are especially well known. A more intimate duo setting, Songbook uses only alto saxophone and marimba. To continue in the theme of songs, Andrew Beall’s Song of ‘Almah sets the text of the Song of Solomon to music for soprano and marimba. Brad Mehldau is known for his Grammy-winning piano trio, but he also collaborates with the best singers, writing original songs for Renee Fleming, Anne Sophie von Otter and Ian Bostridge. We will share one selection from his setting of Rainier Maria Rilke’s Book of Hours. Finally, in Come Down Heavy, Evan Chambers transforms well-known American folksongs into a thrilling piece for violin, saxophone and piano.