Laudholm Live: Magical Landscapes of Violin, Marimba and Vibraphone

Magical Landscapes features the unique and virtuosic talents of violinist Joanna Kurcowicz and percussionist Matt Sharrock, who are known to bring their exciting and special vision of concert music to audiences in New England and beyond. The title refers to both the magical combinations of sound colors -violin, bells, vibraphone and marimba-as well as the wide-ranging musical cultures that combine to create a unique and compelling musical evening representing diverse voices.

The program includes: J. S. Bach's Gavotte and Rondeau from his Partita in E Major and also prominently features his masterpiece, the 2nd Partita in D minor with the famous chaconne; virtuosic solo marimba works by the American composers Robert Alderidge and Daniel Lewis, the dreamlike Evening Raga-Nocturne-a recent work for solo. violin by Indian-American composer Shirish Korde: and Gnizo- an immersive mystical work for violin, vibraphone and bells by Syrian-American composer Kareem Roustom. The concert concludes with Oblivion and Libertango by the Argentinian master of the New Tango, Astor Piazzolla. Join us for an intriguing evening of magical musical landscapes!

Doors open at 6:30pm, show begins at 7pm.

Program

Magical Landscapes of Violin, Marimba, and Vibraphone

Robert Aldridge. From My Little Island (2002) Theme for Marimba

D. T. Lewis Poetics (2011-12) for Marimba
1. Axes, after “Words” by Sylvia Plath (For Laurel)
2. One is Fire, after “six” by E. E. Cummings (For Dane)
3. Acquainted with the Night, after “ Acquainted with the Night by R. Frost (For Matt)

J.S. Bach Partita D minor BWV 1004 for Solo Violin
Sarabanda
Gigue
Chaconne

Intermission

S. Korde Evening Raga and Nokturn for Solo Violin (2023)

K. Roustom Gnizo for Violin, Vibraphone, and Bells (2021)
1. Liberamente, senza misura
2. Con Motto
3. Tranquillamente

D. P. Jones Legal Hights for Violin and Marimba (1988)
Menthology
Mister Coffee

A. Piazzola Oblivion for Violin and Marimba (arranged by S. Korde)

Libertango for Violin and Marimba (arranged by S. Korde)

About the Musicians

Joanna Kurkowicz, Violin
A prize winner in numerous competitions and praised in the magazine Gramophone for her "disciplined virtuosity," the Polish-born violinist Joanna Kurkowicz enjoys an active and versatile career as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, concertmistress and pedagogue. She has performed on many of the great concert stages of the world, including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, Boston, and the Grosse Saal, Salzburg, and has appeared as a soloist with the New Zealand Symphony, Boston Philharmonic, Brussels Philharmonic, Seattle Philharmonic, Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, the Jefferson Symphony, the San Luis Obispo Symphony, the New England String Ensemble, the Berkshire Symphony, the Poznan Philharmonic, the Polish National Radio Orchestra in Katowice and Warsaw, and others.

Ms. Kurkowicz served as the concertmistress of the Boston Philharmonic (1998–2023) and is currently the concertmistress of the Berkshire Symphony. Previously she held the same post for the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and the Vermont Symphony. She was a member of the acclaimed Metamorphosen and Orpheus Chamber Orchestras.

She holds the position of Artist in Residence at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and serves on the faculty at Tufts University. A respected and loved pedagogue, she has held masterclasses in both Europe and the US and has been invited to judge international competitions.

Ms. Kurkowicz is a strong advocate of contemporary music and has premiered many works by living composers and made many recordings on such labels as Chandos, Bridge, Centaur, CRI, Albany, New World, Neuma, Capstone, Archetype, and Metasonique. Her Chandos recording of Violin Concertos Nos. 1, 3, and 7 by Bacewicz was awarded a "Golden Tuning Fork" by the magazine Diapason d'Or and reached No. 6 on Amazon's chart of Best Classical Albums in 2009. She has been a guest artist at the Mozarteum Festival in Salzburg, Ravinia Festival, Bargemusic in New York, Asia Pacific Festival in Wellington, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, and International Music Academy Orpheus in Vienna, among others.

Joanna Kurkowicz plays a violin made by Pietro Giovanni Guarneri in 1699.

Matt Sharrock, Marimba
Hailed as one of “Boston’s best percussionists” by I Care if You Listen, Matt Sharrock (they/she) is a versatile marimbist, percussionist, and conductor who tirelessly champions the music of living composers. As half of the bass clarinet/marimba duo Transient Canvas, they have premiered over 90 pieces while touring extensively in the United States and abroad. They are also the percussionist and director of operations for the Hinge Quartet. Previously, they served as music director and conductor for Equilibrium and was a founding member of the Boston Percussion Group. In demand as a chamber musician, Matt is the resident percussionist with the Chameleon Arts Ensemble of Boston and has performed with the Lydian String Quartet, Boston Musica Viva, Sound Icon, and the Lorelei Ensemble, among others. As an orchestral percussionist, Matt can be heard regularly with the Lexington Symphony, the Vista Philharmonic, and the Grammy-winning Boston Modern Orchestra Project. They have recorded on Beauport Classical, BMOP/sound, Innova, Navona, New Focus, and Ravello record labels. They are an assistant professor of core studies, composition, and contemporary classical music.