Keokea, HI. (Top 40 Charts/ Ebb & Flow Arts) - On November 14, 6 p.m., at the Recital Hall at
Music Building, Ewha Womens University (11-1 Daehyun Dong, Seodaemun Gu) Seoul, Korea, Ebb & Flow Ensemble will perform a concert of music inspired by spirituality.
A central work on the program is "Quartet for the End of Time" (1941) by the French composer, Olivier Messiaen. It was composed while he was incarcerated in a prison camp during WWII. This monumental chamber piece of the 20th century uses all in the composer's technical arsenal to end musical time as he knew it. Messiaen sets up infinite compositional cycles, sustains notes for extremely long duration, assiduously avoids 4-square rhythms, provides achingly slow music, uses bird song, etc. This musical metaphor for the biblical end of time sounds a powerful spiritual message.
"Quartet for the End of Time" is rarely performed live although it has been recorded often. The work is challenging in the endurance that is required for the performer and listener.
It nevertheless is well worth the challenge. The noted Hawaii media personality, Liz-Janes Brown (1942-2007) wrote in the Maui News on January 31, 2006: "The deep emotion and spirituality of Messiaen's masterpiece; to say nothing of its difficulty, requires expert musicians and the Ebb & Flow Ensemble is made up of the best Hawaii has to offer ... the Messiaen at Sunday's concert provided a rare experience that was more than music; it could almost be described as a collective awakening. Those who were lucky enough to be there will remember the afternoon for a long time."
Also on the program is the premiere of "Chockma" (2007) for violin and piano by Ewha University composer, Dr. Eunhye Park. Dr. Park has an M.A. from N.Y.U. and a D.M.A. from Chicago Conservatory of Music. She is chairperson of the Composition & Theory Department at Ewha University's Music Institute. She writes: "'Chockma' for Violin and Piano - This world - premiere piece was commissioned by the Ebb and Flow Ensemble, composed for Violin and Piano. The Hebrew word, 'Chockma', the title and themes of it, means God's wisdom in the Old Testament. In particular, it is personified as the pre-existent Being who co-worked in creation in Proverbs 8. Almost all theologians explain that 'Chockma' is identified with the manifestation of God Himself and Christ the Redeemer of mankind. This interpretation agrees with the proclamation of Paul the apostle that Christ is the wisdom of God (Cor.1:24)
The melody of the piece is mainly based on the varied Pentatonic Scale and the variations of the Korean traditional rhythmic motives are developed. Furthermore, sprechstimme, produced by the voice delivers the musical expression of the deep meaning of 'Chockma'."
Robert Pollock's "Mana Loa Quartet" (2006) is the final work on the program. "Mana Loa Quartet" draws on Hawaiian Huna practice. "Mana loa" is the supreme and all powerful life force that we can receive. Spirituality seeks Peace and harmony. So, this program of spiritually inspired music celebrates Peace on the Korean peninsula. Pollock received his M. F. A. in Musical Composition from Princeton University. He co-founded New York Guild of Composers, founded Composers Guild of New Jersey, and with Dr. Eugene Lee, directed Association for the Promotion of New Music, a music publisher. Pollock and Lee continue cooperation between Ebb & Flow Arts and Veritas Musicae.
Ebb & Flow Ensemble is the core chamber group of Ebb & Flow Arts (E&FA). It comprises principals from the Honolulu Symphony - Scott Anderson, clarinet, Ignace Jang, violin, Mark Votapek, cello and composer/pianist Robert Pollock, founder and director of E&FA.
"'Quartet for the End of Time' as well as the other works on the program, are spiritual in nature," says E&FA Director Pollock. "Our program is an offering with the 'Aloha spirit' of Peace and generosity," he adds.
Ebb & Flow Arts, Inc. (E&FA) is a non profit presenter of modern music and multi media events. It is the only such presenter in Hawaii, and was founded in 1999, by composer/pianist Robert Pollock. It aims to break down the barriers between the arts and form a bridge between artistic expressions and cultures. E&FA creates a global sound board and mirror for music and art in Hawaii. We also teach Maui's children how to read and write music with "Scaling Haleakala," an award winning multi disciplinary curriculum.
This event is cosponsored by Ebb & Flow Arts with support from the AHS Foundation, Hawaii Tourism Authority/SPEP, John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, Yokouchi Foundation, Hawaii State Foundation on Culture & Arts, Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation, Edward T. Cone Foundation and private contributions. Web site service provided by Maui Web Designs. For further information, write E&FA, Box 1081, Kula HI 96790; reach our web site: www.ebbandflowarts.org, E-Mail: [email protected], and call: (808) 876 1854.
