Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Feb 17, 2012 3:33:55 GMT -6
Third Coast Percussion to Perform “Le Noir de l’Étoile” Live in the New Grainger Sky Theater at the Adler Planetarium
Chicago, IL (February 14, 2012) – Chicago-based percussion quartet Third Coast Percussion will perform Gérard Grisey’s “Le Noir de l’Étoile” in the Grainger Sky Theater at the Adler Planetarium on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. This is the Chicago premiere of the piece, which was inspired by the grandeur and mystery of pulsars – an astronomical phenomenon whereby massive stars explode, leaving a rapidly rotating collapsed core thousands of times more dense than our Sun. The concert is preceded by a discussion with Geza Gyuk, the Adler’s director of astronomy. The discussion will start at 6:30 p.m.
Six percussionists will surround the audience in the recently renovated Grainger Sky Theater at the Adler Planetarium, creating a unique performance experience as sounds swirl around the room. The Adler Planetarium will use the theater’s high-tech data visualization system to project images of the cosmos on the domed ceiling overhead throughout the performance.
Astronomer Joe Silk introduced composer Gérard Grisey to the sounds of pulsars in 1985, while Grisey was on faculty at the University of California at Berkeley. Pulsars rotate quickly, anywhere from several times to several dozen times per second, emitting light and radiation which can be translated by highly sensitive radio receivers into crackling, pulsing, percussive sound. These cosmic “lighthouses” rotate with a regularity that rivals that of an atomic clock.
Because the signals received from pulsars are so rhythmic and percussive, it is appropriate that Grisey chose to represent these phenomena musically with a massive collection of drums, gongs, cymbals, wooden planks, and less expected percussive sounds such as Styrofoam blocks rubbed together. To enhance the performance, the audience will be seated in concentric circles while the six performers surround them – providing a unique experience for each audience member.
“Le Noir de l’Étoile” was composed in three large sections. These three sections of the piece are delineated by the introduction of the sounds of two actual pulsars. The recorded sounds of these pulsars will playback during the performance through the Grainger Sky Theater’s advanced 16-channel audio system. The sounds of the pre-recorded pulsars, which have reached the Earth after 7,500 years traveling through space, are heard both on their own and interspersed with live performed sounds from the six percussionists.
Advance tickets are available through Sunday, March 11 at www.adlerplanetarium.org/experience/events. Advance tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for members of the Adler Planetarium and $10 for students with a valid photo ID. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $20 for adults, $17 for members of the Adler Planetarium or $15 for students with a valid photo ID. For details about the event, email info@thirdcoastpercussion.com or call (847) 644-1383.
About Third Coast Percussion
Third Coast Percussion presents concerts for all audiences, from the percussion novice to the contemporary music aficionado. Third Coast has introduced percussion music to chamber music series in Chicago (Rush Hour Concerts, Millennium Park, Chicago Cultural Center), Virginia (Garth Newel Music Center), Pennsylvania (Dickinson College), and Wisconsin (Taliesin), securing immediate invitations to return to each of these series. Third Coast has also championed some of the most formidable repertoire for percussion including the music of Luciano Berio, Philippe Manoury, Wolfgang Rihm, Louis Andriessen, Martin Bresnick, George Crumb, Arvo Pärt, Steve Reich, Frederick Rzewski, Toru Takemitsu, Tan Dun and Iannis Xenakis. The ensemble is constantly adding new works to this already expansive repertoire.
The members of Third Coast Percussion—Owen Clayton Condon, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, and David Skidmore—hold degrees in music performance from Northwestern University, the Yale School of Music, the New England Conservatory and Rutgers University.
About the Grainger Sky Theater
The new Grainger Sky Theater offers the most immersive experience ever created for exploring space, presented with state-of-the-art sound and extraordinary visuals. The Adler has shattered the mold on the traditional 180 degree planetarium dome experience by surrounding the visitor with high definition imagery that even includes LED lighting effects in the floor. Visitors will see stunning scenes so realistic they will feel as though they are actually soaring through space. The images have been created from scientifically accurate data culled from the most powerful space telescopes in existence, resulting in the best possible visual models ever created in astronomy. The Grainger Sky Theater houses the largest single seamless digital image in the world with an ultra high definition screen resolution of an astounding 8k x 8k. This far surpasses the cinematic standard of 2k-4k. The overall experience presents a level of realism that can only be surpassed by actual space travel.
About the Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium – America’s First Planetarium – was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler. The Adler is a recognized leader in science education, with a focus on inspiring young people to pursue careers in science. For more than 80 years, the Adler has inspired the next generation of explorers by sharing the personal stories of space exploration and America’s space heroes. Learn more at www.adlerplanetarium.org.
www.chicagoclassicalmusic.org/node/33594
This could be interesting.