Contemporary Group performs 1930’s music of Ultra-Moderns

The UW Contemporary Group will present American experimental music written by the Ultra-Moderns, a group of composers in New York in the 1930s: Ruth Crawford Seeger, Carl Ruggles, Wallingford Riegger, John Cage and Henry Cowell. The group also will perform works by Elliott Carter and Charles Ives in the concert at 8 p.m., today in Meany Theater.

The group is directed by Joel Francois Durand, professor of composition and theory. Joining the group as guest are faculty artists Felix Skowronek, flute; Rebecca Henderson, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; Arthur Grossman, bassoon, of the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet; cellist Rajan Krishnaswami; Wind Ensemble conductor Timothy Salzman; and pianist David Kopp, who also is a member of the compositon/theory faculty.

The program highlights three works by Crawford Seeger: Three Songs for contralto and ensemble, featuring vocalist Katherine Weld and conductor Salzman; Diaphonic Suite, featuring Lucas Robatto; and Piano Preludes, featuring Kopp. Other works are Ruggles’ Angels for six brass instruments; Riegger’s Three Canons for Woodwinds, Op. 9 (performed by Skowronek, Henderson, McColl and Grossman); Cage’s 1^st Construction (in metal) for percussion; Carter’s Cello Sonata, featuring Krishnaswami and Kopp; Cowell’s Piano Pieces, to be performed by Ming Tsu; and Ives’ String Quartet, No. 1.

Tickets are $6 for general and $4 for students/seniors and are available from the UW Arts Ticket office, 4001 University Way N.E., or by calling (206) 543-4880. ¶