Sestina, a composition by faculty member Judah Adashi (MM ’02, DMA ’11, Composition) that was recently premiered at Carnegie Hall as part of the American Composers Orchestra’s SONiC Festival, is among a group of pieces chosen by audience vote for broadcast on Q2 Music. Other selected composers include Viet Cuong (BM ’10, MM ’11, Composition), Missy Mazzoli, Caroline Shaw and Jason Treuting. More details are available here.
A review of the SONiC Festival in Today’s Zaman highlighted Adashi’s premiere: “The grand finale in Carnegie Hall with ACO, titled ‘Orchestra Underground: 21st Firsts,’ also revealed another highly original composer, Judah Adashi. His Sestina for voice (sung affectingly by Caroline Shaw) and orchestra (conducted by George Manahan) intoned a six-word poem by Ciara Shuttleworth. The score’s expertly crafted minimal elements, including Shaw’s unforced, limpid singing, matched the sparseness of the poetry. By means of a repeated modal scale, chordal patterns in the strings and delicate flourishes from the wind instruments, Adashi conveyed a sublimely drawn fragility.”
