You’ll never forget the first time you hear Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “The Lark Ascending,” a work that’s pure musical poetry — literally (pun intended). The English composer was able to find just the right notes to portray the gracefulness of the skylark, so beautifully captured in the text of English poet George Meredith. This pastoral romance…
Pencil and manuscript: Marcus Maroney on going conductorless, composing fears and first instincts
Does creativity respond to rules and do rules help the creative process? This puzzling conundrum and more are revealed in this insightful conversation with composer Marcus Maroney, whose Concerto for Orchestra was commissioned by the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra to be premiered at the “Matchmaking” conductorless program on Saturday, February 13, at The Church of St. John…
Beer and brass: The happiest alliteration on earth
While the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra Brass Quintet, RBQ to those in the know, was preparing for the yearly “Beer and Brass” at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, it was logical that among the diligent refinement of the music, both artistically and technically, was the discussion of what’s one of the happiest beverages on earth. Kombucha.…
Banjo and didgeridoo wars: ROCO’s brass quintet cracks the whip on a brand new Nutcracker
We recently received a phone call from a puzzled reporter asking if indeed our ROCO Brass Quintet concert on Monday at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens was at 10 a.m. Was that a mistake in the press materials? “Do brass players actually wake up early enough to play a 10 am concert?,” the journalist quipped.…
From dark and heavy to calm and peaceful: Messiaen’s quartet is about the journey
We continue our exploration of Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time” in a conversation with ROCO clarinetist Maiko Sasaki (click here for the first part). Q: Any specific narratives that help you perform your part with more emotional thrust? Maiko Sasaki: This piece was written for a unique combination of instruments: Clarinet, violin, cello and piano. That’s because the…
A haunting experience: Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time” needs to be experienced live
Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time” isn’t casual listening. It’s a work that changes people’s relationships to art’s ability to change paradigms through emotional experiences. In fact, an emotional experience is why ROCO clarinetist Maiko Sasaki suggested that the ensemble include a performance of the seminal work in its Unchambered Series. Q: Messiaen’s quartet is…
Drama and momentum build through beauty and strangeness: Shakuhachi war or nice conversation?
We continue our chat with American composer James Matheson ahead of the premiere of his Concerto for Two Shakuhachi “The Age of Air.” The work marks the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra’s 50th world premiere, a joint commission with Kyo-Shin-An Arts. Q: Tell us a bit about the melodies and harmonies? James Matheson: For me, the craft of composing always…
Air for granted no more: East meets West in 50th world premiere that will take your breath away
Programming a concert is very personal for the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, and so is the emphasis on commissioning new works. To celebrate ROCO’s relationship with the Asia Society Texas Center, founder, artistic director and principal oboist Alecia Lawyer engaged Kyo-Shin-An Arts — an organization that’s dedicated to the integration of Japanese classical instruments in Western classical music…
Chinese food, Kahlua and skull bread: This is Dia de los Muertos done right
Five organizations. Five world premieres. These two fragments summarize what ROCO’s “Musical and Literary Ofrenda” on Oct. 27 is all about. Presented at Lawndale Art Center as part of the museum’s Dia de Los Muertos celebration that includes a retablo art exhibition, workshops and interactive programs, “Musical and Literary Ofrenda” includes musical offerings by ROCO…
Anton Miller plucks, strums, whistles and bangs — while playing the fiddle
Parse through ROCO violinist Anton Miller’s bio and immediately you get a sense, as in many of the ensemble’s musicians, that you’re dealing with quite an accomplished chap. But, as in all ROCO players, his accomplishments are only a sliver of what makes Anton special. The rest is his charisma, his ability to connect with just about…
Coffee before trumpet? George chases a caffeine high for good measure
How well do you know George Chase, ROCO’s witty, funny gent who happens to play the trumpet. Ahead of ROCO’s Brass Quintet inaugural concert at MATCH on Friday, Oct. 9, which was featured in a Houston Chronicle preview by classical music writer Colin Eatock, we sat down with George to get to know him a bit better.…
10 reasons to love ROCO from violinist Pasha Sabouri
River Oaks Chamber Orchestra violinist Pasha Sabouri recently posted on Facebook something that illustrates how special our musicians are. Moreover, his words reveal the care taken in choosing ROCO musicians who know how to connect audiences to the music through their own artistry. 10 reasons I love playing in River Oaks Chamber Orchestra: 1. Amazing colleagues…
