PUBLIQuartet

Co-sponsored by the Creativity and Innovation District Living-Learning Community, Leadership and Social Change Residential College, Residential College at West Ambler Johnston, Honors Residential Commons, Cranwell International Center, and Mozaiko Living-Learning Community

Works

Vijay Iyer: Dig the Say
Fats Waller/Curtis Stewart: Pavement Pounding Rose
MIND | THE | GAP: Improvisations on Ornette Coleman, Alice Coltrane, Ida Cox, Betty Davis, Tina Turner, and Antonín Dvořák’s American Quartet
Rhiannon Giddens: At the Purchaser's Option

For this performance, Grammy-nominated PUBLIQuartet thoughtfully ponders “What is American?” through a musical kaleidoscope of composers and diverse genres that make up America’s rich musical history. The program includes works by Vijay Iyer and Rhiannon Giddens; the music of Ornette Coleman, Fats Waller, Tina Turner, Betty Davis, Alice Coltrane, and Ida Cox; and a reimagination of Dvořák’s American Quartet, in which the composer’s original melodies meet PUBLIQuartet’s blues, jazz, and rock-inflected improvisations.

Bursting with rockstar energy, PUBLIQuartet is changing the perception of string quartets with its creative, interactive programming and modern interpretation of chamber music. Dedicated to presenting new works for string quartet, the ensemble promotes emerging composers, digging into utterly fresh music — from classical, jazz, and electronic, to world and improvised music.

Applauded by the Washington Post as “a perfect encapsulation of today’s trends in chamber music,” PUBLIQuartet presents contemporary works, original compositions, and improvisations expanding the role of the string quartet. In 2019 the group received its first Grammy nomination for its sophomore album, Freedom & Faith, cementing them as a premiere new music group.

The ensemble’s commitment to support emerging composers inspired its innovative program, PUBLIQ Access, which promotes emerging composers and presents a wide variety of underrepresented music for string quartet. At least one of these works is showcased on virtually every program the quartet performs, and the group has regular showcase performances in New York to present the newest pieces in this growing catalogue.

PUBLIQuartet is sought after for its creative and energetic educational workshops. The quartet’s mission to enrich and inspire students of diverse backgrounds has led the ensemble to hold residencies with American Composers Orchestra and Deer Valley Music Festival’s Emerging Quartets and Composers program, among others.

Founded in 2010, PUBLIQuartet has been presented by the American Composers Orchestra, Virginia Arts Festival, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and the Chautauqua Institution. Its 2020-2021 season highlights included performances at Onstage Ogden, Underground Classical, Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project, and a virtual performance with the Chautauqua Institution.

The quartet has collaborated with members of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), JACK Quartet, jazz tuba legend Bob Stewart, and innovative jazz clarinetist/composer Don Byron. Mentors include members of the Muir, Juilliard, Orion, Mendelssohn, Tokyo, American, and Brentano string quartets, as well as composers Joan Tower and Butch Morris. The quartet has participated in residencies at the Juilliard String Quartet Institute, Robert Mann String Quartet Institute, the Shouse Institute (GLMF), and the Banff Centre. PUBLIQuartet is currently based in New York City.

This is PUBLIQuartet's the first performance at the Moss Arts Center.