I.C.E. International Contemporary Ensemble Chamber Music Concert

Sunday, January 18, 2015 | 7:00 pm

Nelson Music Room

I.C.E. International Contemporary Ensemble — described as “extraordinary” by The New York Times — follow their performances of The Whisper Opera with a concert of chamber music in the round at the intimate Nelson Music Room. This wide-ranging program explores the tremendous expressive breadth of contemporary music, from the 1960s to the present day.

The program is framed by Mark Applebaum’s Composition Machine, a piece that constructs itself before the audience’s eyes. In 13 Changes, Pauline Oliveros, a close collaborator of I.C.E. who has been at the forefront of American experimental music for six decades, uses text instead of a traditional score. Marta Ptaszyńska’s Recitativo, Arioso, and Toccata showcases violinist and North Carolina native Jennifer Curtis. Giacinto Scelsi’s Kho-Lho bends the ear and blurs the distinction between the sounds of the flute and the clarinet. Mario Diaz de León’s The Soul is the Arena is filled with references to rock, metal, and noise music. Brazilian composer Marcos Balter’s Alone is a lyrical work. In Michael Finnissy’s Ettelijke bange eenden (Several scared ducks), the players follow each other closely for musical cues, creating sounds that resemble a flock of birds. Don’t miss this rare chance to hear the ensemble The New Yorker calls “the new gold standard for new music.”