Anne LeBaron – Hsing | World Premiere
Posted January 20, 2011
Next Sat., Jan. 29, Anne LeBaron’s work for solo harp, Hsing, written about a decade ago but only now getting its first full performance, will be premiered by Alison Bjorkedal at the Armory for the Arts in Pasadena, at 8 PM. The Southwest Chamber Music concert will include Tom Peter’s rendition of the ferociously difficult “Theraps”, for solo double bass, by Iannis Xenakis. Further details given below; program notes can be accessed here.
A few words from the composer [Anne LeBaron]….
“In a few hours, at 11 AM on Thurs., Jan. 20, Alison will perform excerpts from Hsing on KPFK, with John Schneider hosting Global Village Thursdays, along with a few comments from me, explaining the role of ‘activated’ harpist. (The segment will stream for the next two weeks.) You’ll hear more about why the performer will speak to the harp, asking it questions while caressing it, engaging with the sound holes, and drawing wild cards that play havoc with the flow of the piece, all while performing what is mostly standard writing for harp (with a few bowings and scrapings thrown in). Hsing, with a framework corresponding to the five elements of feng shui, makes use of the Lo Shu (magic square) to determine exactly where the wild cards are embedded in the score, and is personalized with the back story of an encounter I had with a haunted harp. We’ve engaged Rafael Lopez-Barrantes to direct this performance. I hope to see some of you there!”