Small chamber works to launch CMC season

The Contemporary Music Consortium opens its 2005 season today with a program of music spanning some 50 years.

Titled "Conversations," the concert will present chamber music on a more intimate scale. "It's a collection of small chamber works," said flutist Laurel Ann Maurer, one of the founders of CMC.

The music for today's concert will include works by Jean Francaix, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Rebecca Clarke, Anthony Korf and Meyer Kupferman. Most of these composers are probably unfamiliar to the public but Maurer said the program will offer something for everyone. "We have a nice little mix here of lighter and more substantial works. There is some nice variety."

The largest work on the program is Francaix's Trio for clarinet, viola and piano. "Francaix wrote some wonderful music," Maurer said, "and after hearing this piece, I hope the audience will want to know more about his music."

Among contemporary American composers, Zwilich ranks among the select few whose music is performed frequently. Writing in every genre, Zwilich receives numerous commissions and awards. Her Symphony No. 1 won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983. Her Quartet for flute, clarinet, violin and cello will be on today's program.

"We felt that it was time that we played something by her," Maurer said. "It's been quite a long time since we've programmed one of her works."

The remainder of the concert consists of duets. Clarke's piece is scored for viola and clarinet. "Clarke was a protege of Ernest Bloch, and her music shares much of the same qualities as his. It's very beautiful, haunting and melodic."

The Kupferman that will be played at today's concert is written for piccolo and clarinet. "It's a quirky piece called 'Short Shrift,' " Maurer said. "It's very fanciful and technical."

While not household names, Clarke and Kupferman might be familiar to anyone who attends the Park City International Music Festival. The music of both composers has been featured at several of the festival's concerts over the years.

Korf, on the other hand, is probably the least known among the group of composers represented at the concert. But he is a composer of note who has had his own contemporary music ensemble, Parnassus, for some 30 years. Korf's music hasn't received the widespread attention it deserves. "We're playing his 'Six Miniatures' for flute and piano," Maurer said. "it's a clever piece — he throws in a lot of his favorite music. You'll hear 'Tea for Two,' 'Tenderly' and some others. It's very clever, very modern and a lot of fun."