Programs

Musical Feast
presents

Aurora Borealis Duo
Featuring Tiffany Du Mouchelle, Soprano
and Stephen Solook, Percussion

in

Reflections
Saturday, August 21, 2021 :: 8pm
at
Premier Cabaret

MusicalFare Theater
4380 Main Str #123 Amherst NY 14226
Located in: Daemen College
tickets: $ 15.00 Call: 716 839-8540 or website: www.musicalfare.com
Proof of vaccination will be required for . Proof of vaccination can include the New York State Excelsior Pass/Vaccination card along with a photo ID.

Program:
Reflections is a musical commentary of a year in silence. Throughout the pandemic, musical voices have been filtered through masks, electronic channels, and the radically shifted world. Here, we reflect on the isolation and celebrate the return of live music. Featuring new works by Stephen Solook and Tiffany Du Mouchelle created in response to the events of the past year, the program is a reflection of their musical growth during this time.

Elegy (Jules Massenet)

Invocaciones (Roberto Sierra)
Mvt. II      Al Hacedor de Nubes

La musique (Elliot Carter)

At the whim of the Current    (Jeff Heriott)
Davids Nimm    (Karin Rehnqvist)

Cançiones de la Otra América (Lewis Nielson)
Mvt. I  Alta Hora de la Hoche, Roque Dalton
Mvt. III Fábula de la Sirena y los Borrachos, Pablo Neruda

Vibraphone Etudes for Extending Technique (Stephen Solook)

The space between the stars  
(Tiffany Du Mouchelle with text from poetry by Daniel Haskin)

A Waltzer in the House (Milton Babbitt)

Yogah Samadhih (Joe Garrison)

Biographies:

Aurora Borealis was founded in 2004 when percussionist Stephen Solook and soprano Tiffany Du Mouchelle were asked to collaborate in a performance of Roberto Sierra’s Invocationes for voice and percussion at the Mannes College in New York City. Since that time, their performances have taken them from New York to Los Angeles, Egypt, Cameroon, and even the remote villages of Papua New Guinea. As a duo, Aurora Borealis has premiered more duo and chamber works for voice and percussion than any other duo of this instrumentation.  The works commissioned by Aurora Borealis focus on expanding the repertoire of voice and percussion composition, specifically in exploring new dimensions within the relationship between these two instruments. When the duo first began to work together, much of their repertoire came from neo-classical and neo-romantic musical traditions. It soon became clear that these traditions tend to favor the voice as a melodic instrument and percussion more in as accompaniment. The duo realized that for Aurora Borealis to be a true “duo” that the nature of their repertoire must then support each instrument equally. This realization has led Du Mouchelle and Solook into close relationships with many American composers, primarily through commissioning new works.  Recent collaborations include works by: Carolyn Chen, Chen-Hui Jen, Stephen Lewis, Ignacio Baca Lobera, Lewis Nielson, Roger Reynolds, Stuart Saunders Smith, Jacob Sudol, and Christian Wolff.

“Outstanding” percussionist Stephen Solook (Robert Bush, SoundDiego) is a new music specialist who regularly performs as an orchestral and world musician. Recently named finalist for Artist of the Year from Arts Services Inc. 2021 Spark Awards. As a member of Aurora Borealis, a soprano and percussion duo with Tiffany Du Mouchelle, they have worked to create duo repertoire with equal voices and have worked with many composers including: Tania Leon, Roger Reynolds, Stuart Saunders Smith, Roberto Sierra, and Christian Wolff. With contemporary ensembles, Steve has been a member of Red Fish Blue Fish and San Diego New Music. Steve has performed with Band on a Can All-Stars, Eighth Black Bird, the International Contemporary Ensemble, and San Francisco Chamber Music Players. Steve’s recordings are on Bridge, Vortex, and Mode Labels, and is the on-screen talent for the “Standard of Excellence” snare drum series. Steve’s groundbreaking vibraphone etudes are published by Bachovich Music Publications. As an extra percussionist, Solook regularly performs with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Slee Sinfonietta.  With the NPO Cultures in Harmony, Steve has taught and performed in Cameroon, Egypt, Mexico, and Papua New Guinea.  As a dance accompanist Dr. Solook has toured with the Jose Límon Dance Company.  Steve is currently a staff accompanist for the University at Buffalo Dance Department. He received his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of California San Diego, after attending Mannes College, and Ithaca College. His current research is on dyslexia and dysgraphia relating to musical notation and music education.

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