The Esoterics

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2009

SEATTLE — When faced with the postponement of their scheduled August concerts (SUSCITA), The Esoterics took the opportunity to present a seasonal concert that celebrates trees, flowers, and the myriad pleasures of the natural world.

"This year, we performed some extremely moving and undeniably serious music," says Founding Director Eric Banks, referring to the group's VOTIVITA (February) and MEMORIAM (April) concert series, "and I intentionally chose pieces for EPHEMERA that evoke a serious level of emotion in somewhat less solemn ways."

Eastern folksongs will bring pulsing beats and textured pentatonic melodies to the program, featuring images of flora, fauna, and illusion. Se Enkhbayar's Two Mongolian folksongs include one song praising the mighty chestnut horses of Chinngis Khan, and another recreating a lush mirage from the Gobi Desert's oppressive heat. Three Indonesian folksongs by Budi Susanto Yohanes celebrate the birds on the wing, the wind in the leaves of the taro, and the stars that surround the moon – with the trance-like textures and jagged island rhythms of Madura, Banyuwangi, and Bali.

Swedish composer Lars Johan Werle's trees sets four arboreal poems – from the sublime to the ridiculous – by the incomparable poet e. e. cummings. In addition to these works, The Esoterics will reprise L'invitation au voyage, the ecstatic setting of Richard Wilbur's Baudelaire by last year's POLYPHONOS winner, Scott Perkins.

The natural world at night is a centerpiece in Gordon Abshire's poems Awakenings set by Donald Skrivin. The Esoterics' world premiere of the elegant triptych is a tribute to the poet who was a friend to the composer and the group. The use of imagery and sweeping melodies evokes a considerable amount of emotion for the listener and singers.

"The third movement always makes me cry, without fail," says mezzo-soprano Erin Cronshaw, who will step in as conductor for Eric Banks while he serves as soloist in Skirvin's piece. "Hopefully I will keep it together for the performance."

In EPHEMERA, The Esoterics will also present the West Coast premiere of founding director Eric Banks' Twelve flowers, which was commissioned and premiered, in June, by the Boston Choral Ensemble. Setting haiku by Yosa Buson, the piece aurally represents twelve different flowers, intertwining English and Japanese texts.

Please join us for this program of dance, dreamscape, and delectation.

The locations of The Esoterics' EPHEMERA concerts have changed since the 2009 Season brochure. This is the revised schedule:

Saturday • 1 August 2009 • 8 pm • Seattle
Queen Anne Christian Church • 1316 3rd Avenue W

Sunday • 2 August 2009 • 3 pm • West Seattle
Holy Rosary Catholic Church • 4139 42nd Avenue SW

POLYPHONOS SUMMER FUND DRIVE LAUNCHES

As arts organizations and funding agencies continue to suffer from the downturn in the economy, The Esoterics has asked audience members and donors to become involved in supporting their annual POLYPHONOS competition. Three winners each receive a $1,000 commission plus travel funds to hear The Esoterics perform the world premiere of their pieces in Seattle this October (http://www.theesoterics.org/Concerts/MYSTERIUM.aspx). The 2009 POLYPHONOS winners are:

National: Shawn Brogan Allison (Chicago, U.S.A.)
International: Eduardo Andrés Malachevsky (Bariloche, Argentina)
Young composer: Nilo Alcala (Manila, Philippines)

"This program exemplifies the uniqueness of The Esoterics as an organization," says Board President Bayta Maring, "We sing not only for the sake of performance, but to further an art form and support living, writing composers -- who, I hear tell, actually need to eat. This is an opportunity for anyone to contribute in a meaningful way to the future of choral music."

Contributors to the POLYPHONOS summer fund drive will be recognized at The Esoterics' October concerts, both in person and in the concert program. For more information or to become involved, contact The Esoterics' Director of Development (sponsor@theesoterics.org) or check out the cause on Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/307361/69950027?m=6d54c0aa

The Esoterics has presented dozens of local and international premieres and has tackled the most challenging works of 20th and 21st century choral repertoire. Now in its 16th season with founding director Eric Banks, the ensemble has drawn national and international praise for presenting the many styles that comprise contemporary choral music. The Esoterics' commitment to innovative concert repertoire has been nationally recognized four times (in 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2008) with the ASCAP and Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music. The ensemble was also honored to be selected as the only North American chorus to compete at the 2000 International Choral Festival in Cork, Ireland, the 2001 International Choral Festival in Tolosa, Spain, and the 2006 Harald Andersén International Choir Competition in Helsinki, Finland.

If you have additional questions about EPHEMERA or The Esoterics (media contact only), please contact Bayta Maring ()