The cultural highlights in our region in coming days include a work-in-progress showing of a dance based on Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road”; a 24-hour festival of the drone; a world-renowned string quartet in a free concert; a Tex-Mex celebration; and an up-and-coming avant-jazz quartet.
New York City-based contemporary dance company ZviDance will present a work-in-progress showing of “On The Road” in the Hunter Center at MASS MoCA on Saturday at 8pm. Inspired by Beat author Jack Kerouac’s novel by the same title, “On the Road” is an evening-length, multimedia dance piece that contemplates the general upheaval of the 1960s and the Beat generation’s startling notions of social rebellion.
The Orchestra Now, under the direction of Leon Botstein, will perform works by Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Ives, and two world premieres by Bard students Tamzin Elliott and Daniel Zlatkin, in the Fisher Center at Bard College on Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm. The concerts conclude the Orchestra’s inaugural performance season in residence at Bard College, designed to offer adventurous programs of familiar and lesser-known works.
The second annual 24-Hour Drone: Experiments in Sound and Music festival takes place this weekend at Basilica Hudson beginning Saturday at 3pm and running through Sunday at 3pm. These are drones of the musical kind, not those that take flight, although if the music does its job and if the listener hangs in there, there may be some figurative flight taking place. The immersive event - featuring musicians and sound artists experimenting within the spectrum of drones, which are sustained tones shaped by voice or instrumentation – also includes expanded offerings, delving deeper into the drone theme, encompassing sound artists, film screenings, interstitial sound pieces, long-duration video, interactive art installations, a 24-hour coffee bar, and more.
On Monday evening at 8, the world-renowned Emerson String Quartet will perform works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Shostakovich in a free concert in Chapin Hall at Williams College. The Emerson will perform String Quartet in B-flat Major, op. 18, No. 6 by Beethoven; String Quartet in A flat Major, op. 118, No. 10 by Shostakovich; and String Quartet in A Minor, op. 51, No. 2 by Brahms.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Austin-based Americana singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez brings her new Tex-Mex sound to Club Helsinki Hudson on Saturday, April 30, at 9pm. The acclaimed Austin-based roots-music artist recently released the album “Lola,” on which the Chicana singer/songwriter realizes her dream of presenting her deeply personal take on the Tex-Mex music of her ancestors.
And the Window Quartet, led by Czech-born composer-pianist AntoninFajt, performs at Hudson Opera House on Saturday, April 30, at 7pm. In addition to Fajt, the members of the avant-jazz quartet are saxophonist Carolyn Hietter; bassist Julian Lampert; and drummer Matt Norman. The musicians met during their studies at Bard College in 2013, and have been working together ever since. Their music oscillates between ambient textures, singing melodies, and driving rhythms. Much of their inspiration comes from landscapes, especially the Hudson Valley countryside.
Seth Rogovoy is editor of Berkishire Daily and the Rogovoy Report, available online at rogovoyreport.com