Local Classical

Photographs from the Tuned In benefit concert for the Scholarship Fund at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music on November 11, 2009.

Musicians
49 Special
Birds & Batteries
Edmund Welles
Erik Jekabson Quartet
Magik*Magik Orchestra
Pacific Guitar Ensemble

After a much-needed three-week vacation in Europe (more on that later), BayTaper.com is back in action (albeit a bit jet-lagged).

Just before June and I left on our trip, we had the pleasure of hosting several members of the phenomenal unconducted chamber orchestra A Far Cry during the first date of their inaugural west coast tour. Our good friend Megumi Stohs, who is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, is our connection to the group. Many years ago, Megumi worked for June on occasion while attending the Conservatory, and we’ve kept in touch during the time that followed her graduation.

The group is based out of Boston, and is starting to turn heads in classical music circles on the East Coast, so I couldn’t help but take advantage of this opportunity by offering to photograph and record their performance in the Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum on May 15, 2008. The show was simply amazing, and the recording came out stellar. Best of all, they’ve granted permission to share the first piece played that night, Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in F major, Op.6 No.9 (1708), which you can listen to by clicking the “Play Now” link below.

On this tour, the group featured Sharon Cohen, Andrew Eng, Jesse Irons, Jae Young Lee, Shaw Pong Liu, Monica Pegis, Megumi Stohs, Ashley Vandiver, and Liza Zurlinden on violin; Margaret Dyer, Jason Fisher, and Franklin Shaw on viola; Loewi Lin, Jeremiah Shaw, and Courtenay Vandiver on cello; and Karl Doty on Bass. You can learn more about the group at AFarCry.org, and you can keep abreast of their ongoing projects and performances by checking their blog, which is updated regularly.

Play Audio: 
Adobe Flash Player and JavaScript are required to stream our audio clips. You can also download the audio files directly using the links below.
 
 Download: Track 1

Audio Track
Arcangelo Corelli, Concerto Grosso in F major, Op.6 No.9 (1708)

A little more than a week ago, I was lucky enough to attend the first annual Switchboard Music Festival live at Dance Mission Theater on March 30, 2008. It was a full day of inspired music that’s best described in their own words:

The Switchboard Music Festival is an eight-hour music festival bringing together composers and musicians who are all pushing the boundaries of their respective genres. No other Bay Area music festival or concert series is dedicated to the idea of bringing together such an eclectic, genre-crossing/-breaking/-bastardizing group of experimentalists, innovators, and musical omnivores.

Some of the finest musicians in the Bay Area played over the course of the eight-hour music marathon, including Aaron Novik, Amy X Neuburg, Christopher Adler, Dan Becker, Del Sol String Quartet, Jeff Anderle, Edmund Welles, Erik Jekabson, Gamelan X, Ian Dicke, Ian Dickenson, Inner Ear Brigade, Jonathan Russell, Robin Estrada, Ryan Brown, and Slydini.

This really turned out to be a tremendous day of live original music, so please enjoy the photographs and this audio sample of Erik Jekabson’s trumpet solo (using a delay) called Opening Fanfare, which was the appropriately-named first song played at the festival (thanks Erik!). And don’t forget to help support this very-worthy festival when it comes around next year.

Play Audio: 
Adobe Flash Player and JavaScript are required to stream our audio clips. You can also download the audio files directly using the links below.
 
 Download: Track 1

Here’s a few photos and an audio sample from a recent Classical Revolution show played live at the Revolution Cafe on January 27, 2008. If you haven’t ever experienced this now-weekly classical jam session in the Mission, you really should because it’s a great example of some of the amazing live music that’s taking place in the burgeoning Mission creative music scene. They play late every Sunday night at the Revolution Cafe, and you can check their website for more up-to-date info.

Play Audio: 
Adobe Flash Player and JavaScript are required to stream our audio clips. You can also download the audio files directly using the links below.
 
 Download: Track 1

Brahms Sextet #1 in B Flat Major, op 18 (1860)
II. Andante, Ma Moderato

Classical Revolution
Jory Fankuchen & Edwin Huizinga, Violins
Charith Premawardhana, Viola
Adrian Fung, Cello