The January Festival Series explores movement and color through sound with the electronic instrument, the theremin. Invented in 1920 in Russia and patented in the United States in 1928 by the Soviet inventor, Léon Theremin, the instrument that bears his name captures the imagination of all who hear it. Unlike any other musician, the thereminist does not physically touch the instrument to produce sound but rather moves in relation to the instrument creating a seemingly infinite range of pitches and colors. Thus, the act of producing sound becomes visually expressive.

To introduce the world of theremin music, WWCMF is honored to welcome one of the world’s foremost theremin virtuosi, Carolina Eyck. A gifted composer, Carolina is also a synesthete  — someone who feels a strong link between sound and color. In her compositions, as in her visual art, Carolina engages in a conversation between sight and sound. Her Fantasias provide the perfect entrée to a futuristic soundscape.

Concluding the program is the great Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 15 by Gabriel Fauré. Fauré’s music and even French music, in general, is often described in terms of color and movement. Why is that? The four movements of this great work show how light can suffuse sound and how the chamber ensemble can exhibit a sonic range from pointillism to romantic grandeur. What better to brighten a cold January evening!

Carolina Eyck (b. 1987)

FANTASIAS FOR THEREMIN AND STRING QUARTET (2016)

I. Oakunar Lynntuja (Strange Birds)

II. Layohmi (Luminescence)

III. Mukkuva Luohla (Sleepy Dragon)

IV. Metsa Happa (Jumping River)

V. Dappa Solarjos (Dappled Sunlight)

VI. Nousta-Needad (Ascent-Descent)

INTERMISSION

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

PIANO QUARTET IN C MINOR, OP. 15

I. Allegro molto moderato

II. Scherzo: Allegro vivo

III. Adagio

IV. Allegro molto

Artists: Brittany Boulding Breeden, violin; Timothy Christie, viola; Carolina Eyck, theremin; Henry Kramer, piano; Maria Sampen, violin; and Sally Singer Tuttle, cello.

First things first… what is a theremin?

THER·E·MIN

/ˈTHerəmən/

noun: theremin; plural noun: theremins

An electronic musical instrument in which the tone is generated by two high-frequency oscillators and the pitch controlled by the movement of the performer's hand toward and away from the circuit.

Now that we’ve cleared that up... what is a theremin? Do you know that cool sound in the Beach Boys’ hit, Good Vibrations? Do you know the sound on The Simpsons every time the space aliens Kodos and Kang make a cameo? Not to mention the rest of Sci-Fi? Yes, the theremin plays a role in all of these situations, but it is so much more…

What do you say to Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee? Or what about Rachmaninov’s iconic Vocalise? Come experience this wild and wonderful instrument in the hands of the world’s foremost virtuoso, Carolina Eyck. In addition to the works above, Carolina will share some of her own compositions, showcasing the realm of possibility at the intersection of science and art.

Artists: Carolina Eyck, theremin; and Henry Kramer, piano.