KA at Symphony Space, New York

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The Music of Now Marathon
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 4pm-12am
Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space

Kicking off the fourth annual citywide Composers Now Festival (under the leadership of composer Tania León) is Symphony Space's genre-busting music marathon, curated by Symphony Space Artistic Director, composer Laura Kaminsky, and hosted by WQXR's Terrance McKnight. From electronic experimentation to post-minimalism, to spectralist sonorities to Latin jazz, the marathon brings the broadest range of new music by today's emerging and established composers and composer-performers to the stage.

Link: More info at symphonyspace.com

Svara-Yantra - Minnesota Orchestra

Saturday, January 25, 26, 28, 2012, 2pm
Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 5

Courtney Lewis, conductor
Robin Scott, violin
Samir Chatterjee, tabla

Svara-Yantra – US Premiere Boston Philharmonic Orchestra

The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Ben Zander, gave the U.S. premiere of Svara-Yantra, a concerto for violin, tabla, and orchestra on October 17th (Mechanics Hall, Worcester), October 18th (Sanders Theater, Cambridge), October 20th (Jordan Hall, Boston) , and October 21st (Sanders Theater, Cambridge) 2007. Svara-Yantra featured the virtuoso violinist Joanna Kurkowicz (joannakurkowicz.com) and tabla master Samir Chatterjee (tabla.org).
 

“Svara-Yantra stole the show… a terrific piece in which the tradtional symphony is dropped into the middle of the subcontinent, exploding with color.”
-Matthew Guerrieri, Boston Globe
 

“The standing ovation at the end of the piece continued until Korde himself was forced to come to the front and acknowledge the cheering.”
-John Zeugner, Worcester Telegram

“Svara-Yantra, a fabulous creation…certainly stole the show for the evening.“
-Ranjani Saigal, Lokvani
 

“We have an amazing opening planned for next season. The orchestra is giving the American premiere of Svara-Yantra, a dazzling violin concerto by local composer Shirish Korde that combines elements of Western music with instrumental techniques, rhythms, and scales peculiar to the music of India. It was composed especially for our beloved concertmistress Joanna Kurkowicz, who has performed it in Europe and Asia. It is enthralling—I’m completely in love with it and I know everyone who hears it in October will be spellbound.”
-Benjamin Zander, Music Director and Conductor, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.
 

Hear: Extended version of the third movement Joy

Phoolan Devi: the Bandit Queen

This contemporary multi-media opera by Shirish Korde, dramatizes the life of Phoolan Devi, a fascinating and controversial figure whose turbulent life story exemplifies the violent tension between traditional values and modern notions of social justice. Korde has collaborated with director Lynn Kremer to create a multifaceted portrait of this controversial figure.

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A workshop performance of the opera was performed at College of the Holy Cross on April 15, 16, and 17 and Tsai Center in Boston on April 23 and 24, 2010 under the direction of Richard Pittman and Boston Musica Viva. It featured soloists Zorana Sadiq as Phoolan Devi, and Elizabeth Keusch, as well as other internationally renowned artists.

"With its soaring operatic vocal lines against dense, glittering harmonic masses in the six instruments provided the evening's most satisfying performances."- Boston Globe

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"Shirish Korde's brilliant multi-media chamber opera is a work of art but also succeeds in creating new sights and sounds by blending Eastern and Western music and Dance. Overall the effort was amazing. The story of Phoolan requires the hands of a master...with so many elements in the opera, creating a seamless presentation that leaves the audience asking for more...kudos to Korde for this brilliant work"
- Ranjani Saigal, Lokvani.

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View the Phoolan Devi: the Bandit Queen trailer:

KA – World Premiere, Boston Musica Viva

Friday, April 27, 2012, 8pm
Tsai Performance Center, Boston

Carnatic soprano Deepti Navaratna joins Boston Musica Viva for the world premiere of KA. Shirish Korde’s new song cycle inventively pairs Eastern and Western musical influences in an unusual scoring of Carnatic soprano, tabla (Amit Kavthekar), sitar (Chirag Katti), flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, and cello. KA marks Korde’s seventh collaboration with Boston Musica Viva. In 2010, BMV premiered his full-length opera Phoolan Devi: The Bandit Queen to great acclaim.

“Korde’s work is supremely complicated to hear, perform, and to understand, yet an immediate pleasure to listen to”

“Ka playfully negotiates what is apparently a fine line between common and divine, classical and folk, between speech and music and-perhaps, most impressively-between Eastern and Western Music…creates something new and exciting” – The Boston Intellegencer

Hear: Excerpts from KA
Read: The Boston Intellegencer review

Nesting Cranes – Chicago Symphony Strings

April 2007
Chicago Symphony Orchestra MUSIC NOW
Nesting Cranes for flute and string orchestra performed by Jennifer Gunn (flute) and Chicago Symphony Strings. Ludovic Morlot, Conductor

Hear: A sample from Nesting Cranes

Concert of Recent Works

Presented by: The Fischer Institute, Nichols College
Sunday, October 14, 2012, 2pm
First Congregational Church of Dudley, 135 Center Road, Dudley, MA

Concert of Recent Works by Composer Shirish Korde – Meet the composer and hear works featuring soprano Deepti Navaratna, cellist Jan Müller-Szerwas and tabla-maestro Amit Kavthekar. Concert followed by a reception in the church hall. In collaboration with the church’s Arts Council. All are welcome.

Artist Fellowship – Mass Cultural Council

Spring 2011

Shirish Korde was awarded his fourth Artist Fellowship by The Massachusetts Cultural Council.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded Holy Cross professor Shirish Korde, composer of the multimedia chamber opera Phoolan Devi: The Bandit Queen an unrestricted grant. Korde was one of only 15 out of 416 eligible applicants across the state awarded the highest honor bestowed upon any artist by the Cultural Council. Four of those 15 are composers.

See Notable names from the History of The Artist Fellowship Program
More info at Mass Cultural Council

Concert at The Currier Museum of Art

Thursday, August 2, 2012, 6pm
The Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, NH

A concert in celebration of Diluvial by Boston-based artist Cristi Rinklin. The program included Anusvara – 5th Prism, Lalit and KA. Featured performers included Deepti Navaratna, soprano; Jan Müller-Szerwas, cello; Amit Kavthekar, tabla; Robert Schulz, percussion; and Jeremy Flower, laptop.

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Video: Shirish Korde’s Lalit at Currier Museum of Art

Video: Shirish Korde’s KA

Nada-Ananda, Guitar Concerto CD Released

Nada-Ananda, Concerto for guitar and ensemble in three movements
Simon Thacker, classical guitar
Dr. Jyotsna Srikanth, Carnatic South Indian violin
Sarvar Sabri, tabla
The Edinburgh Quartet (Tristan Gurney, violin; Philip Burrin, violin; Michael Beeston, viola; Mark Bailey, cello)
Mario Lima Caribé da Rocha, double bass
Iain Sandilands, percussion

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“…an exuberant virtuoso display of rhythmic complexity. Nada Ananda means joy of sound, an idea Korde captured in his music.” -The Guardian

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Link: Learn more at cduniverse.com
Link: Learn more at simonthacker.com

Duo Jalal Perform "Joy" at San Antonio Festival

Sunday, October 7, 2012, 3pm
San Antonio College

San Antonio’s Musical Bridges Around the World Festival features one-of-a-kind, multicultural performances by the finest classical, jazz, and folk musicians and performing artists from around the globe.

The Main Stage concert series opens in October 2012 with “Fusion of the Worlds,” featuring Duo Jalal and Cristina Pato of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project.

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Tickets and more information available at musicalbridges.org

Additional performances:

Sunday, October 21, 2012, 4pm
Brooklyn Public Library

BPL Chamber Players fifth season. Free admission.

Thursday, October 25, 2012, 8pm
Brooks Hall, Holy Cross College

Concert of recent music performed by Duo Jalal – Kathryn Lockwood, viola, and Yousif Sheronick, percussion, including Shirish Korde’s Joy adapted for viola and percussion.

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Video: Listen to Duo Jalal

J.S. Bach and Evening Ragas

April 10
Brooks Concert Hall Holy Cross College, 8pm

April 13
Cochran Chapel, Phillips Academy Andover, MA, 7:30pm

April 14
Boston Musica Viva Benefit Concert Boston, MA, 8pm

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Program will feature 2 new chamber works by composer Shirish Korde, Anusvara (5th Prism) and Lalit. Korde’s music is new, yet rooted in Indian classical music and features 3 internationally acclaimed musicians: the extraorinarily gifted Carnatic soprano— Deepti Navaratna, the Chilean virtuoso cellist— Jan Müller-Szeraws and master tabla player— Amit Kavthekar, who come together in this exciting, new collaboration in world music.
The program will be framed by two iconic masterworks of J.S. Bach—the unaccompanied cello suites in G major and C minor.

 

Video: Shirish Korde’s Anusvara performed at Phillips Academy Andover, MA

Svara-Yantra performance by Peoria Symphony Orchestra

March 13, 2012, 8pm
Peoria Civic Center Theater

George Stelluto, conductor
Marcia Henry Liebenow, violin
Manpreet Bedi, tabla

Read: Peoria Journal Star article

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Nada-Ananda: a concerto for guitar and ensemble

Commissioned by the UK based Classical Guitarist Simon Thacker and the Edinburgh Contemporary Arts Trust, Nada-Ananda received ten performances in Scotland and England in November 2009. This work, along with a new work by Nigel Osborne performed by Thacker’s Nava Rasa Ensemble, was received enthusiastically by audiences and the press.

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Rowena Smith of the Guardian wrote: “Nada-Ananda is an exuberant virtuoso display of rhythmic complexity. Nada-Ananda means “the joy of sound” an idea already captured in his music.”

Georgina Coburn of the Scotsman wrote: “Nada-Ananda, a concerto for guitar and chamber ensemble, was the perfect conclusion to the program, shimmering with brilliance and interval and circular melody. A joyful dance and a celebration of life through music.”

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Video: Simon Thacker’s unique nine piece East/West group The Nava Rasa Ensemble perform excerpts from each of the three movements of Indian composer Shirish Korde’s Nada Ananda, concerto for guitar and chamber ensemble.

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Zhikr-Songs Of Longing

Zhikr, commissioned by the Chameleon Arts Ensemble for Soprano, String Trio, Flute, Harp, Percussion, and Tabla, based on texts from several mystical traditions, was premiered in May 2009 at the Goethe Institute.

David Weininger of the Boston Globe wrote: “it integrates Eastern and Western traditions in a thoughtful and substantial way…the strings, flute, and percussion form a lush background for the soprano’s part which ranges through a variety of vocal styles drawn principally from Indian Classical Music. Two interludes for the Tabla, played by Aditya Kalyanpun were among the pieces most memorable moments. Elizabeth Keusch was the outstanding soprano.”

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Anusvara: 2nd Prism for Cello and Chamber Ensemble

The premiere of Anusvara: 2nd Prism for Cello and Chamber Ensemble was performed by Boston Musica Viva (bmv.org), Jan Müller-Szerwas, Cello at Brooks Concert Hall, Holy Cross College on April 2, 2009

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Lalit

Lalit, a duo for Flute/Alto Flute and Tabla, commissioned by new music virtuoso Patricia Spencer and Tabla maestro Samir Chatterjee, was premiered at the National Flute Convention in New York in August 2009. The 25 minute piece which is based on Rag Lalit was featured on the gala concert and received with enthusiasm.

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Cranes Dancing for Violin and String Quartet

Cranes Dancing for Violin and String Quartet will be performed by the Xantos Ensemble at Morse Auditorium at Boston University on April 30, 2009.

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Three Songs from Rasa: Ensemble Phorminx

Carola Schleutter and the Ensemble Phorminx gave several performances of this work in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Darmstadt in the 2007-8 season.

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Anusvara

In the fall of 2008, virtuoso flutist, Orlando Cela, premiered the new work for bass flute (doubling on alto flute) at the College of the Holy Cross. Laura Falzon gave the New york City premiere of the same piece .(version for C flute) at Columbia University in the fall of 2009.

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Columbia University Music Panel

Conversations Across Cultures
SOUTH ASIAN IMAGINARIES
Art, Film and Music from South Asia
Symposium, exhibition & concert.
October 31— November 1, 2008

This symposium is a great opportunity for students and educators who are interested in learning, discussing and appreciating, as well as enjoying the colors, forms and sounds of South Asia: a region that includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and nearby regions. The audience will engage with a range of contemporary works of art, film and music from the region through presentations, discussion panels, a concert and an exhibition. Eminent artists, film makers and composers will be invited to speak and present their work.

More info at columbia.edu

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Songs of Ecstasy: Boston Musica Viva Premiere

On May 2nd, 2008, the Boston Musica Viva (bmv.org) gave the world premiere of Songs of Ecstasy featuring Zorana Sadiq, soprano, chamber ensemble and Indian classical dancer, Wendy Jehlen, at Tsai Performance Center at Boston University. This cycle of songs is based on the mystical poetry of Kabir, Rabia, Faiz, and St. Cecilia of Sienna. Zorana Sadiq also premiered his collection of songs: Ghazals in the Music Toronto on February 14th in Toronto, Canada. The song cycle was commissioned by the Jebediah Foundation New Music Commissions.

“Soaring operatic vocal lines against dense, glinting harmonic masses in the six instruments…the evenings’s most satisfying performace.”
-Matthew Guerrieri, Boston Globe

“These are striking affairs, compelling with strong rhythmic appeal. It brought the house down.
-Ken Winters, The Toronto Globe and Mail

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Da Capo Chamber Players and Gamelan

The Da Capo Chamber Players of New York played the commissioned work, Blue Topeng 2, for chamber ensemble and Balinese Gamelan soloists in a series of concerts in the spring of 2008 in New York

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Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship – Fromm Foundation Commission – Jebediah Foundation New Music Commissions

Shirish Korde was awarded a Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship in the summer of 2007. The Massachusetts Cultural Council recognized 33 artists from more than 1000 applicants in the disciplines of film/video, music composition, photography, theater, and sculpture. Five composers were honored from a field of approximately 200 applicants.

In the fall of 2007 he was also a recipient of a Fromm Foundation Commission for the Phoolan Devi project and a new music commission from the Jebediah Foundation for Songs of Ecstasy, which was premiered at Tsai Performance Center in Boston on May 2, 2008.

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Svara-Yantra in New Zealand and Poland in 2007

In November, 2005, the violin concerto Svara-Yantra was premiered by Joanna Kurkowicz and The National Polish Orchestra in Katowice, Poland. In February 2007, Svara-Yantra was one of the featured works at The Asia Pacific Festival in Wellington New Zealand and was performed by Joanna Kurkowicz and The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor, Li Xincao. Svara-Yantra was also be performed by Koszalin Philharmonic in Poland in June 2007.

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Time Grids for Amplified Guitar and Computer Synthesized Tape

Simon Thacker gave several performaces of Time Grids (1988) in the U.K.

“Time Grids was the most overtly virtuosic piece in the recital and was a splendid concluding gambit, leaving me quite breathless by the end. Simon Thacker’s crazy flying fingerboard work, as the piece reached its climactic conclusion was really something else. What a wonderful exposition of the coontemporary possibilities of the classical guitar.”
-Alan Cooper, Aberdeen News

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CNN broadcast “Dreams and Creativity” – segment with focus on Shirish Korde

Read Transcript