# Colin Currie Group at Zellerbach Hall Auditorium, November 3, 2022

[Cal Performances](https://calperformances.org/events/2022-23/illuminations-human-and-machine/colin-currie-group-synergy-vocals-a-steve-reich-celebration/) presents A Steve Reich Celebration featuring [Colin Currie Group](http://www.colincurrie.com/) and [Synergy Vocals](http://www.synergyvocals.com/)  
[Zellerbach Hall Auditorium](https://calperformances.org/visit/venues/zh.php)  
[U.C. Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94305 USA](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=U.C.+Berkeley,+Bancroft+Way+at+Telegraph+Ave,+Berkeley,+CA+94305+USA&hl=en)  
7:30 PM, Thursday, November 3, 2022

[[:2022:2022-10:2022-10-30|Back to the previous event!]] ☸ [[:#section2022|Up to the 2022 yearbox!]] ☸ [[:2022#November_events|Up to the 2022 event list!]] ☸ [[2022-11-04|On to the next event!]]

## Set One

[7:n PM] {lights down, announcements, performers out}
### Steve Reich: Tehillim

[Steve Reich](https://www.stevereich.com/) \(b.1936\): _Tehillim_ (1981)

01. [7:45 PM] Part I, fast; text: [Psalm 19:1-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_19) »
02. [7:53 PM] Part II, fast; text: [Psalm 34:12-14](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_34)  
[7:59 PM] {pause for applause}
03. [8:00 PM] Part III, slow; text: [Psalm 18:25-26](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_18) »
04. [8:06 PM] Part IV, fast; text: [Paslm 150:4-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_150)  
[8:10 PM] {work ends}  
{long pause for stage work}


### Steve Reich: Traveler’s Prayer

[8:24 PM] {lights down, performers out: tuning}  
[8:26 PM] {CC out to begin the piece}

Reich: _Traveler’s Prayer_ (2020) (West Coast Premiere, Cal Performances Co-commission)

05. [8:26 PM] Part I
06. [8:n PM] Part II
07. [8:n PM] Part III  
[8:40 PM] {set ends; long bit of applause; bows}  
[8:42 PM] {set break!}

## Set Two: Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians

[9:06 PM] {lights down, performers out}

Reich: _Music for 18 Musicians_ (1974-76)

01. [9:07 PM] i. Pulses
02. [9:n PM] ii. Section I
03. [9:n PM] iii. Section II
04. [9:n PM] iv. Section IIIA
05. [9:n PM] v. Section IIIB
06. [9:n PM] vi. Section IV
07. [9:n PM] vii. Section V
08. [9:n PM] viii. Section VI
09. [9:n PM] ix. Section VII
10. [9:n PM] x. Section VIII
11. [9:n PM] xi. Section IX
12. [9:n PM] xii. Section X
13. [10:n PM] xiii. Section XI
14. [10:n PM] xiv. Pulses  
[10:09 PM] {work ends}  
[10:10 PM] {bows & curtain-less call back}

## Post Show Q&A

[10:13 PM] {begin Q&A with Colin Currie & Micaela Haslam, hosted by Jeremy Geffen}  
[10:33 PM] {all done}

## Performers

### Colin Currie Group

* George Barton: percussion;
* Richard Benjafield: percussion;
* Nicholas Bootiman: viola;
* Emma Burgess: clarinet, bass clarinet;
* Meghan Cassidy: viola;
* Simon Crawford-Phillips: piano;
* [Colin Currie](http://www.colincurrie.com/): conductor, drums, percussion;
* Peter Facer: oboe;
* Emma Feilding: oboe, cor anglais;
* Tim Gibbs: double bass;
* Clio Gould: violin;
* Owen Gunnell: percussion;
* Michelle Hromin: clarinet, bass clarinet;
* Bea Lovejoy: violin;
* Dave Maric: piano;
* Zoë Martlew: cello;
* Robin Michael: cello;
* Philip Moore: piano;
* Jonathan Morton: violin;
* Greta Mutlu: violin;
* Siwan Rhys: piano;
* Catherine Ring: percussion;
* Adrian Spillett: percussion;
* Rowland Sutherland: flute;
* Sam Walton: percussion;
* Helen Whitaker: flute, piccolo.

### Synergy Vocals

[Synergy Vocals](https://www.synergyvocals.com/)

* Heather Cairncross: alto vox;
* Micaela Haslam: founder, soprano vox;
* Benedict Hymas: tenor vox;
* Caroline Jaya-Ratnam: soprano vox;
* Amanda Morrison: soprano vox;
* Rachel Weston: soprano vox;
* Will Wright: tenor vox.

## Notes

Because I'm losing my mind, we arrive about 10 minutes late for the show. The house manager insists that we can't be seated until break (30 min from now!), but that we're welcome to enjoy the event from the upstairs lobby -- listening & watching from the monitors there. Not good! Being well-trained, we head upstairs as directed, then pop through a side door and sneak down into our regular seats on the left side tier. While the view is somewhat off-center (naturally!), it's also free of obscuring heads, and we settle in to enjoy the show.

_Tehillim_ is terrific, and the group earns a rousing ovation from the crowd once it ends. Surprisingly, the pause to strike and reset the stage is nearly as long as the following work itself, the West Coast premiere of Reich's _Traveler’s Prayer_. Premiered only two days earlier at Carnegie Hall, it's a really different work than _Tehillim_: far more serene and contemplative, and reminiscent of his 1996 piece, _Proverb_. I think I'll need to hear it again before making any significant commentary. Presumably Colin Currie & Synergy Vocals will release a recording in the near future.

Following a proper intermission (during which the stage hands work tirelessly to set things right) it's time for the main course: _Music for 18 Musicians_. According to my notes, the last time I heard this performed was nearly [ten years ago](http://www.funfolks.net/dw/doku.php?id=2013:2013-01:2013-01-28). Dang, time flies!! And prior to that, a June 2000 performance by the Steve Reich Ensemble (writeup absent from my wiki at present -- that belongs to the days when my paper notes ended up in file boxes now in the garage). It's nearly impossible to compare versions across such a time span, so I won't. Tonight was mesmerizing (as it should be!), engaging, and well worth the time spent listening.

The post show talk was also pretty good. Jeremy Geffen seemed way too excited about the event: he could hardly get out of his own way while posing his questions. Both Colin and Micaela were good speakers, and they offered neat commentary on the evening's rite. I was a trifle disappointed that Jeremy was the only source of questions -- I like the free-for-all of sending a mic out into the audience -- but I'm guessing that was omitted on account of the late hour. Ending after 10:30 PM, it's been years since the last time I can remember a CalPerformances event lasting over three hours.

[Program Notes](https://calperformances.org/program-notes/2022-23/colin-currie-group-synergy-vocals/) or {{:2022:2022-11:20221103pn.pdf|program notes}}

Emily Wilson posted an interesting [promo article](https://www.sfcv.org/articles/feature/percussion-strikes-balance-between-human-and-machine) for the event with SFCV.

Joshua Barone posted a [review](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/02/arts/music/steve-reich.html) of the preceding premiere of _Traveler's Prayer_ at Carnegie Hall earlier this week with the New York Times.

Nonesuch Records hosted a [promo talk](https://www.nonesuch.com/journal/listen-steve-reich-wnyc-new-sounds-carnegie-hall-2022-11-01) between John Schaefer and Steve Reich ... give it a listen!

## Photos

Big thanks to Ting for the photo gallery!

{{gallery>:2022:2022-11?20221103-*.jpg}}

{{:wip.png?nolink}} **Whoa!** This section is incomplete for now, sorry! {{:wip.png?nolink}}

{{tag>music Colin_Currie_Group Synergy_Vocals Zellerbach_Hall_Auditorium Colin_Currie George_Barton Richard_Benjafield Nicholas_Bootiman Emma_Burgess Meghan_Cassidy Simon_Crawford-Phillips Peter_Facer Emma_Feilding Tim_Gibbs Clio_Gould Owen_Gunnell Michelle_Hromin Bea_Lovejoy Dave_Maric Zoë_Martlew Robin_Michael Philip_Moore Jonathan_Morton Greta_Mutlu Siwan_Rhys Catherine_Ring Adrian_Spillett Rowland_Sutherland Sam_Walton Helen_Whitaker Heather_Cairncross Micaela_Haslam Benedict_Hymas Caroline_Jaya-Ratnam Amanda_Morrison Rachel_Weston Will_Wright}}

[[:2022:2022-10:2022-10-30|Back to the previous event!]] ☸ [[:#section2022|Up to the 2022 yearbox!]] ☸ [[:2022#November_events|Up to the 2022 event list!]] ☸ [[2022-11-04|On to the next event!]]