take a listen – hear an audio preview:
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CROSSTOWN is a meditative dance, in which I attempted to fuse the delicate rhythms of music from Mali with improvisational colors from India, all sketched aboard a slow ride on a late-night bus in New York city. It proceeds much like a Bolero, repeating the theme with extended improvisations and ornamentation, while occasionally being interrupted by a halting, contrasting gesture. |
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| CATEGORY | Chamber music, multi-track viola music, African influenced |
| INSTRUMENTATION |
Original instrumentation: multitrack violas. Also available as a jazz “lead sheet”, which includes a separate sheet for the bass line. Arrangements for other combinations may be commissioned upon request. “Crosstown” is available as part of the Vjola Suite set. |
| DURATION | 5-7 minutes, depending on tempo |
| WORLD PREMIERE |
Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, New York; January 5 2008 |
| WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMERS |
Brooklyn Rider – Johnny Gandelsman and Colin Jacobsen, violins; Nicholas Cords, viola; Eric Jacobsen, cello; Jeffrey Beecher, bass; Mark Suter, cajon World premiere performance available on YouTube [see video] |
| OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES |
Brooklyn Rider — Baryshnikov Arts Center, New York; elsewhere on tour. Warhol Dervish — Casa del Popolo, Montreal, Canada [see video] |
| RECORDING |
Recorded on Ljova’s debut CD – Vjola: World on Four Strings[album details]. Recorded by Brooklyn Rider on their debut CD, “Passport” [album details / order] |
| SCORE AVAILABILITY | All arrangements are available for sale via PDF or mail delivery; arrangements for combinations not listed above may be commissioned on request. [contact for more info] |