American Festival of Microtonal Music Press Release Update

Contact:
Johnny Reinhard AFMM 212-517-3550
Afmmjr@aol.com
http://www.afmm.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

AMERICAN FESTIVAL OF MICROTONAL MUSIC
presents

MicroFest 2005: 25th Anniversary
March 26 • April 8 • May 6 -- NYC

The American Festival of Microtonal Music (AFMM), under the
direction of Johnny Reinhard, presents 3 New York Concerts at Faust and Harrison
Pianos (located at 205 West 58th Street). The series begins on March 26,
continues on April 8, and concludes on May 6. All concerts start at 8 PM. General
admission is $15, $10 for seniors and students (with ID) at the door. In
celebration of its 25th anniversary, the AFMM is issuing 3 CDs on its PITCH label.

Saturday March 26th features classical compositions heard in Kirnberger II
tuning, the most justly tuned well temperament ever invented, including Ludwig
van Beethoven’s TRIO (Opus 11), Felix Mendelssohn’s CONCERTPIECE No. 2, Robert
Schumann’s 3 ROMANCES, and a rare Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach TRIO. Other
highlights are the polymicrotonal works of Mordecai Sandberg’s PSALM 131 in its
world premiere for English horn solo and ensemble, and Johnny Reinhard’s MELANIN
for oboe solo. Additionally, a rare chromatic tidbit by Georg Philipp
Telemann will be heard for the first time in modern times in its native sixth-comma
meantone. The AFMM Ensemble performers for this opening concert are pianist
Joshua Pierce, oboist Bram Kreeftmeijer (Netherlands), clarinetist Gilad Harel,
bassoonist Johnny Reinhard, and cellist Dan Barrett.

Friday April 8th is a presentation of the Electric Music Collective and
features combinations of electronic and acoustic settings. Timothy Polashek opens
the evening with polymicrotonal computer generations of HOT-TEMPERED
ARPEGGIOS. Marcus Alessi Bittencourt performs his BATHYSCAPHE for ring-modulated piano
and live electronics. Christopher Bailey is represented by two works,
OOOGAAH: DUNGEONY SPECIMEN SPACESHIP for computer-generated sound and samples, with
scales and tuning based on spectral analyses, and MGESAHRED EFFLEWD BQNOUSSK in
23-limit Just Intonation for baritone saxophonist Matthew Polashek and the
composer at the piano. Douglas Geers’ pair of works are PEACE PRAYER for
violinist Maja Cerar and live electronics, and LUNAR CRESCENT in Just Intonation.
And Joseph Pehrson‘s world premiere of BLACK AND JILL, featuring soprano
Meredith Borden singing in a subset of 72-tone equal temperament, rounds out the
program.

Friday May 6th is a celebration of the music of the Baul culture, and
introduces 10th dynasty Baul music master and multi-instrumentalist Babukishan
(India) playing khamak and ektara, among others instruments. Fretless microtonal
guitarist Jon Catler joins the program with the world premiere of his SOLO
GUITAR CONCERTO. AFMM director and bassoonist Johnny Reinhard collaborates with
both Babukishan and Jon Catler for a rollicking final night evening of global
proportions.

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As part of the 25th Anniversary experience, the American Festival of
Microtonal Music has produced its first CDs on its PITCH label. They are available
for $20 apiece, including mailing/handling. For oversees mailing, please add
$3.

P-200201 ODYSSEUS by Johnny Reinhard features cellist Dave Eggar and
55 AFMM musicians in the polymicrotonal musical telling of the Homeric epic.
The musicians represent a galaxy of the world’s best stemming from all walks
of musical life.

P-200202 EARLY celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in its
historical well temperament of Werckmeister III tuning. Present are
BRANDENBURG CONCERTI Nos. 2 & 3, examples from the WELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER, composer
Andreas Werckmeister’s Christmas Cantata WO IST DER NEUGEBORNE KONIG DER JUDEN, and
uncle Johann Michael Bach’s concerto ACH, BLEIB BEI UNS, HERR JESU CHRIST.

P-200203 CHAMBER features microtonal gems of the 20th Century by
prominent composers Julián Carrillo (PRELUDIO A COLON), Charles Ives (STRING
QUARTET NO. 2 in extended Pythagorean tuning featuring the FLUX Quartet), Lou
Harrison (AT THE TOMB OF CHARLES IVES), Harry Partch (TWO SETTINGS FROM JOYCE’S
FINNEGAN’S WAKE), Iannis Xenakis (ANAKTORIA), and Giacinto Scelsi (KO-LHO).

The American Festival of Microtonal Music, Inc. is supported by the New York
State Council on the Arts, the Maldeb Foundation, co-production by Faust
Harrison Pianos, and individuals.