Kian Ravaei, a 26-year-old DMA student at Juilliard, is set to unveil his innovative work, “iPod Variations,” which draws inspiration from his eclectic musical experiences as a child.
The world premiere will take place at the 55th Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival.
Ravaei, who grew up in Los Angeles, reflects on his youth, stating, “I was a kid who didn’t have the historical context that I have now. I just listened to all sorts of music, and the iPod allowed me to shuffle through a library of music. I want to recreate that experience for concertgoers.”
“iPod Variations,” composed for flute, violin, and electronics, presents a theme and variations that embody contrasting musical influences drawn from Ravaei’s personal iPod library.
He notes, “Each variation is inspired by two musicians that were on my iPod. They are contrasting in interesting ways, and that makes it wonderful to put them together.”
The composition features an impressive range of musicians from diverse genres, beginning with an exploration of Jimi Hendrix and George Frederic Handel.
Other inspirations include Bob Dylan, William Byrd, Iranian musicians like Mohammad-Reza Lotfi, and notable figures such as Count Basie, Kurt Cobain, Jimmy Smith, Koji Kondo, Paco de Lucía, and Deadmau5.
The structure of the piece includes movements commencing with flute and violin, presenting the initial theme for about a minute.
After this introduction, an electronic recording is briefly featured, followed by interplay where the flute and violin respond to one another.
As the piece progresses, they evolve into a fusion of sounds, culminating in a richly layered dialogue.
Flutist Tara Helen O’Connor will handle the electronics with a foot pedal, adding a layer of complexity to the performance.
Ravaei took on the role of programmer himself, utilizing Max MSP, a visual coding software, to create a system for triggering audio cues.
In reference to the interactive nature of the electronics, Ravaei remarks, “It’s like working with a third musician.”
This is not Ravaei’s first commission from Chamber Music Northwest; his previous piece, “Gulistan” (“Flower Garden”), premiered at the festival two years ago.
In addition to his own compositions, Ravaei has collaborated with the Bridge to Everywhere collective and choreographer Annie Kahane on a new piece merging Persian and Jewish musical and dance traditions.
The concert will also feature the Divertimento from David Schiff’s opera “Gimpel the Fool,” which is based on Isaac Bashevis Singer’s celebrated short story.
Schiff, reflecting on the opera’s origins, reveals, “In 1974, I was getting my masters in composition from the Manhattan School of Music. I took a course in opera composition with Nicolas Flagello and was simultaneously teaching at the Hebrew Union College School of Sacred Music. I was captivated by ‘Gimpel the Fool.'”
Schiff began composing the opera in the following years, leading to its premiere at the 92nd Street Y in 1978, during the time he was pursuing his doctorate at Juilliard.
The Divertimento, which encompasses music from the first half of the opera, was first performed at CMNW in 1982 and has since become Schiff’s most frequently performed piece.
Schiff humorously recalls the reaction of renowned figures in attendance at the premiere, including Jerome Robbins and Steve Reich.
He reminisces, “Singer and his wife attended, and he said to me, ‘You know, I really don’t like music, but this I liked.’”
After moving to Portland in 1980, Schiff developed a fondness for the Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival, sharing some of his compositions with the festival’s artistic director, David Shifrin.
Schiff’s varied influences are reflected in his music, citing inspirations from Charles Mingus to Frank Zappa, as well as Broadway musicals, dance bands, jazz groups, and composers like Iannis Xenakis.
The concert program also promises beloved works such as Franz Schubert’s “Shepherd on the Rock,” a celebrated showpiece for soprano, clarinet, and piano.
Divided into three sections, it tells the story of a lonely shepherd awaiting the joyful arrival of spring.
To close the evening, the CMNW will perform César Franck’s dramatic “Piano Quintet,” a piece rumored to express Franck’s deep affection for a female piano pupil.
The emotional intensity of Franck’s composition famously unsettled Camille Saint-Saëns during its premiere, reportedly leading him to leave the stage in a fit of passion.
This richly-structured concert piece, featuring Ravaei’s innovative work alongside established masterpieces, promises to be an unforgettable experience for attendees.
image source from：oregonlive
