***NOTE: This event takes place at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704***

MusicArt, in association with the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI), presents a cross-disciplinary, poetry-inspired concert, featuring pianist Annie Yim.

‘The Poet Speaks: from Debussy to Pärt’, a MusicArt conceptual concert, combines the recorded voices of composers and poets with live piano, juxtaposing poems from two centuries with musical responses to them by Debussy, Ravel, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, and Philip Glass.  Arvo Pärt’s Für Alina will be performed with a specially commissioned poem ‘Sunlight’ by Zaffar Kunial.  The concert includes extracts from a new work ‘Mirrors’ co-created by composer Raymond Yiu, poet Kayo Chingonyi and pianist Annie Yim.

Other writing included ranges from French poetry by Aloysius Bertrand and Charles Baudelaire to a personal love poem by John Cage; from Else Lasker-Schüler’s expressionist poem Versöhnung (Reconciliation), which inspired Franz Marc’s woodcut print, to Allen Ginsberg’s anti-war poem ‘Wichita Vortex Sutra’.  John Cage’s iconic 4’33” is reimagined through a poem by Ed Baker.  Each pairing of musical composition and poem reveals tributes, friendships, and artistic affinities.

From John Cage to Allen Ginsberg and Philip Glass, each work is no more than a few minutes long, and yet contains a microcosm of the composer’s unique stamp, carrying far more than meets the eyes and ears.  The hope is to create meaningful dialogues within the pairing of poetry and music.

This special Harmonic Series concert is free of charge and open to the public with registration via Eventbrite. Advanced registration is requested to assist with event logistics; registration at the door will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. on March 5th.

For more information, contact Jennifer Murawski at jmurawski@msri.org or (510) 642-0771.