Live from (Le) Poisson Rouge on March 14, 2010

The American Contemporary Music Ensemble, known by it's clever acronym ACME, promises listeners Grade-A music and they never let an audience down. This young, New-York based 'indie-band' has been in high demand throughout the city and beyond, bringing their energy and passion for avant-garde programming and high-level performance everywhere they go. Though often paired with rock bands as the opening act, this concert on March 14 features ACME all on its own at (Le) Poisson Rouge performing a dual composer portrait of Kevin Volans and John Luther Adams.

In this concert, ACME bookends two string quartets by Kevin Volans with two larger chamber pieces of John Luther Adams. Volans and Adams have extremely different compositional styles and sound worlds, but both are significantly influenced by their environments. A native of South Africa, African rhythms and the sounds of indigenous instruments such as the mbira are clear sources in Volans' works. Similarly, for over two decades John Luther Adams has composed in a 16'x24' cabin outside of Fairbanks, Alaska -- unquestionably, the vastness of the Alaskan landscape is his muse.

Listen to ACME's entire performance above or excerpts below, and don't forget also to explore the Q2 Live Concert archive. You can access Q2 24/7 through our pop-out audio player or iTunes.

(L)PR’s Technical Director is Richie Clarke and this concert was mixed by Bill Bowen.

Listen 24/7 to Q2 through our pop-out audio player or iTunes.

Program

ACME opens its program with John Luther Adams' The Farthest Place.

ACME launches into an energetic performance of three movements from Kevin Volans' 1st string quartet, White Man Sleeps.

Jumping ahead over 20 years, ACME plays Volans' 9th string quartet, Shiva Dances.

ACME finishes the concert with John Luther Adams' In a Treeless Place, Only Snow.