Nevermind the Noise – NYU Concert Composition

Nevermind the Noise is a collective of concert composition graduate students at NYU Steinhardt. Nevermind the Noise is committed to the composition and performance of new experimental concert music. Rather than exploring the repertoire of an established tradition, our group seeks to break down common conceptions of what music is while engaging the greater New York City community through collaborative art projects and performances.

News

Lauren Greenberg to Participate in Winnipeg New Music Festival

We are delighted to announce Lauren Greenberg’s participation in the esteemed Winnipeg New Music Festival (WNMF) Composers Institute, held from January 24–29, 2024.

Selected as one of five talented emerging composers for this distinguished opportunity, Lauren immersed herself in a week-long exploration of the WNMF. From attending rehearsals to engaging in workshops and masterclasses, Lauren garnered invaluable insights and refined her craft under the mentorship of industry experts.

A highlight of Lauren’s journey at the Composers Institute was the professional rendition of her composition, Bonds of Cosmic Origins (2022), by the esteemed Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. This significant moment occurred at the festival’s launchpad concert on January 25, 2024, held at the magnificent Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall.

Credited to Chronic Creative

The inspiration behind Bonds of Cosmic Origins stemmed from Lauren’s undergraduate experiences at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee (BoCo) and the meaningful connections she forged with friends, musicians, and faculty. Thus, the title Bonds of Cosmic Origins—BoCo—was aptly chosen. Lauren ingeniously concealed these letters within her piece, employing Morse code to spell out BOCO in the percussion parts. The rhythmic motifs, initially introduced by the timpani, subtly encoded Morse code for BOCO. The percussionists’ interpretation of this concealed message serves as an expression of Lauren’s profound appreciation for her outstanding experience at BoCo.

Lauren’s participation in WNMF’s Composers Institute underscores her unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and her pursuit of excellence in contemporary music. We commend Lauren for her remarkable achievements and eagerly anticipate witnessing her continued growth and success in the realm of music.

Please join us in extending our heartfelt congratulations to Lauren on this remarkable milestone, and in celebrating her exceptional talent and creativity!
Tutte le Corde: Piano Music After 1950

On Sunday, February 20, 2024, “Tutte le Corde: Piano Music After 1950” featured premieres of compositions by six composers at Black Box Theater in New York. Tutte le Corde is an annual concert where pianists and composers from NYU collaborate to create innovative works. Three composers from Nevermind the Noise—Jake Miles, Hyojin Kwak, and Jason Brauer—participated in this concert.

Jake Miles’s Runaround (2024) is a piece for solo piano that builds off of a tiny musical cell. Combining gradual rhythmic and harmonic development, the piece winds its way toward a bombastic conclusion.

Hyojin Kwak’s H Sanjo (2022–2024) is a solo piano piece inspired by the traditional Korean music genre Sanjo. It’s part of a series, and the piece performed at this concert is the third movement. It features lively rhythmic patterns (Jangdan), incorporating the melodies of the Korean folk song Baetnorae (Sea Shanty) while blending traditional and contemporary elements. The H in the title symbolizes the composer’s unique melodies and Jangdan style showcased in this composition.

Jason Brauer’s El sueño de la razón produce monstrous (2024) (The Sleep/Dream of Reason Produces Monsters) is based on the most famous of Francisco Goya’s fantastical, satirical etchings Los caprichos (Caprices). The print depicts a man asleep at his desk while owl-, bat-, and cat-like creatures swarm around his shoulders. This movement is inspired by several dialectical contrasts present in the etching: chiaro and oscuro, order and chaos, reason and fantasy, and torment and triumph.

Pianist YingQi Wang, who performed Jake’s piece, Joyce Li Yue, who performed Hyojin’s piece, and Juan Vasquez, who performed Jason’s piece, collaborated with NVMTN composers for several months to present their music to the world. Applause goes out to the six performers, including the three pianists who showcased brilliant performances.

Thank you for your interest in our Nevermind the Noise composers’ event. As composers representing Nevermind the Noise, we are dedicated to responding to your support by creating innovative, unique, and outstanding music.
Jacques Lee Wood Concert, Cello with Electronics

On February 5, 2024, compositions by eight composers premiered at the Paulson Center in New York. This concert, prepared through several months of workshops and communication with a performer, was a collaboration with cellist Jacques Lee Wood. Nevermind the Noise composers Hyojin Kwak and Brandon Connors-Morrison participated in this performance.

Hyojin Kwak’s Nori (놀이) (2024) is a contemporary piece for solo cello and pedalboard inspired by the traditional Korean practice of tightrope walking. It merges avant-garde techniques with traditional Korean music elements, showcasing rhythmic patterns and playing techniques reminiscent of instruments like the Ajaeng and Geomungo. Through string flicking, wide vibrato, and ornamentation, it captures the essence of Korean musical traditions.

Brandon Connors-Morrison’s Jammin With Extra Terrestrials (2024) is a solo piece that explores the idea that our perception of music is based on our experiences and cultural background. It also considers the possibility that extraterrestrial beings may have a unique understanding of what music is, even if it’s obscure to us. This is achieved by using a familiar instrument and then adding some additional sound qualities and dissonances to change the style of the music with the use of electric guitar pedals.

Jacques Lee Wood is a dynamic musician dedicated to pushing boundaries in the realm of music. Since assuming the role of Principal Cellist with the Cape Symphony in 2018, he has continually sought innovative avenues for artistic exploration. Notably, Jacques co-founded Antico Moderno, a chamber ensemble focused on period instruments, StringLab, a collaboration with guitarist Simon Powis, and Cathedral Parkway, a bluegrass band based in NYC. He actively engages in chamber music, performing with ensembles like the Pedroia String Quartet and musiConnects’ Sumner Quartet, while also making guest appearances with renowned orchestras such as A Far Cry and the Handel and Haydn Society. Jacques’s academic journey includes studies at the New England Conservatory of Music (BM) and Yale University (MM, DMA), solidifying his expertise and passion for musical innovation.

If you’re interested in this concert, check out this YouTube video:

Hyojin’s piece starts at 16:18, Brandon’s piece starts at 1:11:19.

We appreciate your interest in our Nevermind the Noise composers’ event. As Nevermind the Noise composers, we are committed to reciprocating your support with imaginative, distinctive, and exceptional music.