CHANGING NIGHT and GUITAR, GUITAR, GUITAR Set for Symphony Space's 'Music of Now' Series Today

Symphony Space's The Music of Now Series comes to a close for 2014 with a pair of stimulating and imaginative concerts. Changing Night pairs jazz/hip-hop trio Mighty Third Rail with the classical ensemble PUBLIQuartet in a presentation inspired by the Garden of Eden story, tonight, March 20 (7:30 pm). Guitar, Guitar, Guitar brings together eight leading guitarists - two soloists, a duo, and a quartet - to play music by Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Ingram Marshall, and guitarist David Leisner, Thursday, March 27 (7:30 pm). Both concerts takes place at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia; tickets are $32, $27 for members, and $20 for those under 30, available at www.symphonyspace.org.

For Changing Night, genre-defying hip-hop trio The Mighty Third Rail - poet/beatboxer Darian Dauchan, violinist Curtis Stewart, and bassist Ian J. Baggette - joins forces with the innovative string quartet PUBLIQuartet. Centering on a performance by PUBLIQuartet of György Ligeti's early String Quartet No. 1, "Metamorphoses Nocturnes," Changing Night is a modern-day retelling of the Garden of Eden story in which Eve has disappeared and Adam's entire existence is evolving before his eyes. The Mighty Third Rail takes on the role of Civilization, PUBLIQuartet represents Nature, and violinist Curtis Stewart (who belongs to both groups) serves as the bridge to these two worlds. Stewart calls Changing Night "a journey that questions the nature of change, survival, and how the things we build to inhabit this dynamic world can co-exist with the natural without destroying it." In the course of the program, which also includes jazz tunes, the Ligeti quartet will be "recomposed," resulting in a "mashup" version that incorporates both ensembles. (EVENT LINK / VIDEO LINK)

In Guitar, Guitar, Guitar, a formidable octet of players - Dublin Guitar Quartet, Brasil Guitar Duo, and solo guitarists David Leisner and Benjamin Verdery - harnesses the power of 64 strings to take on works by Glass, Reich, David Leisner (Symphony Space commission) and Marshall. Says Leisner, "The premise of the program is: music of repetitive structures (sometimes called Minimalism, much to the disapproval of the composers whom it describes) for multiple guitars. The title, 'Guitar! Guitar! Guitar!' at once hints of both many guitars and the importance of repetition in the music."

The program:

• Philip Glass: Fourth Knee Play (from Einstein on the Beach)
  transcribed by David Leisner
• Steve Reich: Nagoya Guitars
  transcribed from Nagoya Marimbas by David Tenenbaum
• David Leisner: Ghosting
  Symphony Space commission)
• Ingram Marshall: Soepa
• Philip Glass: String Quartet No. 3 "Mishima"
  arranged by the Dublin Guitar Quartet

Guitar, Guitar, Guitar is presented in collaboration with Guitar Plus. (EVENT LINK / VIDEO LINK)

Symphony Space traces its beginnings to a free marathon concert, Wall to Wall Bach, held in 1978 and organized by co-founders Isaiah Sheffer and Allan Miller. The music marathon then drew thousands of visitors and has since become one of the organization's signature events. Today Symphony Space presents more than 600 events each season, including music, dance, theater, film, and literary readings. Some of its best known programs include Selected Shorts, a reading of short stories by stars of stage and screen, and one of the most popular series on public radio; the Thalia Film Club, a trendy film club hosted by Marshall Fine featuring pre-release screenings and behind-the-scenes conversations with film stars; Just Kidding, one of the most talked about family entertainment series around town; and, more recently, The Music of Now, presenting an eclectic range of music in all styles and sensibilities, focusing on emerging artists and unusual work. Uptown Showdown has been called "New York's best comedy series" by New York magazine. For more information, visit symphonyspace.org.

Symphony Space is located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. Box office hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 1 pm - 6 pm, open two hours prior to performances and events. Tickets can also be purchased through www.symphonyspace.org, or by calling 212/864-5400.