SPCO's Liquid Music Series to Present Miranada Cuckson in 'Sun Propeller'

On Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 8:00pm at Amsterdam Bar & Hall in Saint Paul, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series presents Miranda Cuckson: Sun Propeller, an investigation of our human fascination with the world above and around us. Violist and violinist Miranda Cuckson performs a set of contemporary pieces composed on themes of wind, air and light, featuring repertoire from living composers all across the world, including Dai Fujikura, Kaija Saariaho, Ileana Perez-Velasquez, Richard Barrett and Nina C. Young (who will be present on electronics). Utilizing nothing more than Cuckson's playing and electronics, each piece will showcase the unique "warmth and humanity" (Cultured Cleveland) of her unforgettable musical voice.

Cuckson has "an instinctive ability for making sense out of the most abstract musical structures and conveying them to the listener" (ClevelandClassical.com). Her repertoire includes the standards of classical music-Bach, Beethoven, Schumann-but her technique shines when playing modern music of living composers. She revels in her role as interpreter of new and challenging music, and is an engaged and intellectually curious collaborator whose imagination, perception, insight and technical skill blend to produce the perfect mix of composer's vision and performer's personality.

"I'm thrilled to come play for listeners in Saint Paul for the first time, and I'm so excited for us to dive together into this program, newly devised for Liquid Music, with its themes of light, wind and sun, a plethora of sounds and atmospheres, three acoustic instruments (violin, viola and de-tuned violin) and different ways of interacting with electronics," said Cuckson. "I'm happy to be bringing the piece Sun Propeller by very gifted composer Nina Young, and excited that she will be with us to collaborate on imaginatively molding the electroacoustic sound worlds. The pieces are all by friends I've worked with, all from different parts of the world, and I'm eager to share the cross-connections I'm discovering, both musical and thematic. I'm hoping listeners will be refreshed and intrigued by the sounds and journeys of these pieces and stimulated to explore more new musical worlds!"

Liquid Music Curator Kate Nordstum looks forward to what Cuckson will bring to the series: "I was captured by Miranda's poise and presence before I was captured by her distinctive virtuosity and vigor. She is an enthralling musician and wise practitioner, commissioning so much music for herself; she's really in control of her career and focuses. Even before I heard her play, I was inspired by the way she navigated the new music terrain. In many ways she's been a quiet leader in the 'indie classical' movement. That phrase is no longer in vogue, but Miranda actually does embody it... She is absolutely doing her own thing while being fully committed to classical. She is advancing the form according to her own loves, global perspective and desire to be challenged. Diversity in classical music is a huge problem, but Miranda has always shown that it doesn't have to be."

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