The chamber music ensemble Flexible Music is manifest in its eclectic blend of musical genres. This guitar, piano, saxophone, and percussion quartet has a sound based on the conventions of classical music with the added flavor of jazz and rock sensibilities. It will display this sound tonight at 7:30 in the Tillotson Room, Gibson Hall.
Flexible Music is comprised of pianist Eric Huebner, saxophonist Timothy Ruedeman, percussionist Haruka Fujii, and guitarist Daniel Lippel, all of whom are reputable soloists.
"Flexible Music is one of the most exciting ensembles in America," said Assistant Professor of Music Vin Shende. "Each one of the musicians is a virtuoso."
The unusual combination of its respective instruments into a single ensemble grants Flexible Music the opportunity to create a unique repertoire. In fact, all the pieces it plays, with one exception, were written specifically for the group.
The quartet came together through its performance of the piece "Hout" by Louis Andriessen. The piece was the only one that encompassed the particular scope of its instrumental capacities at the time. The four so enjoyed playing with one another that they established themselves as an ensemble and commissioned composers to write pieces for them.
Recently, the group has called upon the talents of one of Bowdoin's own?Vineet Shende. In 2003, Lippel premiered an earlier piece of Shende's. This initial introduction led to further collaboration.
"Lippel is, bar none, the best guitarist I have ever worked with," said Shende.
When Lippel requested that Shende compose for Flexible Music, he was happy to comply. The result is the lighthearted homage to James Brown, "Throw Down or Shut Up."
The group has performed at other institutes of education including New York University, Cleveland Institute of Music and The Julliard School. In addition to funding for a portion of a recording of premieres through the Mikhashoff Trust for New Music, Meet the Composer Foundation awarded Flexible Music a grant for their work with composer Adam Silverman.
"They stretch the boundaries between different genres," said Shende. "Every one of them is well versed in world music, jazz, rock and Bach."
Tickets for the concert are free and available at the Smith Union information desk.