In 2014, the PRISM Quartet joined forces with The Crossing under Donald Nally in the world premiere of Gavin Bryars' The Fifth Century, an elegiac setting of meditations by 17th-century metaphysical poet Thomas Traherne for chamber choir and saxophone quartet. The resulting ECM album was nominated for a 2018 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance. The New York Times called the work a ''poignant lament'' and the performance ''superb'' and ''eloquent.'' Hear Movement 4 of The Fifth Century HERE. Many thanks to NARAS members for your consideration!
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Heritage/Evolution Marathon
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Washington Square Contemporary Music Society and PRISM Quartet, Inc. present Heritage/Evolution Marathon: Celebrating the Saxophone on March 22 at Symphony Space in New York City. Heritage/Evolution is a groundbreaking project launched by PRISM in 2014 featuring premieres of new works composed and performed by today’s most inventive jazz saxophonists. H/E Marathon showcases the PRISM Quartet with Dave Liebman, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Tim Ries, and Miguel Zenón performing music by all four guest artists, with additional works by past collaborators Chris Potter and Steve Lehman, as well as John Coltrane and PRISM’s own Matthew Levy. The program also includes the premiere of a new work by composer and ethnomusicologist J. Martin Daughtry. Click HERE for complete info and tickets.
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Save the Date: COLOR THEORY 2.0 with Susie Ibarra and Tyshawn Sorey
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PRISM presents the second installment of Color Theory: Saxophones and Percussion following the release of the Quartet’s critically acclaimed recording, COLOR THEORY (XAS Records) with So Percussion and Partch. Color Theory 2.0 spotlights Susie Ibarra and Tyshawn Sorey, consummate percussionist/composers who join PRISM as soloists in their own new works in concerts in Philadelphia and New York City. In Philadelphia, PRISM and guests will also collaborate with the Free Library of Philadelphia to present Unlocking Your Inner Composer, a free six-week workshop series at two library branches, where participants will compose works for PRISM, Ibarra, and Sorey, to be premiered alongside Color Theory commissions.
Both Ibarra and Sorey share PRISM’s dedication to crossing musical boundaries; they bring an array of cultural, compositional, and improvisatory practices to the project. Color Theory 2.0 also features world premieres of stand-alone sax quartets by Elizabeth Hoffman, Professor of Composition at New York University, and Max Chung, winner of the annual PRISM Quartet/Walden School Young Composer Commissioning Award.
Check www.prismquartet.com on January 1 for further information. In the meantime, save the dates!
June 2 and 4: Free Library of Philadelphia
June 3: The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, NYC
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Support PRISM with an End of Year Donation
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Since our founding days way back in 1984, PRISM has worked steadily to fulfill our mission of commissioning and disseminating new repertoire for saxophones. Bringing this music to life is expensive. Guest artist and composer fees, hall rental fees, and recording costs are significant. Please help PRISM continue to commission and document new works, present exciting concert programs across the country, and sustain important community outreach efforts to young people. We invite you to make a tax-deductible contribution online at www.prismquartet.com. Thank you for your continued support and interest.
Tim, Zach, Taimur, and Matt
PRISM Quartet
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