SYZYGY FEATURES SPECULUM MUSICAE - NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
SYZYGY, New Music at Rice
Speculum Musicae, new music ensemble
Works by Jacob Druckman, David Sanford, Mario Davidovsky, Salvatore Sciarrino, Philippe Manoury, and Franco Donatoni.
8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall

For over thirty years, Speculum Musicae has been internationally recognized for its immaculately prepared and passionately rendered performances of the music of our time. Since its formation in 1971, Speculum Musicae has maintained its position as one of the nations preeminent contemporary chamber ensembles. The Boston Globe has called them "New York's Most Important New Music Group" and their 1999 tribute concert to Elliott Carter was cited by The New York Times as one of that years best concerts. In 2001, The New Yorker referred to Speculum as "New York's Most Renown New Music Group." In 1997, Speculum was the recipient of the Laurel Leaf Award from the American Composers Alliance.

In addition to its annual concert series in New York, the ensemble has performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Library of Congress, the New Music Los Angeles series, and the New York Philharmonic's
New Horizons series. Speculum Musicae has also performed abroad including
a 1988 performance at the Bath Festival, which was broadcast on BBC
television and will perform three concerts in September of 2003 at the La
Biennale di Venezia in Italy. Recently Speculum appeared at the Sounds
French Festival and Orchestratech festivals in New York. Speculum Musicae
served as the featured ensemble Poland's Warsaw Autumn Festival in 1986 and
appeared at the September of 2003 at the Biennale International Festival of
Contemporary Music in Venice Italy. Speculum Musicae has recorded for CRI,
Nonesuch, New World, Columbia and maintains an active relationship with
Bridge Records. The ensemble was nominated for a 2003 Grammy for their
recording of Elliott Carter's Oboe Quartet

Speculum Musicae is comprised of twelve of New York's most gifted musicians that work together in a co-operative organizational structure. Over the
years, these artists have developed an unequaled rapport and ensemble
sound. Their artistry is combined with a deep and lasting commitment to
new music, which has made them an important part in the development of the
contemporary repertoire. In turn the members of Speculum Musicae and their
audience has benefited from extensive collaboration and interaction with
the composers whose works they present.

Speculum Musicae's programming goal is three-fold: to preserve and present
the classic musical works of our time, to participate in the development
and expansion of the repertoire by collaborating with living composers and
to educate the musicians and audiences of the future. Speculum Musicae's
repertoire over it's thirty year history including 25 commissions, 52 world
premieres, 32 U.S. premieres and 38 New York premieres is a statement of
dedication to the music of our time and to the composers who continue this
ongoing tradition.