Projects
WESQ is committed to supporting composers, with commissions and premieres, and performing on other artists projects. We are happy to discuss reading and performing your new composition or working with you on a new performance project as time allows.
Current and Past
Ives Vocal Marathon
A Project started by Neely Bruce of Wesleyan University to perform all 183 of Ives songs in concert. We are now involved with this project because of one of Ives songs that calls for Piano Four Hands, String Quartet and Voice, Aeschylus and Sophocles. There are several other songs with less substantial string parts that we are involved with as well. To find out more information about Neely Bruce and the Ives vocal maration visit http://www.neelybrucemusic.com/blogs/blog7.htm
Commission 2006 by Ruby Fulton "The Slow Revolution"
This commission was supported by an Encore Grant from The American Composers Forum. The grant is to encourage ensembles to work with composers and to help pay some of the costs associated with concert production. We were able to present the piece in Hartford, CT, Baltimore, MD and Farmington, ME as a result. And to also add an interesting new piece to the String Quartet Repertoire. Inspired by a story on NPR, the Slow Revolution has come about by the pace of modern life, and one mans attempt to slow down and enjoy the things that really matter in his life. The piece is in three movements: Slow Panic, Inyourfacenessigheit (translated very very much in your face), Inner Tortoise.
Now Watch Me Become a Film by Dylan Marko Bell
Music by Ryan Jesperson. The film is based on Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron". Watch at http://www.ryanjesperson.com/film/nowwatch.html
Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival
This past summer, WESQ spent a whirlwind three weeks in Colorado at the Bravo! festival giving concerts (17 of them!), rehearsing, and enjoying the occasional hike. The quartet was delighted to perform with artists including members of the Amelia Piano Trio and the Rossetti String Quartet, as well as solo artists Eugenia Zukerman, Jennifer Koh, and Stefan Milenkovich, among others. Performing highlights from the festival include Mendelssohn's Octet in E-flat, op. 20, Dvorak's Serenade for Strings, and Debussy's Quartet in g minor, op. 10.
Please contact us at westendstringquartet@yahoo.com.