Farallon Quintet – January 13, 2017

Farallon Quintet
O1C Artists-in-Residence

Natalie Parker, clarinet; Dan Flanagan & Matthew Oshida, violins; Elizabeth Prior, viola; Jonah Kim, cello

Gregory Vajda Alice Etudes World Premiere
Joseph Sowa The Integrity of Clouds World Premiere
Francaix Quintet

For the second of their Artist-in-Residence series, the Farallon Quintet will perform two World Premieres, including Gregory Vajda’s Alice Etudes, inspired by the writing of Lewis Carroll. The Farallon Quintet, founded in the summer of 2012, is a dynamic Bay Area ensemble and the only professional chamber music group focused exclusively on the repertoire for clarinet quintet—string quartet plus clarinet. In addition to playing the classics, the quintet seeks to perform rarely heard works, innovative arrangements, and new music by living composers. With well over 600 existing clarinet quintets to choose from, the ensemble offers diverse and engaging programs to the general public. In addition to formal concerts, the musicians look for opportunities to present informal educational programs at such venues as schools, hospitals, museums, and retirement communities. To date, the ensemble has commissioned and premiered new works by Chad Cannon, Durwynne Hsieh, Jay Sydeman, Jose Gonzalez Granero, Peter Josheff, and Emily Onderdonk. The group takes its name from the Farallon Islands, located right off the coast of San Francisco. In addition to being a landmark location close to where the players live and work, its meaning—“pillar” or “steep rock” in Spanish—indicates the group’s vision to become an important “pillar” or “rock” in classical music by building awareness around the lesser known yet musically significant clarinet quintet repertoire. The Farallon Islands also represent the group’s inspiration which is founded in the simplicity and beauty of nature. In fact, the group is known to intersperse rehearsals with hikes in the mountains and road trips—all with the intent to discover the natural beauties of Northern California.