Cedille Records

The American Concerto, Volume One is out tomorrow!

The album features Vijay Iyer's "Trouble", which was hailed for its "energy and dazzle" by The Wall Street Journal. yer composed "Trouble" as a response to discrimination, social struggle, and the immigrant experience. Premiered at the 2017 Ojai Music Festival, the work takes its title from Congressman John Lewis's reflection on the Montgomery Bus Boycott: "I got in trouble. It was good trouble. It was necessary trouble."

See here for more info: https://www.cedillerecords.org/albums/the-american-concerto-volume-one/

“A pianist and composer of panoramic interests” (The New York Times), Courtney Bryan composed Syzygy for Koh, the Chicago Sinfonietta, and conductor Mei-Ann Chen. Following its 2019 premiere, the Chicago Tribune hailed the work as “a triumph for composer, soloist and the Sinfonietta.” Inspired by visual artists Alma Thomas, Frida Kahlo, and Maya Lin, Syzygy celebrates women through three interconnected movements. Its title refers to the alignment of celestial bodies during an eclipse, while the music draws on influences ranging from Prokofiev and jazz to Bryan’s upbringing in the Church. Since launching The American Concerto in 2017, Koh has commissioned additional works for the project from Nina Young, Missy Mazzoli, Tyshawn Sorey, Lisa Bielawa, and Christopher Cerrone.

More information: https://www.cedillerecords.org/albums/the-american-concerto-volume-one/

Grammy Award-winning violinist Jennifer Koh’s 16th album on Cedille Records, The American Concerto, Volume One, features Vijay Iyer’s Trouble and the world premiere recording of Courtney Bryan’s Syzygy, performed with the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble conducted by Tim Weiss. The album launches a new recording series showcasing works commissioned through Koh’s The American Concerto project. A “tireless champion of new music” (The New York Times), Koh created The American Concerto, asking composers to reimagine the violin concerto for the 21st century to create works that reflect American experiences, stories, and identities.

The American Concerto, Volume One is out August 14.