Music M@A Parallels Series: The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)

Music for Invisible Places (2017) by Woytek Blecharz; 38 minutes

Pauline Oliveros: Earth Ears, a 20-minute pre-concert lobby performance with AC students. Be in the lobby by 7:45 p.m. ICE members will take questions directly after the performance from the Buckley stage.

The Music at Amherst Series continues with a performance of experimental and electronic music by members of the International Contemporary Ensemble on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m. in Buckley Recital Hall in the Arms Music Center at Amherst College, with a pre-show performance of Pauline Oliveros’ Earth Ears in the Arms lobby beginning at 7 :45 p.m.

The performance requires tickets and has general seating. Tickets may be reserved by visiting http://amherst.universitytickets.com or by calling 413/542-2195. This performance is included in the Music at Amherst subscriptions.

Music for Invisible Places, by Wojtek Blecharz, is a semi-staged and choreographed work scored for mixed chamber ensemble. A Polish-born composer, Blecharz was previously a resident of the United States—during which time he began collaborating with ICE musicians—before relocating to Germany in 2015.

Blecharz’s Music for Invisible Places makes reference to areas of our world where individuals must look within themselves—to “invisible” places—because they are forbidden to live their truest lives publicly. The work brings the voices of artists killed in Syria and Iraq to the stage via spoken word, folk instruments and ritualistic actions. The work was commissioned by ICE in 2016; over the 12 months since the project’s inception, there have been several composer-performer workshops, as well as two partial work-in-progress showings.

The box office for this performance opens on Feb. 3. Ticket prices are $18 for the general public, $12 for senior citizens and $10 for students with valid ID. For tickets and a complete listing of upcoming Music at Amherst events, please visit us on the web: http://amherst.universitytickets.com

Senior Citizens (65+) and Amherst College Employees: $12
Students with valid ID: $10
Free Student Rush tickets available in Arms lobby the night of the performance beginning one hour before showtime
Tickets are nonrefundable, and programs and dates are subject to change. Buckley Recital Hall has limited wheelchair-accessible seating.

For further information, please contact the Concert Office at (413) 542-2195 or concerts@amherst.edu.

A complete list of upcoming events can be found on the Amherst College Music Department website at www.amherst.edu/go/music.