January 28, 2009 / 7:30pm
Le Poisson Rouge / 158 Bleecker Street NYC
Groanbox
Metropolis Ensemble presents an artistic collaboration with the UK-based roots trio The Groanbox Boys
David Bruce, Composer
Michael Ward-Bergeman, Composer / Accordion
John Adams, Composer
Paul Clifford, Percussion / Freedom Boot
Cory Seznec, Acoustic Guitar / Banjo / Harmonica
Tibi Cziger, Clarinet
The Groanbox Boys, American Roots Trio
Andrew Cyr, Artistic Director / Conductor
On the Program
Michael Ward-Bergeman: Kicking Up Dust*
For freedom boot (Paul Clifford) and Metropolis Ensemble
John Adams: Gnarly Buttons
For clarinet (Tibi Cziger) and the Metropolis Ensemble
David Bruce: Groanbox*
For accordion (Michael Ward-Bergeman), roots band, and Metropolis Ensemble
Selections from Gran Bwa — Worldwide CD Release
Performance of The Groanbox Boys’ newest album, featuring Paul Clifford, Cory Seznec, and Michael Ward-Bergeman
*World Premiere Metropolis Ensemble Commission
Performers
Andrew Cyr, Artistic Director / Conductor
Paul Clifford, Percussion / Freedom Boot
Cory Seznec, Acoustic Guitar / Banjo / Harmonica
Michael Ward-Bergeman, Accordion
The Groanbox Boys, American Roots Trio
Tibi Cziger, Clarinet
Metropolis Ensemble Members in Groanbox:
Arnaud Sussmann, violin / concertmaster
Lance Suzuki, flute
James Austin Smith, oboe/english horn
Adrian Morejon, bassoon
Matthew Slotkin, guitar
Alana Vegter, horn
Jack Chou, trombone
Steve Beck, piano
Eric Huebner, keyboard
Bridget Kibbey, harp
Frank Huang, violin
Maurycy Banaszek, viola
Dane Johansen, cello
Kris Saebo, bass
Britton Matthews, percussion
Gareth Flowers, trumpet
About the Concert
Metropolis Ensemble and Artistic Director/ Conductor Andrew Cyr present an evening of artistic collaboration with the UK-based roots trio The Groanbox Boys. The concert will feature the world premiere of GROANBOX, a new work by London-based composer David Bruce for accordionist Michael Ward-Bergeman, The Groanbox Boys, and the Metropolis Ensemble.
Also on the program: Kicking Up Dust, a world premiere by Michael Ward-Bergeman featuring Paul Clifford on freedom boot and chamber orchestra; Gnarly Buttons, a folk-infused work by John Adams for clarinetist Tibi Cziger and small orchestra; and a live performance set by The Groanbox Boys for the official worldwide CD release of their latest album, Gran Bwa.
GROANBOX and Kicking Up Dust are co-comissions from the Metropolis Ensemble with major support from the Argosy Foundation. This concert is made possible by major support from the Argosy Foundation's Contemporary Music Fund. Smithsonian Magazine is a proud supporter of Metropolis Ensemble.
