GREAT NOISE ENSEMBLE = PREMIERS + PRIZED PIECES

(PRLEAP.COM) GREAT NOISE ENSEMBLE = PREMIERS + PRIZED PIECES

Arlington, VA - Great Noise Ensemble continues their “Valiant” season with their second concert, “Premiers + Prized Pieces” on November 17, 2006 at The Charles Sumner School, on 17th and M Sts., NW, Washington, DC, at 7 PM. The Ensemble will premier, Ritornello by Armando Bayolo, The Softest Bite by Heather Figi, Chamber Concerto by Blair Goins and General Electric by D.J. Sparr.

“Premiers + Prized Pieces” draws on a wide array of influences ranging from early Baroque music through Afro-Cuban folk music and contemporary Rock and Jazz. Finished earlier this year, Bayolo’s Ritornello is a contemporary art piece that draws on the music of Baroque composer Michael Praetorius to celebrate Christmas. Through the surprising conjunction of two worlds - ethereal impressionism combined with the sensuous rhythms and warmth of Afro-Cuban music – The Softest Bite gives us an intimate glimpse of the sources of Heather Figi’s inspiration. Blair Goins’ homage to instruments in Chamber Concerto is infectiously engaging. Sparr’s General Electric, a concerto grosso for electric guitar, electric bass, synthesizer, percussion and chamber ensemble, perfectly synthesizes rock and classical traditions.

The mission of the Great Noise Ensemble is to promote the work of young, emerging talents in the field of new music from the United States with a focus on composers from the Washington DC area and to further the creation of new musical compositions, present world-class performances of masterpieces of music since 1970 and to educate audiences on the work of both established and emerging composers active in the creation of new concert music.

Past performances this season included a birthday celebration of Steve Reich and his music, the first of Great Noise’s annual Composers in Profile series and the only event honoring Steve Reich in the Washington, DC region. Other performances in the 2006-07 season will feature Great Noise’s return to familiar venues from Season One such as the Charles Sumner School and the Patricia M. Sitar Center in Washington D.C. Also in 2006-07, Great Noise is the ensemble in residence for the Washington chapter of the American Composers Forum.

Founded on the internet in the summer of 2005, The Great Noise Ensemble was formed when a call went out on craigslist.com from composer/conductor Armando Bayolo. This call was answered by seven area musicians united in their passion for new music. These seven original members then sent out a call to other like-minded artists and before long Great Noise had grown into the sixteen instrumentalists and two singers which now comprise its core membership.

For questions please contact Executive Director Kristen Benoit at info@greatnoiseensemble.com or visit http://www.greatnoisensemble.com, or http://www.myspace.com/greatnoise.