Whole Sol Festival

Thursday, November 16: Dark Queen Mantra

Music of Terry Riley with special guests Gyan Riley and Terry Riley

Terry Riley - G Song
Terry Riley - The Wheel & Mythic Birds Waltz
Terry Riley – Dark Queen Mantra
Performance by Terry Riley & Gyan Riley

Opening night celebrates the music of Terry Riley and the release of Del Sol’s new album, Dark Queen Mantra. The evening features Del Sol’s distinctive, off-book versions of G Song and The Wheel & Mythic Birds Waltz, performed from memory. Guitarist Gyan Riley joins Del Sol in Terry Riley’s Dark Queen Mantra. Terry Riley will also play solo and in duo with Gyan.

Del Sol violinist Benjamin Kreith shares. “As a quartet, we’ve found new energy and growth through the experience of performing Terry’s quartets off-book, by memory. As musicians, we’ve found an inspiring example — Terry has the strength to follow his own path balanced with the humility and curiosity of an eternal student.”

Friday, November 17: It’s Our Party

Special guests Gyan Riley, Theresa Wong, Daniel Wohl, and the audience uke choir!

7:30PM: Composers Talk  – don’t miss it!

Ben Johnston – String Quartet no. 10 “Brisk, Intent”
Gyan Riley – “Vernal” for String Quartet & Audience Ukulele Choir (*world premiere)
Erberk Eryilmaz – “Hoppa! 2” (*world premiere)
Theresa Wong – New work (*world premiere)
Daniel Wohl – “Shapes”, “Formless”, “Microfluctuations in Plainchant”, “Corpus”

With special audience participation in Gyan Riley’s piece for quartet and ukuleles, “It’s Our Party” features three world premieres — by young Turkish composer Erberk Eryilmaz, who brings the irresistible energy of his native folk music to the concert stage; Theresa Wong, a brilliant Berkeley-based composer/improviser, who explores the resonances of just intonation; and Gyan Riley, whose new piece for quartet features an audience-participation ukulele choir. This evening also includes electronic soundscapes and visuals by composer Daniel Wohl.

More information for the uke choir. 

Watch Maggie Perkes demonstrate how to play Vernal with her uke tutorial video.

Saturday, November 18: Kanto Kechua

Music of Gabriela Lena Frank with special guest Gabriela Lena Frank

7PM: Andean Instrument Petting Zoo with John Watts (Lobby)

Gabriela Lena Frank: Selections from “Milagros” & “Leyendas”
Gabriela Lena Frank: Zapatos de Chinca (*world premiere of viola/cello version)
Hesam Abedini: Quartet (*world premiere)
Gabriela Lena Frank: Kanto Kechua (*world premiere)
Gabriela Lena Frank: Solo piano pieces
Gabriela Lena Frank: Tres Homenajes – Compradazgo (Piano Quintet)

DESCRIPTION

Closing night features the world premiere of Kanto Kechua by the award-winning, multicultural composer Gabriela Lena Frank, whose music reflects and explores her Peruvian heritage. Frank joins Del Sol with her whirlwind piano playing, and the concert will also include her favorite Andean-inspired chamber music. Equally at home onstage with the Philadelphia Orchestra or volunteering in a rural high school, Gabriela Lena Frank embodies the ideals of musical community.

Post-Concert Celebration: Gather with fellow supporters, festival composers, and the Quartet to celebrate both the legacy and the exciting future adventures of Del Sol, along with delicious food & drink.