Role

:

Ensemble

Country

:

United States of America

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

Speculum Musicae is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1971 by Joel Sachs and Charles Wuorinen. The ensemble is known for its performances of contemporary classical music and has been praised for its innovative programming and virtuosic performances. Joel Sachs, a pianist and conductor, and Charles Wuorinen, a composer, met while studying at Columbia University in the late 1960s. They shared a passion for contemporary classical music and wanted to create an ensemble that would focus on performing new works by living composers. In 1971, they founded Speculum Musicae with the goal of promoting the music of their contemporaries. The ensemble's name, Speculum Musicae, is Latin for "mirror of music." This name reflects the ensemble's mission to reflect the current state of contemporary classical music and to showcase the diversity of styles and techniques being used by living composers. The founding members of Speculum Musicae included Joel Sachs on piano, Charles Wuorinen on synthesizer, and a group of talented musicians who shared their passion for contemporary classical music. Over the years, the ensemble has had many members, but its core group has remained relatively stable. These core members include Alan Feinberg on piano, Curtis Macomber on violin, and Fred Sherry on cello. Speculum Musicae has performed at many prestigious venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. The ensemble has also been featured at numerous music festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Festival d'Automne in Paris. One of the highlights of Speculum Musicae's career was its performance of Charles Wuorinen's opera, "Haroun and the Sea of Stories," at the New York City Opera in 2004. The opera, based on the novel by Salman Rushdie, was a critical and commercial success, and it showcased the ensemble's ability to perform complex and challenging contemporary works. Speculum Musicae has also been recognized for its contributions to contemporary classical music. In 1982, the ensemble was awarded the ASCAP-Chamber Music America Award for Adventurous Programming. This award recognized the ensemble's commitment to performing new and innovative works by living composers. In addition to its performances, Speculum Musicae has also recorded many albums of contemporary classical music. These recordings have been praised for their technical excellence and their ability to capture the energy and excitement of the ensemble's live performances. Speculum Musicae continues to be a leading ensemble in the world of contemporary classical music. Its commitment to performing new works by living composers has helped to shape the direction of contemporary classical music and has inspired many other musicians and ensembles to follow in its footsteps.

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