Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

Eighth Blackbird is a contemporary classical music ensemble that was formed in 1996 at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. The group consists of six members: Nathalie Joachim (flute), Michael J. Maccaferri (clarinet), Yvonne Lam (violin and viola), Nicholas Photinos (cello), Matthew Duvall (percussion), and Lisa Kaplan (piano). The ensemble is known for its innovative programming, virtuosic performances, and commitment to new music. The group's name is derived from the eighth stanza of Wallace Stevens' poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird," which reads: "I know noble accents / And lucid, inescapable rhythms; / But I know, too, / That the blackbird is involved / In what I know." This name reflects the ensemble's mission to explore the intersection of contemporary music and traditional classical repertoire. Eighth Blackbird's early performances were primarily in the Midwest, but the group quickly gained national recognition for its innovative programming and dynamic performances. In 1998, the ensemble won the Concert Artists Guild Competition, which led to performances at major venues across the United States, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. In 2000, Eighth Blackbird released its debut album, "eighth blackbird," which featured works by Steve Reich, Frederic Rzewski, and David Lang. The album received critical acclaim and established the ensemble as a leading interpreter of contemporary music. Over the next decade, Eighth Blackbird continued to push the boundaries of contemporary classical music, commissioning and premiering works by some of the most exciting composers of the time, including Jennifer Higdon, George Perle, and Steve Mackey. The ensemble's commitment to new music was recognized in 2008, when it was awarded the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance for its album "strange imaginary animals." In 2011, Eighth Blackbird premiered "Meanwhile," a multimedia work by composer Stephen Hartke that incorporated live music, video, and spoken word. The piece was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and was performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The ensemble also collaborated with the Chicago-based theater company Lookingglass Theatre Company on a production of "The Great Fire," a play about the 1871 Chicago fire that featured live music by Eighth Blackbird. In 2012, Eighth Blackbird released "Meanwhile," which was named one of the top classical albums of the year by The New York Times. The ensemble also won its second Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for its album "Lonely Motel: Music from Slide." In 2013, Eighth Blackbird premiered "Filament," a multimedia work by composer Bryce Dessner that incorporated live music, video, and lighting design. The piece was commissioned by the ensemble and was performed at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. "Filament" was later released as an album, which won the ensemble its third Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance in 2016. In addition to its performances and recordings, Eighth Blackbird is committed to education and outreach. The ensemble has worked with students of all ages, from elementary school to college, and has conducted masterclasses and workshops at universities and music schools across the United States.

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