Role

:

Ensemble

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Boston Musica Viva is a contemporary classical music ensemble that was founded in 1969 by Richard Pittman, a conductor and composer. The group was established with the aim of promoting contemporary classical music and providing a platform for new and emerging composers to showcase their work. Over the years, Boston Musica Viva has become one of the most respected and innovative contemporary music ensembles in the United States. The early years of Boston Musica Viva were marked by a series of groundbreaking performances that helped to establish the group's reputation as a leading force in contemporary classical music. In 1970, the ensemble performed a concert of works by American composers, including Elliott Carter, Milton Babbitt, and Charles Wuorinen, at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The concert was a critical success and helped to establish Boston Musica Viva as a leading advocate for contemporary American music. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Boston Musica Viva continued to push the boundaries of contemporary classical music, performing works by a wide range of composers, including John Cage, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. The group also commissioned new works from emerging composers, including John Harbison, Joan Tower, and Gunther Schuller. One of the highlights of Boston Musica Viva's early years was the premiere of John Harbison's "String Trio" in 1972. The piece was commissioned by the ensemble and was the first of many works that Harbison would write for Boston Musica Viva over the years. The group also premiered Joan Tower's "Petroushskates" in 1980, a work that has since become one of the composer's most popular and frequently performed pieces. In addition to its regular concert series, Boston Musica Viva has also been involved in a number of high-profile collaborations over the years. In 1983, the group performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a concert of works by American composers, including Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein. The concert was a critical success and helped to raise the profile of Boston Musica Viva even further. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Boston Musica Viva continued to perform and commission new works by emerging composers. The group also began to explore new technologies and multimedia in its performances, incorporating video and electronic music into its concerts. One of the highlights of Boston Musica Viva's more recent performances was the premiere of "The Seven Deadly Sins" by composer Scott Wheeler in 2014. The piece was commissioned by the ensemble and was based on the classic morality play of the same name. The performance was a critical success and helped to cement Boston Musica Viva's reputation as a leading advocate for contemporary classical music. Over the years, Boston Musica Viva has received numerous awards and accolades for its contributions to contemporary classical music. In 1990, the group was awarded the ASCAP-Chamber Music America Award for Adventurous Programming. In 2009, Boston Musica Viva was awarded the John S. Edwards Award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music by the American Music Center. Today, Boston Musica Viva continues to be a leading force in contemporary classical music, performing and commissioning new works by emerging composers and exploring new technologies and multimedia in its performances.

More....