Composers collective West 4th New Music (W4) and Contemporaneous join forces with MATA to create an evening-length oratorio inspired by Herman Melville’s classic Moby Dick. With a libretto using only text from the book itself, the composers of W4– Matt Frey, Molly Herron, Tim Hansen and Ruben Naeff– piece together an interpretation of the story that focuses on Melville’s literary themes outside of the context of a linear narrative. Each composer takes on contrasting sections, their compositions collectively exploring the story of both the danger and determination inherent in pursuing one all-consuming quest. Contemporaneous are conducted by David Bloom.
New York-based visual artist Andy Cahill creates visuals, with projections taking inspiration from visual representations of the drawings Rockwell Kent created for the 1930 Modern Library publication of Moby Dick.
West 4th New Music (W4) is a Brooklyn-based collective of composers producing innovative concerts of new music. As an organization, W4's mission is to promote contemporary composers and performers and to widen the reach of music that challenges and enriches its audience and creators.
Contemporaneous is a New York-based ensemble of nineteen musicians dedicated to performing and promoting the most exciting music of now. Through concerts, collaborations, recordings, and outreach programs, the ensemble has created a thriving community of artists and audience members united by a shared love for the best music being written in our time.
