New York based composer and hammer dulcimer player Dan Joseph will lead his chamber ensemble in a program of his recent ensemble works. Inspired by the early New York minimalist composer-led ensembles, Joseph seeks to expand on this tradition by exploring unique instrumental combinations, harmonically rich scoring, and a hyper-kinetic, Balkan-inspired approach to rhythm.
Built around his pusing hammer dulcimer patterns, the ensemble includes Tom Chiu (violin), Loren Dempster (cello), Marija Ilic (harpsichord), Meighan Stoops (clarinet), and Danny Tunick (percussion).
The one-hour program will include three ensemble works: Percussion and Strings (2004), Lotus Quintet (2003) and The Archaea Quartet (2001).
Based in New York City, The Dan Joseph Ensemble was founded in San Francisco in 2001 by composer and hammer dulcimer player Dan Joseph as a vehicle for his growing body of rhythmically complex, post-minimal compositions. Principle appearances include West Goes East, CalArts at The Kitchen, NYC (2005), Music Under Construction at The Construction Company, NYC (2004), Merkin Concert Hall on World Music Institute and Thomas Buckner's Interpretations series, NYC (2003), the Cooler in the Shade series at Lotus Fine Arts, NYC (2002). and the ODC Spring Music Festival, ODC Theater, San Francisco (2001).