Album Release Concert: John Zorn

IGNOTIUM PER IGNOTIUS (the unknown by way of the more unknown)

JACK has had a long and fruitful relationship with Zorn that goes back to 2007, and it continues to this day. Passionate and dedicated supporters of his work, they have been involved in close to 100 performances of his compositions in major venues all over the world. Zorn’s last two quartets were composed with JACK in mind.

This exciting evening features two of Zorn’s greatest masterworks—Memento Mori (with Ikue Mori as a guest soloist) and the challenging Necronomicon, Zorn’s triumphant return to the string quartet medium after a 10 year hiatus.

Memento Mori is one of Zorn’s most personal creations—a unique, hermetic work filled with hidden messages, deep lyricism, microtones, noise, and fleeting references to Alban Berg’s Lyric Suite. Composed in 1992 and dedicated to Ikue Mori, the piece takes you on a surreal journey unlike any other. For this special performance, dedicatee Ikue Mori will improvise her signature live electronics along to JACK Quartet’s dynamic interpretation of this vexing and emotional work.

Necronomicon is in five movements, and draws upon hermeticism, alchemy, magick, mysticism, and more.

This evening is a CD release concert—JACK Quartet proudly announces the long awaited release of their 2 CD set of the complete string quartets of John Zorn—available at this concert from Tzadik recordings!

Program:
MEMENTO MORI  (1992) 
with Ikue Mori electronics

NECRONOMICON (2003)
I Conjurations
II The Magus
III Thought-Forms
IV Incunabula
V Asmodeus

JACK Quartet + Shai Wosner

JACK gives a free performance with pianist Shai Wosner at New York City’s Advent Lutheran Church as part of Music Mondays NYC. The program includes JACK violinist Christopher Otto’s Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles, the artist’s contemporary rhythmic elaboration of a 16th century work by the English Renaissance composer. Wosner performs one solo piano piece, George Benjamin’s Relativity Rag, while JACK features or combines with Wosner on Henry Purcell’s Fantasy upon one note (piano quintet), Ruth Crawford Seeger’s String Quartet 1931, Wolfgang Rihm’s Interscriptum (piano quintet), Amy Williams’ Cineshapes #2, and Thomas Ades’ Piano Quintet.

Program:
Henry Purcell, Fantasy upon one note
Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet 1931
Wolfgang Rihm, Interscriptum
Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles
Amy WIlliams, Cineshapes #2
George Benjamin, Relativity Rag
Thomas Ades, Piano Quintet

Art of Elan and Art Power present JACK Quartet

Following a highly successful performance at the Birch Aquarium in May 2024, co-presented by Art of Elan and ArtPower, JACK Quartet returns to San Diego with an exciting program that features the world premiere of a new work by UC San Diego (UCSD) faculty member and composer, Rand Steiger, as well as Three Imaginary Chansons by Juri Seo. This one-night-only special event will take place in the acoustically superb Conrad Prebys Concert Hall on campus at UCSD and will offer a chance to meet the composer and musicians immediately following the performance.

Program:
Rand Steiger, New Work (World Premiere)
Juri Seo, Three Imaginary Chansons

JACK Quartet at the Mariposa Series

The neglected, though not forgotten rites of the Medieval musical arts illuminate the musical manuscript anew as JACK explores the connections of musicality and thought between European composers of the past and the voices of American music today. The mysterious Rodericus and satirical Solage are viewed anew through the lens of JACK’s own masterful arranger Christopher Otto. Meanwhile, pieces by JACK’s friends connect us to our musical forebears, using ancient harmonies, imitations, games, and secret messages as the jumping off point for unexpected journeys through magical, amorous, and dangerous tales.

Program:
Taylor Brook, Organum [2017]
Christopher Otto, Angelorum Psalat, after Rodericus [2011 / c. 1390]
Nicola Vicentino, Musica prisca caput // Madonna, il poco dolce [c. 1555]
Vicente Atria, Round-about [2024]
Austin Wulliman, Dave’s Hocket [2024]
Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles [2023 / 1594]
Taylor Brook, Phrygea [2017]
Johnny MacMillan, Songs from the Seventh Floor [2021]
Christopher Otto, Fumeux fume par fumee, after Solage [2018 / c. 1390]
Juri Seo, Three Imaginary Chansons [2024]
Taylor Brook, Ars Nova [2017]

Hancher’s 52nd Season

JACK Quartet returns to the University of Iowa for a recital at Hancher Auditorium featuring the music of John Luther Adams and Elliott Carter, presented in collaboration with the University of Iowa String Quartet Residency Program and Center for New Music. The audience will be seated in chairs on the Hadley stage looking out at the auditorium. The performers will be close-up, making their performance from the lip of the stage. Seating is accessible via ramps on either side of the stage.

Program:
John Luther Adams, Lines Made by Walking
Elliott Carter, String Quartet No. 5 (1995)

Haas in the Dark

JACK Quartet performs Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas’s third string quartet, In iij Noct, playing the piece entirely from memory and in complete darkness for both performers and audience. In iij. Noct is a unique and suggestive experience, in which darkness compels the audience to listen in a precise, determined way. 

Program:
Georg Friedrich Haas, String Quartet No. 3, In iij Noct

JACK Quartet at The New School

As the Mannes School of Music Ensemble-in-Residence, JACK Quartet will give a recital at The Auditorium at The New School. JACK Quartet's Modern Medieval program explores the connections of musicality and thought between European composers of the past and the voices of music today.

Program:
Taylor Brook, Organum [2017]
Christopher Otto, Angelorum Psalat, after Rodericus [2011 / c. 1390]
Nicola Vicentino, Musica prisca caput // Madonna, il poco dolce [c. 1555]
Vicente Atria, Round-about [2024]
Austin Wulliman, Dave’s Hocket [2024]
Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles [2023 / 1594]
Taylor Brook, Phrygea [2017]
Christopher Otto, Fumeux fume par fumee, after Solage [2018 / c. 1390]
Juri Seo, Three Imaginary Chansons [2024]
Taylor Brook, Ars Nova [2017]

This concert is free and open to the general public.

JACK Quartet Celebrates 20th Anniversary

We are thrilled to celebrate our 20th anniversary with a concert at 92NY in New York City, featuring the world premiere of a new work by Anthony Cheung, alongside music by Eduardo Aguilar, Seare Farhat, and Juri Seo, all commissioned by JACK through JACK Studio.

Program:
Eduardo Aguilar, HYPER
Seare Farhat, Aporias
Juri Seo, Three Imaginary Chansons
Anthony Cheung, Twice Removed (World Premiere)

Online streaming also available for 72 hours following the performance.

Anthony Cheung’s Twice Removed was commissioned by JACK Quartet with the support of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, 92nd Street Y, and Wigmore Hall. JACK Quartet gratefully acknowledges support provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the National Endowment for the Arts.

JACK Quartet at Potash Hill

November 4-9, JACK Quartet will be in residence at Potash Hill in Marlboro, VT, working with JACK Studio commissioned artist Anthony Cheung and 2023 - 2025 Studio Artists-in-Residence Keir GoGwilt, Ailie Ormston, and Jules Reidy.

JACK will offer a performance on November 8, co-presented with NextStage Arts Project, featuring music by Travis Laplante, Eduardo Aguilar, Seare Farhat and other JACK Studio Artists. Light refreshments will be served 45 minutes prior to the concert.

The performance is free and open to the public but reservations are required.

Album Release Concert: Travis Laplante

Composer/saxophonist Travis Laplante celebrates the release of his latest album The Golden Lock featuring Erika Dohi (piano), Charles Overton (harp), Lizzie Burns (bass), Eduardo Leandro (percussion), and Laplante (tenor saxophone). The evening will begin with three premieres of Laplante’s recent work: “String Quartet No. 1” featuring JACK Quartet, “No Distance” (for two vibraphones and four percussionists) featuring Sō Percussion, and “A Room With No Walls” featuring Erika Dohi (piano) and Laplante (saxophone). This evening promises to be a joyful and intimate night of music.

TIME:SPANS Festival

JACK Quartet returns to the annual TIME:SPANS Festival with an evening-length work by Timothy McCormack that has been developed by McCormack and JACK over the course of four years.

Program:
Timothy McCormack, your body is a volume, 2016-19

Summer for the City: Living Music Underground

Lincoln Center displays its devotion to the cultivation of the next generation of experimental canon with this summer's category-defying Living Music Underground series. Set in the uniquely cavernous acoustical space of Jaffe Drive beneath Josie Robertson Plaza, Living Music Underground features virtuosic soloists and trailblazing ensembles performing compelling programs of instrumental music at the fringes of classical, jazz, experimental, ambient, electronic and pop. The series’ curator and host, Nadia Sirota, is an acclaimed violist, conductor and Peabody Award-winning producer.

FREE! General admission: first come, first served.
Reserve tickets via Fast Track - available Monday, August 5 at 12pm.
Entrance to The Underground at Jaffe Drive is located on Columbus Ave at 62nd Street, via a sloped path.

Carnegie Hall Citywide: JACK Quartet

This July, in conjunction with Rose B. Simpson’s exhibition Seed, Carnegie Hall plans a stunning range of free outdoor concerts on the Oval Lawn of Madison Square Park as musicians take the stage. Planned in collaboration with the Cuban-born visionary composer Tania León, the program features music by American composers who redefine string quartet repertoire.

Austin Wulliman, Dave's Hocket (2024)
Caroline Shaw, Entre'acte (2011)
Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet (1931)
Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles
Gabriella Smith, Carrot Revolution (2015)

Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged!

Barbara Hannigan and JACK Quartet: John Zorn

JACK Quartet joins soprano Barbara Hannigan for a John Zorn program at the 67th Spoleto Festival in Italy. As part of the ongoing celebration of Zorn’s 70th birthday, JACK and Hannigan will be joined on stage by drummer Ches Smith, bassist Jorge Roeder, vibraphonist Sae Hashimoto and pianist Stephen Gosling, all long-time collaborators of Zorn’s .

Liber Loagaeth for soprano and string quartet
Star Catcher for soprano and piano
Ab Eo, Quod for soprano, cello, vibraphone and drums
Casting The Runes for vibraphone and piano, with improvisation by drums and bass
Pandora's Box for soprano and string quartet

JACK Quartet: Revolutions

As part of the Spoleto Festival’s Midday Concerts series, JACK brings a program featuring four American composers to the Auditorium della Stella.

Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet 1931
Gabriella Smith, Carrot Revolution
Amy Williams, Tangled Madrigal (Italian premiere)
George Lewis, String Quartet No. 4.5 Partial Truth

JACK Quartet at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

For JACK Quartet’s debut engagement at this renowned festival in southern France, they bring a concert of works that have never before been heard at Aix.

Gabriella Smith, Carrot Revolution for String Quartet
Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet 1931
Iannis Xenakis, Tetras
Amy Williams, Tangled Madrigal
George Lewis, String Quartet 4.5, “Partial Truth”

JACK Quartet + Carol McGonnell

DICMF is proud to open the 2024 iteration of Ireland’s longest-running chamber music festival with an ambitious new work for clarinet and string quartet by Ann Cleare. Commissioned by DICMF, with funds from The Arts Council, the work takes its inspiration from the iconic surroundings of Dublin’s Richmond Barracks, a building of historical importance with over 200 years of military, political and social history located in Inchicore. 

A recipient of a prestigious 2019 Ernst von Siemens Composer Prize, Ann Cleare is one of Ireland’s most celebrated and innovative compositional voices. The world première of her work will be performed by clarinettist Carol McGonnell and JACK Quartet. 

Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet 1931
Kaija Saariaho, Duft for Solo Clarinet
Juri Seo, Three Imaginary Chansons (Irish première)
Ann Cleare, Clarinet Quintet (world première) 

Bergen Festival: JACK Quartet + Yarn/Wire

JACK Quartet and Yarn/Wire present an evening of groundbreaking music, including the world premiere of music by Festival composer Øyvind Torvund. The program includes In the Clouds from 2023 and the world premiere of Torvund's String Quartets No. 1 and 2, both works composed for and performed by these two quartets.

JACK Quartet also performs works by two American 20th century icons, the avant-garde Morton Feldman and the pioneer Ruth Crawford Seeger, who is particularly known for her modernist string quartet. Yarn/Wire open the concert with Le monde des ronds et des carrés, written for them by Japanese composer Misato Mochizuki in 2015.

Misato Mochizuki, Le Monde des ronds et des carrés (The World of Circles and Squares)
Morton Feldman, Structures
Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet 1931
Øyvind Torvund, String Quartet no. 1 & 2 (World Premiere)
Øyvind Torvund, In the Clouds

Read more about Festival composer Øyvind Torvund here.

JACK Quartet + Taylor Deupree + Joseph Branciforte & Theo Bleckmann

In this greyfade label showcase, JACK Quartet, Taylor Deupree and Joseph Branciforte & Theo Bleckmann share the bill with music from their new albums.

Austin Wulliman, Dave's Hocket
Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles
Fumeux fume par fumée, after Solage
Angelorum Psalat, after Rodericus 
Christopher Otto, Selection from 3x4x5x7

Carrot Revolution: Works by Ruth Crawford Seeger, Morton Feldman, Gabriella Smith, and others

Austin Wulliman, Dave's Hocket
Gabriella Smith, Carrot Revolution for String Quartet
Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet 1931
Morton Feldman, Structures for String Quartet
Cenk Ergün, Sonare for String Quartet

Modern Medieval
JACK Quartet gives three performances at Wigmore Hall in one day - 11:30am, 3:00pm, 7:30pm

Concert 1 Program:
Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles (UK Premiere)
Amy Williams, Tangled Madrigal (UK Premiere)
Elliott Carter, String Quartet No. 1

Concert 2 Program:
Juri Seo, Three Imaginary Chansons (UK Premiere)
Johnny MacMillan, Songs From the Seventh Floor (UK Premiere)
Nicola Vicentino, Madonna il poco dolce
Vicente Atria, Roundabout (World Premiere)

Concert 3 Program:
Austin Wulliman, Dave's Hocket (UK Premiere)
Gabriella Smith, Carrot Revolution
Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet 1931
Morton Feldman, Structures
Cenk Ergün, Sonare
Liza Lim, String Creatures (UK Premiere)

Claire Chase and JACK Quartet

Renowned flutist Claire Chase and JACK Quartet premiere a new, Stanford Live commissioned piece by composer Terry Riley.

Terry Riley, Holy Liftoff (West Coast Premiere)

Co-commissioned by Stanford Live and generously supported by the Stanford Live Commissions and Programming Fund.

Art of Elan and Art Power present the JACK Quartet

Art of Elan and Art Power’s first-ever collaboration brings JACK Quartet to San Diego for an evening of music titled “Modern Medieval” at The Loft in UC San Diego, where connections of musicality and thought between European composers of the past and the voices of American music today are explored in this one-hour program.

Austin Wulliman, Dave's Hocket
Caroline Shaw, Entre'acte
Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet 1931
Morton Feldman, Structures
Gabriella Smith, Carrot Revolution

*Doors and Bar 7pm, Concert 8pm

The Kitchen Presents: Density 2036, Part XI
Claire Chase & JACK Quartet

As part of Claire Chase’s ongoing Density 2036 project, Chase and JACK Quartet perform the World Premiere of Terry Riley’s Holy Liftoff. Performances at 6pm and 8pm.

Terry Riley, Holy Liftoff (World Premiere)

Claire Chase: Density 2036, part xi is organized by Matthew Lyons, Curator, The Kitchen.

Ellen Fullman & JACK Quartet

Artists Space is pleased to present two weeks of legendary sound artist and composer Ellen Fullman's Long String Instrument, with performances on Friday evenings April 26 and May 3 and a continuous installation on view.

JACK and Fullman perform a work-in-progress on April 26.

Installation on view: Wednesday, April 24 - Friday, May 3

Melbourne Recital Centre

JACK Quartet brings two eclectic programs in one night to the Melbourne Recital Centre’s Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.

7pm: JACK Quartet – String Creatures
Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet 1931
Elliott Carter, String Quartet No.1
Liza Lim, String Creatures (Australian Premiere)

9pm: JACK Quartet – Up Late
Juri Seo, Three Imaginary Chansons (World Premiere)
Johnny MacMillan, Songs from the Seventh Floor
Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles
Caleb Burhans, Contritus
Austin Wulliman, Dave’s Hocket (World Premiere)
Gabriella Smith, Carrot Revolution

Liza Lim’s String Creatures is co-commissioned by the Lucerne Festival, Miller Theatre at Columbia University, and Melbourne Recital Centre.

Ukaria Cultural Centre

JACK Quartet’s Australian tour continues with a recital at the lush grounds of the Ukaria Cultural Center, featuring music by Liza Lim, Elliott Carter, and Nathanial Giles arranged by JACK Quartet’s Christopher Otto.

Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles
Elliott Carter, String Quartet No.1
Liza Lim, String Creatures

Liza Lim’s String Creatures is co-commissioned by the Lucerne Festival, Miller Theatre at Columbia University, and Melbourne Recital Centre.

Utzon Music 2024

For their Sydney Opera House debut, JACK Quartet pairs Johnny MacMillan’s experimental 2022 string quartet Songs from the Seventh Floor – which tips its hat to the music of the Renaissance – with music by Renaissance composers Nicola Vicentino and Nathaniel Giles reimagined by JACK Quartet's own Christopher Otto, on a program alongside a brand new work written for the JACK Quartet by American composer and pianist Amy Williams. The program comes to a close with String Creatures, written for the JACK Quartet by Australian composer Liza Lim, in which she explores the nature of string itself.

Johnny MacMillan, Songs from the Seventh Floor
Nicola Vicentino, Madonna il poco dolce
Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles
Amy Williams, Tangled Madrigal
Liza Lim, String Creatures (Australian Premiere)

Liza Lim’s String Creatures is co-commissioned by the Lucerne Festival, Miller Theatre at Columbia University, and Melbourne Recital Centre.

JACK at Mannes School of Music

As the Mannes Ensemble-in-Residence, JACK Quartet will give a recital at the Ernst C. Stiefel Hall at The New School.

Johnny MacMillan, Songs from the Seventh Floor
Christopher Otto, Miserere, after Nathaniel Giles
Elliott Carter, String Quartet no. 1

This concert is free and open to the general public. Registration required.