Monday, March 17, 2025

7:30 PM

“How far can we enter into a single moment, such that for that brief speck of time, for an instant, unison is registered?” This is the question that Charles Curtis poses in his liner notes for Tashi Wada’s Duets (2006–2008). Duets, starkly singular in focus and scope, centers around the concept of unison, complicated by issues of very gradual glissando, of descent—a process through which rich acoustical phenomena emerge, inviting the performers and listeners to deepen their perception ever further into a single moment.

shade , illumination (2025) by Adam Zuckerman will be a new piece for solo cello, a commission and world premiere made generously possible thanks to San Diego New Music. Singular nodal points of the instrument are thoroughly explored, scanned through very gradual changes in pressures—through this process, what we may initially hear as a single acoustical structure is gently illuminated, in all of its various shadings.

About San Diego New Music:

San Diego New Music is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the public performance of notated music of the highest integrity and artistic caliber from the 20th and 21st centuries. We seek to advance the art form by promoting music composed with conceptual rigor, passionate energy and singular artistic vision. SDNM enriches the artistic culture of San Diego through the presentation of an annual concert series and the soundON Festival of Modern Music, and through fostering its resident performing ensemble, NOISE.

In 1994, the only place in San Diego where you could hear an entire concert of 20th-century music was on a college campus. San Diego New Music pitched the idea of a concert series devoted to modern music and 20th-century classics at the Athenaeum. The concerts of modern music perfectly complement the exhibitions of modern art held in the Athenaeum’s galleries. In 1996, San Diego New Music presented its first season. The series was called "Noise at the Library," and the ensemble would later adopt the name, as well. San Diego New Music and the Athenaeum have been happily co-presenting concerts of new music ever since.

For more information on the organization go to www.sandiegonewmusic.com.

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Art Center. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above. 

Ticket Confirmation Notice: 

Your reservation is not complete until you receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your tickets have not been reserved. Please check your inbox and spam/junk folder or contact us at info@ljathenaeum.org or (858) 454-5872 to ensure your booking is finalized. 

Thank you!