The Albany Symphony has announced the Water Music NY: More Voices Festival, a mini concert series celebrating underrepresented voices to commemorate the bicentennial of the Erie Canal’s completion.
Two-time Grammy award winners and the most ASCAP awarded orchestra in America, the Albany Symphony is highly respected and admired for their blend of classical orchestral performances, lesser-heard masterworks, and a diverse selection of works from the leading and emerging voices of this generation.
Led by Music Director David Alan Miller, the Symphony brings a world-premiere or recent composition to every single one of their performances. In addition, they host a multi-day American Music Festival that celebrates both established and emerging living composers, a family series and holiday concerts that are both an active collaboration with youth performing arts groups, and an array of award-winning education programs, including the Symphony in Our Schools program that introduces musicians to the classroom for interactive music education.
With a history of bringing new voices to light like theirs, the Albany Symphony’s newest endeavor, Water Music NY, only makes sense. Inspired by the orchestra’s original 2017 Water Music NY Festival, the project is a three-year venture expanding upon the original musical tour down the Erie Canal. Now, with more resources and bigger pictures in mind, the Symphony is uplifting underrepresented voices including those of women, immigrants, people of color, and indigenous peoples.
“We believe that by commissioning brilliant new works by some of the most compelling composers working today, and challenging them to look at the Canal through fresh eyes, the music they create will spark dialogue, expand perspectives, and energize canalside communities on what the Canal represents, and what it can become.”
– David Alan Miller
In collaboration with the New York State Canal Corporations, this fall’s Water Music NY: More Voices programming includes five free pop-up concerts, featuring small ensembles of Albany Symphony musicians and vocalists along the path of the Erie Canal, highlighting the 524 mile system’s past, present, and future.
Performances will occur at the Lock Tenders Tribute Monument in Lockport, Old Lock 36 (near Lock 17) in Little Falls, Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Fort Hunter, Waterloo (Livestream only), and the Montezuma Audubon Center at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. In addition to in person attendance, each concert will be available to view online via livestream. Featured composers Daniel Bernard Roumain, Clarice Assad, Francisco del Pino, Dai Wei, and Juhi Bansal will all have their works premiered at these venues along the Canal.
Daniel Bernard Roumain’s piece, Agrarian and Liquid, was the result of a partnership with librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph. The piece highlights the relationship between the Erie Canal and abolitionist and freedom fighter Harriet Tubman.
Francisco del Pino’s piece, Orenda, is inspired by the concepts of place and connectedness with nature through a continuous stream of motion under which things change imperceptibly over time, just as with bodies of water. Floating above the piece is a vocalist chanting words from the Oneida Nation’s motto: good mind, good heart, strong fire.
Clarice Assad’s piece and world premiere, Earth and Water, explores themes of environmental change, human progress, and the relationship between nature and civilization as it is rooted in the Erie Canal’s construction. Concepts for the composition emerged from a conversation with celebrated Mohawk storyteller, teacher, and writer Kay Olan.
Dai Wei will perform a livestream exclusive show featuring a piece exploring the journey of Chinese merchant Oong Ar Showe who adeptly navigated the social and economic landscape of 19th century America, emphasizing the key role the Erie Canal played in facilitating interregional trade.
Juhi Bansal’s piece Refuge will wrap the mini-concert series in the thriving expanse of marshes belonging to the Montezuma Wetlands Complex.
For more information on these performances and how to attend/watch virtually, please visit here.
The full list of performances is below.
Water Music NY: More Voices Festival Mini-Series Dates
Thursday, September 26, 4:00pm
Lockport Flight of Five in Lockport, NY – Lock Tenders Tribute Monument
Friday, September 27, 4:00pm
Little Falls, NY, Old Lock 36, near Lock 17
Saturday, September 28, 4:00pm
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter, NY – In partnership with New York State department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Friday, November 1, 4:00pm
Waterloo (LIVESTREAM ONLY)
Saturday, November 2, 4:00pm
Montezuma Audubon Center at Montezuma Wetlands Complex, Savannah, NY – In partnership with Montezuma Audubon Center
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