PRESENTS

“DRAWN ONLY ONCE”

“THE SKILL AND MUSICALITY OF THE TWO PERFORMERS (IN) DUE EAST...IS UNQUESTIONABLE.” - FANFARE MAGAZINE

Due East

ABOUT DUE EAST

DUE EAST  (Erin Lesser, flutes; Greg Beyer, percussion) actively promotes new music and seeks to expand the flute and percussion duo genre through frequent commissions and premieres. The duo has performed in China, Brazil, Europe, Canada and the USA at venues such as the Beijing Modern Music Festival, the Warsaw Crossdrumming Festival, the Banff Centre for the Arts and the SEAMUS conference. DUE EAST has given multiple performances at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and won first prize in the 2008 National Flute Association Chamber Music Competition. Their first recording, Simultaneous Worlds, is available on Albany Records. Their second recording, Drawn Only Once, is a multi-media CD/DVD now available on New Amsterdam Records. Noted critic Steve Smith gave it a rare 5.0-star rating in Time Out New York, calling it "spellbindingly beautiful."

DUE EAST has performed Alex Mincek’s Double Concerto with The Knights (Bargemusic, NYC) as well as with the Northern Illinois University New Music Ensemble.  The duo has on multiple occasions been ensemble-in-residence at the Yellow Barn Chamber Music School and Festival. 

For more information, please visit www.dueeast.net.

Hailed a “fine percussionist” in the New York Times, Greg Beyer won second-prize at the 2002 Geneva International Music Competition. Of primary importance to him is his project, ARCOMUSICAL – an endeavor that involves ethnomusicological research on the berimbau and other related musical bows, and the composition and commission of new works for this ancient instrument.  Beyer has given solo performances and masterclasses throughout the United States, Europe, South America and in China.  He is a member of Due East, Ensemble Dal Niente, and is an Associate Professor of Percussion at Northern Illinois University. Beyer endorses Pearl/Adams percussion instruments, Bosphorus cymbals, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, and Evans Drumheads.

Erin Lesser has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout world and her performances have been lauded as “superb” (New York Times) and “brilliant” (New York Concert Reivew).  She is a member of Alarm Will Sound, Argento Chamber Ensemble, Due East, Scarborough Trio, and the Wet Ink Ensemble. Festival appearances include: Shanghai Electroacoustic Music Festival, Kilkenny Music Festival, Warsaw Crossdrumming Festival, Holland Festival, Ojai Music Festival, Istanbul International Spectral Music Festival, and Aldeburgh Festival.  Lesser was a fellow of The Academy, a program run by Carnegie Hall, the Juilliard School and the Weill Music Institute.  She is an Assistant Professor of Flute at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music.  Lesser is a Pearl Flute Performing Artist.

"Due East brings a deep musicianship and stunning virtuosity to all that they play. In a single evening they travel through the raw beauty of Brazilian folk music to the intricate scores of Xenakis with an unwavering commitment.

Due East does not merely play together, they breathe as one, inspiring audiences with illuminating insight into new musical vistas."

-Seth Knopp, artistic director of Yellow Barn Music Festival, pianist of the Peabody Trio

2012-2013 PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS

Sept. 19-20 Due East heads to Yellow Barn in Putney, Vermont, for the second visit of the project, “Cycles of Time and Place.”

Oct. 26 Featured performers on UMBC Livewire Festival of New Music. Baltimore, Maryland

Nov. 30 Performance of Alexis Bacon’s “an American Songbook” at Concord Community HS. Elkhart, Indiana.

Dec 1 Performance of Alexis Bacon’s “An American Songbook” at Amish community center in Berne, Indiana.

Dec 17-18 Due East returns to the Yellow Barn in Putney, Vermont, for the second visit of the project, “Cycles of Time and Place.”

Mar 8 Due East premieres Alexandre Lunsqui’s Ubehebe with Lawrence University Wind Ensemble at Lawrence University.

Mar 22 Due East gives national performance of Alexandre Lunsqui’s Ubehebe at CBDNA 2013, Greensboro, NC.

April 1-2 Due East returns to the Yellow Barn in Putney, Vermont, for the third visit of the project, “Cycles of Time and Place.”

June 26 Due East premieres new works by Chicago Composer’s Consortium, Chicago, IL.

July 9-13 Due East performs at the Nancy Zeltsman Marimba Festival, Arcata, CA.

DUE EAST PROGRAMS

A wide array of possibilities fuels the ideas behind our varied Due East program options. Whether it is an entire program of new commissions, or music that showcases

flute and drum traditions from around the world, a Due East performance always provides a virtuosic performance and an enthusiasm that is sure to connect with

audiences.

“Ritual Music”This program draws upon the primitive and ritualistic natures of the flute and the

drum.

Amy Williams - CineshapeTao Yu- Hua Da

Giacinto Scelsi- HyksosKarlheinz Stockhausen - Tierkreis

Iannis Xenakis = DmaathenLejaren Hiller - An Apotheosis of Archaeopteryx

“The Global Economy”Flute and percussion music has roots in practically every culture worldwide. This

program highlights how contemporary composers from around the globe have drawn upon different cultural traditions when writing for this combination of instruments.

Tao Yu - Hua DaJoe Harchanko - West

Frank Denyer- Contained in a Strange GardenAlejandro Rutty – Simultaneous Worlds

Alexandre Lunsqui - LigareAlejandro Viñao - Formas del viento

“Loops”An energetic program that looks at the rhythmic possibilities of flute and drums.

Many of these composers have been influenced by popular music, electronica and jazz.

Bernhard Lang – Difference/Repetition #21David Lang – Lend/Lease

Philippe Hurel Loops 1,2,3,4Graham Fitkin – Frame

Alejandro Rutty – Simultaneous WorldsGreg Beyer – Bahian Counterpoint

“Songs of Earth and Sky”From Argentinian composer Alejandro Viñao’s work based on “forms of the wind” to Robert

Beaser’s beautiful settings of American folksongs to Alexis Bacon’s use of a texas cattle auctioneer’s speech patterns, this program draws upon truly unique folk idioms and

traditions.

Alejandro Viñao - Formas del vientoGarreth Farr - Snapshots of Asia Robert Beaser - Mountain Songs

Traditional Brazilian SongsJohn Allemeier – Songs of Earth and SkyWen Deqing – The Shepherd Boy’s Flute

Alexis Bacon – Cowboy Song

Electro-Acoustic and Multimedia ProgramsDue East has many works that utilize live electronics, surround sound audio, tape parts and

video art.

Jeff Herriot - Dissipation of a Thought… for flute, percussion and max/MSP

John Supko – Littoral for flute, percussion and surround sound audio playbackWith commissioned video art by Kristine Marx

Joe Harchanko – West for flute, berimbau and max/MSP

Javier Alvarez – Temezcal for maracas and tape

Paolo Aralla - Karos for alto flute and live electronics

Russell Pinkston – Lizamander for flute and max/MSP

Greg Beyer – Bahian Counterpoint for berimbaus and tape

SELECTED DUO REPERTOIRE LIST

Double Concerto (2009)* Alex Mincek (b. 1975)Difference/Repetition #21 (2009)* Bernhard Lang (b. 1959)lend/lease (2008) David Lang (b. 1957)Formas del viento (2008)* Alejandro Viñao (b. 1951)Simultaneous Worlds (2008)* Alejandro Rutty (b.1967)Topographia Index 2 (2008) Alexandre Lunsqui (b. 1969)Dissipation of a Thought…(2008)* Jeff Herriott (b.1972) Xayāl (2008)* Alexander Ness (b. 1983)Recall Coordinator (2008)* James Romig (b. 1971)Temper Mutations (2008)* Carl Schimmel (b. 1975)Two Duos (2008)* Mark Engebretson (b. 1964) Songs of Earth and Sky (2008)* John Allemeier (b. 1970)Ilta (2008)* David Maki (b. 1966)Littoral (2006)* John Supko (b.1980)The Pilgrim (2006)* Ben Wahlund (b. 1977)West (2006)* Joe Harchanko (b. 1971)Ligare (2004)* Alexandre Lunsqui (b. 1969)Cineshape 1 (2003) Amy Williams (b. 1969)Hua Da (2003) Tao Yu (b. 1981)Histoire du Tango (1985) Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)This Window Makes Me Feel (2005) John Supko (b. 1980)Rhapsodia (1999) G. Bradley Bodine (b. 1960)Komposition for Flute & Percussion (1998) Isabel Mundry (b. 1963)Kembang Suling: Snapshots of Asia(1996) Gareth Farr (b.1968)Frame (1991) Graham Fitkin (b. 1963)Toward the Sea (1980) Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)An Apotheosis of Archaeopteryx(1979) Lejaren Hiller (1924-1994)Sunflowers (1976) Harvey Sollberger (b. 1938)Dmaathen (1976) Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001)Hyksos (1955) Giacinto Scelsi (1905-1988)1st Concerto for Flute & Percussion (1939) Lou Harrison (1917-2003)Recollections of the Inland Sea (1995) Tsuneya Tanabe (b. 1935)

*Works written for Due East

AWARDS AND HONORS

Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, Finalists, 2011 National Flute Association Chamber Music Competition, 1st Prize, 2008 Artists-in-Residence, Yellow Barn Chamber Music Festival, 2005

SELECTED PAST PERFORMANCES SEAMUS 2010, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN

NYCPAS 2010 Weekend of Percussion, NYU, NYC Roger Smith Hotel Chamber Music Series, NYC SEAMUS 2009, Sweetwater, Fort Wayne, IN

SCI Festival 2009, Dubuque, IA National Flute Association Convention 2009, New York City National Flute Association Convention 2008, Kansas City, MO Barge Music, NYC UNC-Greensboro New Music Festival, NC Lewis University, Arts and Ideas Performing Arts Series, IL SUNY-Oswego, Arts Kenek’t Performing Arts Series University of Campinas, Brazil University of the State of São Paulo, Brazil PASIC 2008, Austin, TX PASIC 2006, Austin, TX CrossDrumming Festival, Warsaw, Poland Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta, Canada UNC-Charlotte, NC Grinnell College, IA Tenri Cultural Center, NYC Princeton University, NJ Manhattan School of Music, NYC Southern Oregon University, OR Western Oregon University, OR Lewis and Clark College, OR Lawrence University, WI UW-Whitewater, WI New Music Festival, Western Illinois University, IL Columbia University, NYC Merkin Concert Hall, NYC Concordia College, NY PASIC 2001, Nashville, TN PASIC 2002, Columbus, OH

MISSION STATEMENT

Due East’s mission is to lead the way in establishing the flute and percussion duo as an important and respected genre for 21st Century chamber music.

We will accomplish this through:

◊ development and promotion of new and existing repertoire through collaboration with established and emerging composers

◊ concertizing on international, national, regional and local stages to offer exciting performances of these works to a wide array of audiences

◊ documentation of our work via web and media presence through video and audio recordings.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE:

Student Composer ReadingsComposer Workshops

Chamber Music MasterclassesContemporary Music ClinicsEthnomusicology Lectures

Flute MasterclassesPercussion Masterclasses

CORPORATE SUPPORT

Due East is proud to perform on Pearl Flutes and Pearl/Adams percussion instruments.

Greg has additional support from Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets and Bosphorus Cymbals.