Including New Music and Video Art Reflecting on Hurricane Harvey, Musiqa Presents Eclectic Show

Including New Music and Video Art Reflecting on Hurricane Harvey, Musiqa Presents Eclectic Show

A still from Carrie Marie Schneider's video

THIS WEEKEND, HOUSTON’S intrepid new-music-presenting organization Musiqa continues to stretch its programming ambitions with New Dimensions in Sight & Sound (Apr. 29 and 30 at MATCH), an eclectic concert of works by composers Sky Macklay, Du Yun and Ryne Siesky — and a new music and video collaboration between Musiqa 2022 Emerging Composer Commission winner Sam Wu and socially engaged multi-disciplinary artist Carrie Marie Schneider.


It’s a challenging, provocative program, and includes several Houston-based artists.

Wu is currently pursuing his DMA in composition at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, and Schneider has been an active part of Houston’s socially engaged art and performance world for some time now. Their collaboration, Weather Models, was commissioned by Musiqa.

The piece features an onstage, kinetic video installation by Schneider. The footage, recorded from 2017 to 2021, finds Houstonians creating miniature, symbolic weather events inside fish tanks and other containers with plastic dolls and other objects — a sort of hands-on therapeutic activity to address the trauma of Hurricane Harvey and climate change.

The music Wu has composed for Weather Models will “underscore the elemental nature of the subject matter,” says a Musiqa rep, and includes a part for a mezzo-soprano singing text created in collaboration with Schneider and inspired by “early language development.” In performance, the projected surface Schneider has created will rise and fall in time with the music.

Rounding out the program is Macklay’s Many Many Cadences, Du Yun’s i am my own achilles’ heel, and Siesky’s /ˈɪn/bluːm/, which was also commissioned by Musiqa. The featured musicians include violinist Mary Grace Johnson, who recently led Houston’s Kinetic Ensemble in a powerful performance of Nicky Sohn’s Home, and mezzo-soprano Jillian Krempasky.

Art + Entertainment
Wellness Pro LeBrina Jackson on Gratitude at the Holidays: It’s a ‘Reset Button for my Mind’

LeBrina Jackson

AS WE GET into the holiday season, we’re reminded of what we have, what we want and what might be lacking. As Sheryl Crow says in her song, Soak up the Sun, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you've got.” We caught up with LeBrina Jackson, owner of Escape Spa in Cypress, Texas, and learned how she tackles the holiday season with hope, love and most importantly, gratitude.

Keep ReadingShow less

Gold high-low tulle mini dress, $698, by Chloe Dao, with diamond-and-pearl necklace, diamond earrings, diamond-flower bracelet, and diamond rings, all vintage Buccellati, and Macri cuff bracelets, from $32,000, by Buccellati, all at Tenenbaum Jewelers.

IN THE WARM glow of the holidays, festive frocks, elegant resort looks and baubles from Houston’s finest jewelers take on a regal new light.

Keep ReadingShow less
Style

WHEN ENVISIONING The Marigold Club, afternoon tea was destined to be a cornerstone — a sophisticated nod to the lavish charm of Mayfair London infused with French culinary flair and a dash of Houston’s bold spirit.

Keep ReadingShow less
Food