Excerpt:
The Libby Gardner Hall audience for NOVA Chamber Music Series’ Connect with the West received the full ASMR sound treatment of the mating rituals of the greater-sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse in the outstanding world premiere of Lek by Nicolás Lell Benavides. Commissioned by the Fry Street Quartet, whose members serve collectively as music director for the series, Lek was thoroughly entertaining as it was enlightening.
Benavides scored the work for string quartet and electronics featuring edited recordings of these ‘thirsty’ bird species in the midst of their own natural club for hooking up. The composer recorded the birds in Utah last year. The result was a delightful, witty, appealing on-the-spot audio documentary, with plenty of live music and birdsong.
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