Identity 02 March 2023

Douglas Boyce is a musical philosopher whose work draws on early music, literature, and aesthetic thought. These are not mere affinities for Boyce, they comprise different components of his core conviction that music can be a forum for enlightened discourse. Working with text gives him the opportunity to merge semantic and abstract expressive meaning, an expansion of possibilities. From the most conventional setting in the program, A Book of Songs, through the exploration of an unconventional instrumentation for the Byrne:Kozar Duo, and finally with Ars Poetica for spoken word poet and ensemble, Boyce explores how text can shape the sound of the music and music can frame the meaning of the text.

Texas blues/rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Ally Venable is pleased to announce that she will release Real Gone!, her latest solo effort, on March 24th via Ruf Records.

My exploration of Beethoven’s music has been a long and deeply rewarding journey. Since 2002, I have dedicated myself to performing his works extensively, including two complete cycles of the piano sonatas, the piano trio cycle, the violin sonata cycle, and all of Beethoven’s works for cello and piano. In 2015, this journey took on a new dimension when I began recording the complete 32 Piano Sonatas at Teldex Studio in Berlin. After years of commitment and artistic reflection, the recording was completed in early 2023.Over the course of these two decades, much has changed—both globally and personally. Through it all, Beethoven’s music has been a steadfast companion, shaping my artistic identity and deepening my understanding of his profound compositions.

My exploration of Beethoven’s music has been a long and deeply rewarding journey. Since 2002, I have dedicated myself to performing his works extensively, including two complete cycles of the piano sonatas, the piano trio cycle, the violin sonata cycle, and all of Beethoven’s works for cello and piano. In 2015, this journey took on a new dimension when I began recording the complete 32 Piano Sonatas at Teldex Studio in Berlin. After years of commitment and artistic reflection, the recording was completed in early 2023.Over the course of these two decades, much has changed—both globally and personally. Through it all, Beethoven’s music has been a steadfast companion, shaping my artistic identity and deepening my understanding of his profound compositions.

"El Khat make joyful clatter…everything is recycled metal, plastic or wood, all coming together in a funereal march that sounds like a huge, disgruntled anima shaking itself into life." – The Financial Times

"El Khat make joyful clatter…everything is recycled metal, plastic or wood, all coming together in a funereal march that sounds like a huge, disgruntled anima shaking itself into life." – The Financial Times