With period instruments and an invigorating historically informed approach, the Cramer Quartet brings uncommon warmth, transparency, and texture to Classical and early Romantic repertoire as well as commissioned works that explore and expand the sound world of gut strings. The quartet’s stylish, nuanced interpretations and visionary approach to programming stimulate dialogue around old and new works, inviting audiences to listen with fresh ears. The Cramer Quartet is in the midst of Haydn: Dialogues, an ambitious multi-year cycle combining Haydn’s 68 string quartets with sixteen new commissions by American composers. This season will also include the next installment of Haydn: Dialogues, featuring the world premiere of a new work by Darian Donovan Thomas to be performed alongside Haydn’s Op. 76 string quartets.

Composer, multi-instrumentalist, and interdisciplinary artist Darian Donovan Thomas was born in San Antonio, Texas and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. He is interested in combining genres and mediums into a singular vocabulary that can express ideas about intersectionality (of medium and identity). Necessarily, he is interested in redacting all barriers to entry that have existed at the gates of any genre - this vocabulary of multiplicity will be intersectional, and therefore all-inclusive. Darian has been commissioned by YOSA (the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio), Bang on a Can’s summer festival Banglewood, percussionists at Bard College Conservatory, Sam Houston State University, among others. His music has been premiered by So Percussion, YOSA, Bang on a Can Banglewood Fellows, SoSI Fellows, and performed in Iceland, Switzerland, Canada, and all around the United States.

Supporting Musicians: 

The Cramer Quartet
Jessica Park and Kate Goddard, historical violins,
Maren Rothfritz, historical viola
Michael Unterman, historical cello 

Your program (classical musicians): 
Haydn String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4
I. Allegro con spirito
II. Adagio

Darian Donovan Thomas "Sunrise No.277" WORLD PREMIERE

III. Menuetto - Allegro
IV. Finale: Allegro ma non troppo

*** Intermission ***

Darian Donovan Thomas Set

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