A special message from Network for New Music

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the board of directors and staff of Network for New Music, I want to share a special message with you in this time of great uncertainty. If you’re like me, you’re probably feeling very stressed and maybe a little frightened as our normal work and social routines have been upended as we respond to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Consistent with the large group meeting closures, our upcoming concerts in April have been postponed. I know what a disappointment this is to our musicians and to the composers (three newly commissioned works were to be featured, by Sebastian Currier, Michael Shingo-Crawford, and Stephen Jaffe). This is especially disappointing to the staff who put so much time and effort into our events. We continue to plan for the future and look forward to sharing the music, and our excitement for it, when we are allowed to resume our activities. 

During times like this many of us will seek consolation from our families and friends. Some people will turn to books or movies, and many of us will turn to music. Although we are prevented from gathering together for a live concert, Network is committed to sharing the experience of music to help us through this difficult time. At our most recent concerts at the Discovery Center in Fairmount Park and the Icebox Project Space in Fishtown, Network featured a number of compositions that we believe have a calming and consoling effect. It’s no substitute for the experience of live music, especially the excitement of hearing new music performed live at a Network concert, but I would like to personally invite you to set aside a few minutes for yourself and sample a few of the luminous performances on our website.  

Among one of my favorites was the second movement (Alloy) from Alchemy by Jonathan Bailey Holland. It’s only five minutes, so why not take a break right now and listen closely to the choice triads created between the double-stops on the cello and the velvet tone of the alto flute. The alignment of the notes is positively Stravinskian and exquisitely arranged. Listen for how carefully the dissonances create momentary tensions that are methodically resolved.

Eventually, the tensions created by the coronavirus will also be resolved and we will be able to come together again to experience this music. In the meantime, we’ll be sharing with our personal perspectives on our work and why we love this music, including new performer profiles featuring Network musicians and links to videos of past Network performances. 

Our hope is to continue to inspire and engage you as you hear these live performances for the first time, or as a reprise, in digital form. You can also visit our website at networkfornewmusic.org and follow us on Facebook to access past seasons of amazing performances by the Network Ensemble until we meet again to create new live experiences.

Thank you for your continued interest and support of Network!

Be well,

Thomas Schuttenhelm, Artistic Director
& Network for New Music Board, Staff and Musicians