The Santa Monica Public Library will present the ensemble Just Strings on Wednesday Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Library’s Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium at 601 Santa Monica Blvd.
The group consists of guitarist John Schneider, harpist Alison Bjorkedal, and percussionist T.J. Troy. All three are busy professionals in many musical styles and all three won Grammys as members of the Partch ensemble. Schneider also hosts the Global Village show on KPFK 90.7FM and is the author of The Contemporary Guitar (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).
Just Strings will perform compositions by Lou Harrison and John Luther Adams, as recorded on their 2015 CD. These pieces take inspiration from sources including Indian music, medieval European folk dance, Indonesian puppet theatre, and the music of the native people of Alaska, and they employ alternative tunings, which are closer to the natural harmonic series than the equal temperament used in modern Western music. These tunings, known as “just intonation,” are the source of the name “Just Strings,” but no special knowledge of acoustics is required to enjoy these thoughtful interpretations of imaginative compositions.
Learn more about the Soundwaves concert series at soundwavesnewmusic.com
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and on a first-arrival basis. The Santa Monica Public Library is wheelchair accessible. For special disabled services, call Library Administration at 310-458-8606 at least one week prior to event. For more information, visit smpl.org or contact the Santa Monica Public Library at (310) 458-8600.