Registration now closed

Music Appreciation

With Visiting Artist Matt Magerkurth

To gain a deeper understanding of music, one doesn’t need to obtain deep technical knowledge of music theory or production techniques. In general, a single question can enrich the listening experience of any piece: why does an artist make the choices that they do in a work? This one question can orient the listening experience of any genre or style, and can inform a new listener trying out an artist.

Matt Magerkurth is a composer and cellist dedicated to interacting with the sense of place in recorded music and live performance. In his work, he acknowledges his family roots in rural Kansas and his involvement with folk music by creating slowly developing textures as vehicles for improvisation. This process includes an unconventional approach to the cello by using the instrument like a synthesizer or a percussion instrument, using spectral techniques to highlight overtones, or chopping methods descended from bluegrass. Much of his work uses simple harmonic language, and an improviser is welcome to fill the space as they see fit.  Much of Matt’s creative work involves recording structured improvisation and building textures around it using a digital audio workstation. This workflow resulted in his debut album, Amends.

Upcoming events