Upcoming Events
Palaver Strings: i believed in magic / Gardiner, ME
I Believed in Magic addresses themes of gender, power, fear, and desire, reimagining classic favorites through an evening of bedtime stories. Throughout the evening, works by composers such as Florence Price and Mary Kouyoumdjian serve as musical scores to retold fables. Fíjate, a world premiere by Palaver’s own Teagan Faran, is a response to Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, retold from the perspective of the pursued woman. It draws on themes from the original Berlioz as well as Faran’s deep knowledge of tango idioms, relating them to Paris’s role in globalizing and exoticizing tangoian tastes during Berlioz’s time. Palaver also shares Nina Shekhar’s Above the Fray, which takes Bach’s famous prelude from Cello Suite No. 1 through transformations, degradations, and reshapings. Another premiere, Xenia St. Charles Iris Llyllyth’s Canary Resuscitator, continues the theme through ambient chorale-like references to snippets of Mozart. The title refers to the use of canaries in coal mines to warn of gas leaks as a metaphor for the US trans population, especially around issues of healthcare and wellness. This piece is intended both as a response to and a respite from the political turmoil surrounding trans rights.
Palaver Strings: inside the process / Boston, MA
Join Palaver Strings for an open rehearsal and conversation. The evening will open with excerpts from our I Believed in Magic program, giving you a window into how we work and what we're building. We'll then invite everyone in the room to rehearse Florence Price's Adoration alongside us. Expect good company, a learning experience and real conversation with ensemble and community members.
This event is FREE and open to all until capacity is reached.
Palaver Strings: i believed in magic / Portland, ME
I Believed in Magic addresses themes of gender, power, fear, and desire, reimagining classic favorites through an evening of bedtime stories. Throughout the evening, works by composers such as Florence Price and Mary Kouyoumdjian serve as musical scores to retold fables. Fíjate, a world premiere by Palaver’s own Teagan Faran, is a response to Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, retold from the perspective of the pursued woman. It draws on themes from the original Berlioz as well as Faran’s deep knowledge of tango idioms, relating them to Paris’s role in globalizing and exoticizing tangoian tastes during Berlioz’s time. Palaver also shares Nina Shekhar’s Above the Fray, which takes Bach’s famous prelude from Cello Suite No. 1 through transformations, degradations, and reshapings. Another premiere, Xenia St. Charles Iris Llyllyth’s Canary Resuscitator, continues the theme through ambient chorale-like references to snippets of Mozart. The title refers to the use of canaries in coal mines to warn of gas leaks as a metaphor for the US trans population, especially around issues of healthcare and wellness. This piece is intended both as a response to and a respite from the political turmoil surrounding trans rights.
Private for Summit only - to attend the event, you must be registered to attend the summit.
The concert is sponsored by the USM Crewe Center if the Arts.
Palaver Strings: a change is gonna come / San Francisco, CA
Featuring Grammy award-winning tenor Nicholas Phan, this program explores our country’s rich legacy of protest songs. Repertoire includes traditional songs of protest and music inspired by social movements and historical events, including Nico Muhly’s Stranger, Akenya Seymour’s Fear the Lamb, and a new commission by Errollyn Wallen. Spanning genres, eras, and movements, A Change Is Gonna Come provokes conversation, confronts our past and present, and celebrates the act of protest as one of our most precious rights.
Palaver Strings: dancing home / Cambridge, MA
Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience through the lens of dance. At the heart of this program is ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom commissioned by Palaver in 2024. Inspired by the ḥawwāsh, or lead dancer of a traditional dabke dance, this piece allows any musician to lead the ensemble at any given moment, sharing fluid leadership through physical and sonic cues.
Palaver Strings: dancing home / Portland, ME
Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience through the lens of dance. At the heart of this program is ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom commissioned by Palaver in 2024. Inspired by the ḥawwāsh, or lead dancer of a traditional dabke dance, this piece allows any musician to lead the ensemble at any given moment, sharing fluid leadership through physical and sonic cues.
Palaver Strings: dancing home / Scarborough, ME
Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience through the lens of dance. At the heart of this program is ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom commissioned by Palaver in 2024. Inspired by the ḥawwāsh, or lead dancer of a traditional dabke dance, this piece allows any musician to lead the ensemble at any given moment, sharing fluid leadership through physical and sonic cues.
Palaver Strings: apple of their eyes / Sarasota, FL
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
Palaver Strings: apple of their eyes / Miami, FL
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
Palaver Strings: apple of their eyes / Manchester, VT
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
Palaver Strings: apple of their eyes / Manhattan, NY
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
Palaver Strings: apple of their eyes / Brooklyn, NY
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
Trío Líneas: NOLA Chamber Fest, Competition Final Round
Trío Líneas visits New Orleans to compete in the Final Round of the NOLA Chamber Fest Competition.
Performing works by Elisenda Fábregas and Paul Desenne.
Palaver Strings: apple of their eyes / Portland, ME
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
Palaver Strings: apple of their eyes / Lewiston, ME
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra: Galerie Fantastique
Adalus performs with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra for their “Galerie Fantastique” program.
Palaver Gathering
Palaver Strings invites our audience and representatives from some of Portland’s integral arts and wellness organizations to join us for an evening of facilitated conversation by the incredible Krystal Williams, delicious food and drink, and music at Thompson Point’s iconic Halo at the Point.