100 Years of Composing in America

Charles Ives (1874 – 1954) is undoubtedly the father-figure of North-American modern music. Ahead of its time, his music was innovative, daring and explorative. One of his greatest works, the Trio that opens this concert, is a reflection on the composer’s time at Yale University.

It was Ives that encouraged the late great Elliott Carter (1908 – 2012) to study composition. Carter’s short Figment II recalls fragmentarily bits of Ives’ Concord Sonata and Hallowe’en – two Ives pieces he particularly loved.

As an internationally-renowned contemporary ensemble, BCMG has premiered over 170 works from many of the world’s leading composers – including the world premiere of Carter’s last ever work, Epigrams, at the 2013 Aldeburgh Music Festival.