Shadows of Hope: Echoes of Democracy and Resilience

San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra (SFCCO) is back—just in time for Halloween, Day of the Dead, and the 2024 election! This concert is guaranteed to send chills down your spine, warm your heart, and make you ponder democracy (perhaps all in one breath). Under the baton of John Kendall Bailey, we’re bringing you an unforgettable night that straddles the line between the spooky and the sublime.

Don’t Miss This Event! Tickets are available at the door for this one-night-only performance by the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra. Be part of an unforgettable evening filled with music that challenges, inspires, and transports you across time and place.

Program:
Hussein Al-Nasrawi – New York Wonders
John Beeman – Obama: A Musical Portrait
James W. Cook – Absolute Music No. 1
Michael Cooke – Threnody for Democracy: What You Can Do
Douglas Ovens – the sound of the bell (as it leaves the bell)
Ludmila Yurina – Dead City Silence

Saturday, November 2 at 8:00pm
CMC Concert Hall
Tickets: $25 General, sliding scale available. Tickets are available at the door, cash preferred.

Ever wondered what a “Dead City” sounds like? Ludmila Yurina’s Dead City Silence will show you. A Ukrainian refugee, Yurina dedicates this haunting piece to the cities lost in the war in Ukraine. Don’t be surprised if you feel an eerie stillness as Bakhmut and Soledar come alive through music, sending shivers down your spine.

From lost cities to the city that never sleeps, Hussein Al-Nasrawi’s New York Wonders is the perfect soundtrack for your next NYC daydream. Imagine wandering from the Met to Coney Island, soundtracked by saxophones and bassoons, as you dodge the occasional pigeons (or bass trombones).

If abstract, thought-provoking music is your thing, James W. Cook’s Absolute Music No. 1 is pure sound candy. It’s a delightful piece that lets music speak for itself, no stories needed—just great sound and engaging textures for twelve talented players to bring to life.

For a more zen-like, cool experience, Douglas Ovens‘ the sound of the bell (as it leaves the bell) offers a gentle, thoughtful exploration of sound. Inspired by a Haiku, this thoughtful exploration of sound might just change how you think about percussion. Yes, it’s that deep.

And with the presidential election coming, John Beeman’s Obama: A Musical Portrait takes you on an uplifting journey through the life of one of America’s most admired figures. If you’ve ever wanted to hear Obama’s early life through the voice of a chamber orchestra, this is your chance. Just don’t expect any speeches—this one’s all music, no teleprompters.

Michael Cooke’s Threnody for Democracy, inspired by Steve Reich’s works, serves as a reminder of the ease with which democracy can be undermined and the resilience needed to preserve it. Spoiler: It involves real presidential quotes and subtle references to Gregorian chant requiems. Think of it as a musical “warning sign” just in time for the 2024 election. It’s like a haunted house, but for democracy—creepy, enlightening, and with a light at the end of the tunnel.

Learn more here

Date / Time

Saturday, 
November 2, 2024
8:00 pm
Cost: $25 General, sliding scale available

Type of Event

Performances

Location

CMC Concert Hall
544 Capp Street, San Francisco, CA 94110