Friction Quartet performs Nov. 1 at Appalachian

Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 5:02 p.m.

BOONE—Friction Quartet, whose performances have been called “terribly beautiful” (San Francisco Classical Voice), “stunningly passionate” (Calgary Herald) and “chillingly effective” (San Francisco Examiner), will perform Nov. 1 at Appalachian State University.

The performance begins at 6 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Recital Hall. Admission is free.

Friction Quartet is an artist in residence at the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center and was quartet in residence with West Edge Opera in summer 2015. They are ensemble in residence with San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music for the 2015-16 season. The quartet is dedicated to expanding the string quartet repertoire and building audiences for contemporary music.

Its members are Kevin Rogers, violin, Otis Harriel, violin, Taija Warbelow, viola, and Doug Machiz, cello.

The program includes “Friction,” written for the quartet by Roger Briggs. According to the composer, “I knew I had to write a work that capitalized on their rhythmic ferocity, their fire, passion and intense focus. ‘Friction’ is a fast, single movement work exploring textural juxtapositions using two pitch collections with their inversions.”

The musicians also will perform Ben Hjertmann’s “String Quartet No. 3 ‘Within West,’” which explores tension between multiple layers of counterpoint.

The quartet also will perform “The California Crest” by Max Stoffregen, a four-part suite inspired by the composer’s hike of a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, and Andy Akiho’s “Mobile on a Stream into the Sound,” inspired by the abstract mobiles of sculptor Alexander Calder.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.