In honor of the seventieth birthday of one of the most performed American composers (regardless of gender), the Cassatt String Quartet is honoring Joan Tower’s works in a birthday-tribute concert series.


The Cassatt Quartet, named after American impressionist painter Mary Cassatt, is notable in itself by being a highly acclaimed, all-woman performing ensemble, performed Tower’s Night Fields on Sept. 18th at Symphony Space in NYC. (At which concert they also gave the New York premiere of Libby Larsen’s She Wrote.) The New York times review can be found here.

Future installments include Oct. 2, where they will perform Tower’s In Memory, also at Symphony Space, and an all-Tower concert at Sarah Lawrence College on Oct. 14, playing Night Fields, In Memory, Incandescent, and Big Sky piano trio, with the composer playing piano. A final performance at Symphony Space on Oct. 16 will revisit Tower’s Incandescent and complete the birthday tribute.

If you are in the New York area be sure to find your way to one of the concerts and join the in party! The concert at Sarah Lawerence is a particular treat, especially since it is offered without an admission fee.
— By Sarah Baer

See the Symphony Space and Sarah Lawrence College sites for more information.