Wanderlust

“Between 1916 and 1970, the mass exodus of African-Americans leaving the rural South, seeking homes in the urban West, Midwest, and Northeast became known as the Great Migration. Inspired by Isabel Wilkerson’s book  The Warmth of Other Suns , I chose to bring these stories to life through the voice of a string quartet,” remarks Carlos Simon.  Arneis continues its Kaisahan Initiative delving into Simon’s musical exploration of the emotional highs and lows experienced by those who embarked on the Great Migration.  Beethoven’s String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 18 No. 6 , serves as a record of both the joy of the composer as he found confidence in writing string quartets and sadness brought on by the realization of his impending deafness.  Soprano Tony Arnold joins Arneis for Gabriela Lena Frank’s Iberian Songs which she premiered at Music at Angel Fire.  Frank draws her texts from Spanish “deep song”, which is a source of lyrics for modern-day flamenco.  Robert Schumann’s String Quartet in A minor cleverly combines his obsession with Bach with romantic brooding and soaring love songs.