Upcoming Ainsworth show explores history of art, music

AINSWORTH — An upcoming performance from Red Cedar Chamber Music titled “Physics, Art & Music,” will delve into all three of the subject matters at the Ainsworth Opera House Friday, March 24.

The performance promises to teach audiences about the engineering of instruments over time, and showcase some of the oldest-known written music alongside other, original arrangements that seek to capture the mood of famous paintings by Monet, van Gogh, Kandinsky and Wood.

Miera Kim, Red Cedar’s executive director and violinist, said the fields of physics, art and music were intricately linked.

“I think the title says it all,” she said. “Music is not a purely aesthetic pursuit. The very scale that we think of in Western music is derived from the naturally-occurring overtone series, which is present in nature.”

The centerpiece of the performance, called “Music Through the Ages,” takes listeners on a tour of roughly the last 2,000 years of music history, accompanied by art and architecture relevant to each piece’s time.

Perhaps the most impressive arrangement prepared for the evening is called “Song of Seikilos,” which was found carved into a first-century gravestone in present-day Turkey, which was recorded in ancient Greek. It is the oldest completed, written musical composition known to exist. From there, it runs through history in the form of around 30 selections that highlight developments in composure styles and techniques.

The pieces are arranged by Red Cedar’s composer in-residence, Michael Kimber, who adapted many of them for performance on modern stringed instruments like the violin and cello.

“The Song of Seikilos … We don’t have the instruments it was played on, but (Kimber) creates an arrangement that gives listeners a sense of what that would sound like,” Kim said. “Some of it, as we move on, was written specifically for violin and string quartet, other music was written for symphony orchestras.”

Ainsworth Opera House Board Member and local historian Michael Zahs said Friday’s 7 p.m. show would come with a meal, made up of historically-accurate food from across the millennia of music featured, following the venue’s tradition of themed dinners with performances.

Those interested can RSVP by calling 319-653-6250. Tickets cost $25, paid at the door although reservations are due by Thursday, March 23, for food preparation purposes.

The show is scheduled for trips to Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Marion and Williamsburg over the next month, making the stop in Ainsworth something of an outlier. Zahs said the opera house was proud to host the group, which has now played there roughly 30 times.

“We try to do things that are not being done, other places,” he said. “This was an important place for them as it was an important place for us … we have done concerts with Red Cedar for years.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com