R. Murray Schafer and T’ai Chi - COC Free Concert January 9, 2008

Four Seasons String Quartet
presents

R. Murray Schafer and T’ai Chi
In celebration of the 75th birthday of R. Murray Schafer, internationally acclaimed Toronto-based violinist Mayumi Seiler is joined by COC associate concertmaster Ben Bowman, Hamburg Opera’s principal viola Naomi Seiler, Toronto cellist Rachel Mercer and Tai Chi artists to perform the powerful and richly imaginative sixth string quartet, Parting Wild Horse’s Mane. The quartet borrows its form, structure and impetus from a series of 108 movements of the Chinese martial art T’ai Chi. The flowing and rhythmic movements are reflected in the remarkable momentum and fluidity of the music, enhanced by rhythmic vigour and flights of lyricism, and underpinned by the compositional mastery and the freedom of inflection typical of the composer.

Official Website: http://www.coc.ca/performances/concerts_january08.html