Musicology

On Sunday February 22, Colin Hochstetler, an Illinois School of Music graduate student in musicology, and Hayden Mesnick, graduate student at the University of Guelph, premiered Hayden Mesnick's piece, The Book of Fixed Stars. The evening began with a lecture by Colin and Hayden, offering insight into the composition and its cosmic inspiration. The score was recreated and projected onto the dome so the audience could see exactly how the musicians were "reading" and presenting the night sky. The evening featured four performances: The Book of Fixed Stars; an improvisation as a quartet featuring Colin, Hayden, Maxwell Miller on electronics, and Improvisers Exchange ensemble director Jason Finkelman on jawharps; a collective improvisation by the Improvisers Exchange ensemble; and a reading of Drone Piece, composed by Hayden and performed by a combined ensemble of Improvisers Exchange and accordion musicians.