Bowerbird is pleased to present Duo Tesserae with an opening set by saxophonist, Noa Even at University Lutheran Church. Noa Even, Philly-based saxophonist, opens the program with a short set of music for solo tenor saxophone. She performs her own piece, Herzl, which captures her ever-evolving relationship, a grappling of sorts, with her identity as an Israeli-American. Betsy Jolas, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, composed in 1983 as the fourth piece in a series of nine that showcases solo instruments. It was one of the first solo works to explore the capabilities of the tenor saxophone, an instrument primarily associated with jazz and pop music. Even now, over forty years later, the piece remains compelling in its modernist lyricism and idiomatic virtuosity.
Germany-based Duo Tesserae present a program exploring contemporary voices connected through Germany’s vibrant new music scene. Featuring works by Rebecca Saunders, Thuon Burtevitz, and Eric Wubbels, the concert traces distinct approaches to sound, gesture, and musical form.
Burtevitz’s richly textured sonic imagination, Saunders’ refined exploration of timbre and silence, and Wubbels’ intricate rhythmic energy reveal contrasting yet complementary perspectives on contemporary composition. Together, these works showcase an international artistic dialogue, where composers of different backgrounds have shaped and reimagined contemporary musical practice.
With its characteristic precision, clarity, and vivid sense of colour, Duo Tesserae guides audiences through a landscape of striking contrasts, inviting listeners to experience the rich diversity of contemporary musical expression.
PROGRAM
Betsy Jolas: Épisode Quatrième (1983)
Noa Even: Herzl (2021)
Thuon Burtevitz: Rabba in Sard… (2004 rev. 2015) – Mov. II & III
Rebecca Saunders: Duo (1996 rev. 1999)
Eric Wubbels: the children of fire come looking for fire (2012)
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Based in Philadelphia, Noa Even is a versatile saxophonist dedicated to the creation of new music through improvisation, composition, and close collaboration with composers. She has premiered dozens of new works, most of which were composed for her and the groups with which she has performed. Noa is a member of New Thread Quartet and duos Ogni Suono and Audra. Her recordings have been released on New Focus Recordings and Innova. Noa is Assistant Teaching Professor and Head of Woodwinds at Rowan University in New Jersey. She has taught over 80 master classes around the world and regularly participates in student composer readings. From 2017-2020, Noa served as Executive Director of Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project (CUSP), a non-profit organization she co-founded that champions new and experimental music. She was Treasurer of the North American Saxophone Alliance from 2021 through 2024. Noa is a Conn-Selmer Artist-Clinician and a Vandoren Artist. For more information, visit www.noaevenmusic.com.
Formed in 2025, Duo Tesserae (Leipzig / Dresden, Germany) brings together two specialists in contemporary music whose collaboration began in 2018. Since then, they have worked together frequently in a variety of chamber ensembles before founding the present duo. Praised for their precision, clarity, and color, the duo are dedicated to exploring the sonic language of music today. They work closely with both emerging and established composers, often unearthing hitherto undiscovered voices, and creating performances that illuminate new perspectives on sound.