Places We Know is a collection of pieces for digital piano trio inspired by the soundscapes of urban and rural streams, rivers, and harbors. Written by Shawn Jaeger for Longleash (Pala Garcia, John Popham, Renate Rohlfing), Places references waterways close to the homes, both past and present, of the artists, exploring the significance of the memory and presence of a place. Using field recordings of Muscota Marsh (Inwood) Red Hook Channel (Brooklyn), Beargrass Creek (Louisville, KY), Coleman Run (Nerinx, KY), and Chenoweth Run (Louisville, KY), Places invokes a specificity of “musical place,” with both direct references to distinct sonic objects (a car horn, cicadas) as well as more abstract sonic metaphors (microtonal tuning systems generated by the original soundscapes themselves). The premiere of Places on March 15 will also feature artist-created field recordings and videos, as well as a sensory library of found objects from each location. Places will be introduced by a short set of Jaeger’s songs (performed by guest mezzo-soprano Lucy Dhegrae) and a brief chat with the artists about the process of creating Places We Know.
Places We Know was made possible by the Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Program, with generous funding provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.