Performance: Dover Quartet
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West BuildingWest Building Main Floor, West Garden Court
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No registration required
Dover Quartet. Photograph by Roy Cox.
Join us for a performance by the Grammy-nominated Dover Quartet, one of the defining string quartets of its generation. Their latest album, Woodland Songs, illuminates connections among Indigenous traditions and American musical life. Released in 2025, the album features the world-premiere recording of “Abokkoli’ Taloowa’ (Woodland Songs),” from Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. You’ll also hear Tate’s string-quartet orchestration of “Rattle Songs” by Indigenous singer-songwriter Pura Fé and Dvořák’s “American” Quartet.
Dover Quartet
Joel Link, violin
Bryan Lee, violin
Julianne Lee, viola
Camden Shaw, cello
The Dover Quartet, which takes its name from Dover Beach by fellow Curtis alumnus Samuel Barber, was formed at the Curtis Institute of Music in 2008 and further shaped by intensive study at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. In 2020, the quartet was named the inaugural Penelope P. Watkins Ensemble in Residence at the Curtis Institute, establishing a new model that brings together teaching, performance, and technology. As faculty members at the Curtis Institute, members of the Quartet help pass on the traditions that shaped them to a new generation of chamber musicians.
Program
Pura Fe: “Rattle Songs” (arr. Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate)
Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate: “Abokkoli’ Taloowa’ (Woodland Songs)”
Antonin Dvořák: String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, “American”
Concert to be performed without intermission.
Program Notes by Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha’ Tate
Rattle Songs is a suite of compositions created by the Tuscarora vocalist, Pura Fé Crescioni, for the ensemble Ulali. Pura Fé’s Tuscarora cousin, Jennifer Kreisberg, and her Maya/Apache friend, Soni Moreno are the other two vocalists of the group. In 1994, this Native trio made history when they released their album, Mahk Jchi (Our Hearts). This album is a unique work of genius, where Native songs are modernized through innovative arrangements and stunningly rich harmonies. Their work had a powerfully deep impact on my personal vision as a Native composer and I am privileged that they are my friends.
Chickasaw music is based in turtle shell shaking as our percussion for stomp dancing and social songs. The Tuscarora people share a very similar shell shaking tradition, as do most Native woodland tribes. In Rattle Songs, Ulali brought together songs from different parts of Indian Country and brilliantly couched them in traditional woodland shell shaking styles.
Camden Shaw, cellist of the Dover Quartet, also happens to be a fan of the Mahk Jchi album. Upon his discovery that I have an affinity for Ulali, he asked if I might be interested in orchestrating Rattle Songs for string quartet. My immediate acceptance and enthusiasm could not be overstated. After consulting with Pura Fé, I have created these orchestrations that are classically impressionistic in a postmodern style. I make no deliberate attempt to imitate the exact sound of rattles from the original songs; rather, I have created a new home for them in the string quartet. Pura Fé created Rattle Songs as an homage to her Native North American cousins, and it is my hope that my orchestrations create another layer of honoring our people.
Rattle Songs
1. Shanoojhee
2. Viri Kuta
3. Haweheemo
4. Grammah Easter’s Lullaby
5. For the Pepper (In Memory of Jim Pepper)
6. Women's Shuffle
7. Great Grandpa’s Banjo
From the liner notes of Mahk Jchi:
In ancient times a Tuscarora woman carried the name “Ulali” for her beautiful voice. “Ulali” is a songbird (Wood Thrush) name given to Pura Fé, Soni and Jennifer by Lawrence Dunmore of the Occaneechee band of Saponi Nation in North Carolina. “Ulali” is a First Nations women a cappella trio that sing in many styles and languages of their people of the Western Hemisphere.
Commissioning credit
Commissioned for the Dover Quartet by Curtis Institute of Music and the following co-commissioners: Arizona Friends of Chamber Music; Cal Performances, UC Berkeley; Carnegie Hall; Chamber Music Houston; Chamber Music Northwest; Chamber Music Pittsburgh; Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth; Friends of Chamber Music Denver; Kingston Chamber Music Festival; Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music; and Shriver Hall Concert Series.
