77TH SEASON OF

CONCERTS

national gallery of art | december 2, 2018
Carolina Eyck, composer and theremin

American Contemporary Music Ensemble 

Clarice Jensen, cello and artistic director 

Ben Russell, violin 

Keats Dieffenbach, violin 

Isabel Hagen, viola 

December 2, 2018 | 3:30

West Building, West Garden Court

Bryce Dessner (b. 1976)

Little Blue Something

Carolina Eyck (b. 1987)

Music on a Painting

Carolina Eyck

Delphic

Carolina Eyck

Elephant in Green

Carolina Eyck

Soliloquy

Carolina Eyck

Woods

Carolina Eyck

Fantasias for Theremin and 

String Quartet

Oakunar Lynntuja (Strange Birds)

Leyohmi (Luminescence)

Nukkuva Luohla (Sleepy Dragon)

Metsa Happa (Jumping River)

Dappa Solarjos (Dappled Sunlight)

Nousta/Needad (Ascent/ Descent)

PROGRAM THE MUSICIANS

Carolina Eyck

German-born performer and composer Carolina Eyck is widely considered the world’s 

foremost theremin virtuosa. A childhood prodigy, Eyck developed an innovative 

theremin technique by age fourteen and three years later published The Art of Playing 

the Theremin, which teaches her technique.

As a soloist and chamber musician she has given concerts worldwide and collaborated with Heinz Holliger, Robert Kolinsky, and Gerhard Oppitz; conductors Andrey 

Boreyko, Michael Sanderling, Gürer Aykal, and John Storgårds; and the Berlin Radio 

Symphony Orchestra, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Dresden Philharmonic, Bern Symphony 

Orchestra, Essen Philharmonic Orchestra, Lapland Chamber Orchestra, Heidelberg 

Symphonic Orchestra, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, and American Contemporary 

Music Ensemble.

In 2012, Eyck played the theremin solo in the world premieres of two symphonies 

by Fazil Say — Mesopotamia and Universe. Also that year, Finnish composer Kalevi Aho 

wrote a theremin concerto for Eyck, her recording of which was released by BIS Records 

in July 2014. The recording later received a 2015 ECHO-Classic prize in Germany for 

“Concert Recording of the Year (Music 20./21.Century).” Eyck has performed in a duo 

with pianist and composer Christopher Tarnow since 2013, producing two records, 

one for Butterscotch Records and one for Germany’s Genuine label. In October 2016, 

Eyck and the American Contemporary Music Ensemble released Fantasias for Theremin and String Quartet, composed by Eyck.

American Contemporary Music Ensemble

The American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME), led by Artistic Director Clarice 

Jensen, was honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers 

during its 10th anniversary season in 2015 for the “virtuosity, passion, and commitment 

with which it performs and champions American composers.” NPR has called the 

group “contemporary music dynamos,” and the New York Times has described ACME’s 

performances as “vital,” “brilliant,” and “electrifying.”

ACME’s recordings appear on the Deutsche Grammophon, New World, Butterscotch, 

and New Amsterdam labels. The group released its first portrait album on Sono Luminus 

in 2017, featuring music by members Caroline Shaw, Timo Andres, and Caleb Burhans, 

plus John Luther Adams. The Strad raved, “Warmth and care are fully evident in the 

ensemble’s immaculate, considered performances — the four composers could hardly 

wish for more committed, convincing accounts of their music.”
Notable highlights of ACME’s 2017 – 2018 season include a performance with 

Meredith Monk as part of Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival, a tour with Max 

Richter, and performances presented by the Festival of New American Music at 

Sacramento State, Kennesaw State’s Festival of New Music, the Metropolitan Museum 

of Art, and the Kennedy Center.

ACME’s dedication to new music extends across genres and has earned the group 

a reputation among both classical and rock crowds. ACME’s many collaborators have 

included the Richard Alston Dance Company, Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance, Gibney 

Dance, Jóhann Jóhannsson, actress Barbara Sukowa, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, Blonde 

Redhead, Grizzly Bear, Low, Matmos, Jeff Mangum, A Winged Victory for the Sullen, 

Roomful of Teeth, Lionheart, and Theo Bleckmann. The group has performed at leading 

venues including New York’s Carnegie Hall, (Le) Poisson Rouge, and the Metropolitan 

Museum of Art; at BAM, Miller Theatre at Columbia University, Constellation Chicago, 

Stanford Live, UCLA, Peak Performances at Montclair State University, and Big Ears 

Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee; as well as on the international stage at the Melbourne 

Recital Hall, Sydney Opera House, the Sacrum Profanum Festival in Poland, and All 

Tomorrow’s Parties in the United Kingdom.

NGA.GOV/MUSIC

General Information

Admission to the National Gallery of Art 

and all of its programs is free of charge, 

except as noted.

The use of cameras or recording 

equipment during the performance 

is not allowed.

Please be sure that all portable electronic 

devices are turned off.

Concerts are made possible in part 

through the generosity of donors to the 

National Gallery of Art through The Circle. 

Reserved seating is available in recognition 

of their support. Please contact the 

development office at (202) 842-6450 or 

circle@nga.gov for more information.

The department of music produced 

these program notes. Copyright © 2018 

Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art, 

Washington

Cover Max Ackermann, Music of the 

Spheres (detail), 1944, National Gallery 

of Art, Washington, Gift of Jacob Kainen