Ithaca College

During a very brief trip to Russia this past week, Jorge Grossmann, assistant professor at the School of Music, attended the world premiere of his new piece “Mosoq,” performed at the Moscow Conservatory as part of a concert featuring electroacoustic works. 

A highlight of the event—sponsored by the Centre for Electroacoustic Music at Moscow Conservatory (CEAMMC)—“Mosoq” is a one-movement composition for violin, string ensemble and electronics, performed at the event by the ensemble Op. Posth.

Based on Incan eschatology (Mosoq means “time to come” in Quechua), the piece combines nine live performers with electronic sounds that were once performed by Grossmann himself, from a laptop computer.

Founded in 1999, the ensemble Op. Posth. has performed across Europe and published recordings of mainly contemporary and experimental music. The group’s artistic director, violinist Tatiana Grindenko, gained notoriety after winning first prize in the 1971 Wieniawski Competition. In partnership with her former husband, Gidon Kremer, Grindenko premiered numerous contemporary works, including 20th Century classics such as Tabula Rasa by the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

The ensemble performed Grossman’s piece to a full house in the venue’s Rachmaninov Hall. In addition to Grossmann’s work, the program included a piece by Giuseppe Giuliano (professor of composition at the “Giuseppe Verdi” Conservatory in Milan), a piece by Igor Kefalidis, (CEAMMC’s director) and several pieces by Moscow-based composers.

Grossmann's music has been performed throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe by ensembles such as the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Peruvian National Symphony, New England Philharmonic, Aspen Sinfonia, Kiev Camerata, Orquesta de la Universidad del Norte (Paraguay), Boston Musica Viva, Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Pierrot Lunaire Ensemble Wien, Da Capo Chamber Players, Seattle Chamber Players, Jack Quartet and Amernet Quartet . His works find inspiration in a wide range of subjects, from medieval music to Latin American modern art.