In this special McAndless Lecture presented by Eastern Michigan University’s Honors College Star Lecture Series, join the Formosa Quartet on a musical tour of America. From the blues to bluegrass to jazz to Motown, the Formosa Quartet will discuss the historical context behind musical selections as well as the group’s own journey in developing the American Mirror Project inspired by Derrick Skye’s work of the same name. The American Mirror Project, which examines perceptions and assumptions about American culture through the lens of music and the performing arts, seeks to hold a mirror up to America through thought-provoking and dynamic musical performances.

Haydn: String Quartet in D minor, Op. 76 No. 2 “Fifths”
A Formosa Quartet Set
—
Dvorak: String Sextet
with violist Hsin-Yun Huang and cellist Peter Wiley.

Join the Formosa Quartet at the Blaffer Museum of Art in Houston for a program featuring music by Shih-Hui Chen, Joseph Haydn, and Dvořák joined by guest artists Eunghee Cho (cello) and Amber Archibald (viola). The concert will begin with a pre-performance lecture with Nanguan theater artist Mei-Hui Wei.

We are thrilled to collaborate with award-winning composer and longtime FQ friend Shih-Hui Chen, Nanguan pipa and theater artist Mei-Hui Wei, the Asia Society Texas Center, and TECO Houston for this fascinating look into traditional Nanguan music. Audience members are invited to join the artists at a post-concert reception.

Mozart: String Quartet in D minor, K. 421
A Formosa Quartet Set
Robert Schumann: String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 41 No. 2

Mozart: String Quartet in D minor, K. 421
Robert Schumann: String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 41 No. 2

Mozart: String Quartet in D minor, K. 421
A Formosa Quartet Set
Robert Schumann: String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 41 No. 2

Portraits and Pictures

Michael Osterle: Parlour Games
Ludovico Einaudi: Canto
Derrick Skye: American Mirror, Part 2
Formosa Quartet: American Roadmap

Derrick Skye: American Mirror, Part 1
Formosa Quartet: American Roadmap
Britten: Simple Symphony

AMERICAN MIRROR

Formosa Quartet’s American Mirror program encourages our audience to examine common and sometimes narrow assumptions about American music. What defines music as “American”? What does American music sound like? What do American composers look like? This program is colored by the vivid sounds of disparate American eras and landscapes, and by the peoples who are integral to but often overlooked in American society. Some of the pieces will be drawn from well-known repertoire while others will likely be unfamiliar. Inspired by Derrick Skye’s American Mirror — a piece that represents the ongoing amalgamation of cultures in the U.S., including refugees, immigrants, enslaved peoples, and Indigenous peoples who have always called this place their home — our program takes our audience on a journey through the complex, rich history of American music, thus holding a mirror to the sound of America today.

Derrick Skye: American Mirror Part 1
Formosa Quartet: American Roadmap
Lei Liang: Gobi Gloria
Derrick Skye: American Mirror Part 2

Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 92
A Formosa Quartet Set
Dvorak: String Quartet in F major, Op. 96 “American”

Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 92
A Formosa Quartet Set
Dvorak: String Quartet in F major, Op. 96 “American”

Originally scheduled for March 2020. Program to be announced.

Program to be announced.

Dana Wilson: Hungarian Folk Songs, I. Dudatánc (A Formosa Quartet commission)
Reinhardt/Grappelli: Minor Swing (arr. Jasmine Lin)
Derrick Spiva Jr.: American Mirror, Part II
Richard Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll
Dvorak Piano Quintet in A major, Op 81

Violin│Martin Chalifour, David Chan, Wayne Lee, Cho-Liang Lin, Jasmine Lin
Viola│Che-Yen Chen, Hsin-Yun Huang
Cello│Deborah Pae, John Sharp
Bass│Peter Lloyd
Flute│Jeffrey Khaner
Oboe│Gordon Hunt
Clarinet│John Bruce Yeh, Winnie Fan
Bassoon│Stephen Paulson
Horn│Erik Ralske, Megan Hurley
Trumpet│David Washburn
Piano│Garrick Ohlsson

This event has been cancelled due to the coronavirus public health crisis.

Program:
Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 132
A Formosa Quartet Set *

*selections from FQ’s exclusive collection of world, folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements

This event has been cancelled due to the coronavirus public health crisis.

Come experience the sound of Guarneri Hall, a unique state-of-the-art space located in the Chicago loop.

Program:
Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 132
A Formosa Quartet Set *

*selections from FQ’s exclusive collection of world, folk, pop, jazz, and poetry arrangements