Don't be afraid of the style of music performed during the Prince George Conservatory of Music's latest recital.
The Avant Garde Faculty Recital goes Saturday, Jan. 11 at St. Andrew's Church at 7:30 p.m.
"Avant garde music goes beyond the boundaries of traditional music," explained Jose Delgado-Guevara, artistic director at the conservatory. "It's kind of risky to have this sort of concert because usually it's music that audiences don't want to hear but what we want to do is explain why those pieces are particularly important."
Delgado-Guevara said composers wanted to break with tradition to make a statement.
"A whole philosophical standard started after the big wars in Europe because they said previous art created before the wars didn't do anything to change humanity," said Delgado-Guevara. "Now we have to do something to change humanity so we don't repeat these atrocities."
Composers in Germany and in France took up the challenge, he added.
That's the philosophical part of the event.
The faculty, always teachers as well as performers, will also feature a different kind of performance focusing on a piece by Canadian composer Glenn Gould.
"The piece we will perform is called Idea of the North, that's just talking," said Delgado-Guevara. The piece is described as contrapuntal meditation and in its original form is hours long, so the faculty will do the five-minute introduction to give the audience a taste of the art form.
The faculty members performing will be Ariane Nelles on the flute, Shoshanna Godber on the harp, Barb Parker on piano, Delgado-Guevara on violin and Damian Dorschner, who will be singing.
"This concert will have a chat component to explain the importance of the music, what avant garde means and why the composers of that time did what they did," said Delgado-Guevara.
Admission is by donation for the concert Jan. 11 taking place at St. Andrew's Church, 3555 5th Ave.
