DownEast New Music will perform "Shaker Loops," a program of vibrant and virtuosic string chamber music on Friday, July 25 at The Waldo Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Inspired by the musical technique of "looping" this program looks both forwards and back as 21st century composers reach into the past for inspiration and music from the 1970s propels forward into today.

With propulsive rhythms creating tectonic shifts, John Adams burst onto the scene in 1978 with his string septet Shaker Loops, starting him on the path to becoming one of the 21st century's most performed composers. Brilliantly combining pulsating, constant motion with gradual changes unfolding over time, this monumental piece of chamber music evokes the way landscapes are formed: small changes like tumbling rocks or bubbling brooks give way over time to mountain ranges and canyons.

In her string quartet "For Roger," violinist and composer Michelle Barzel Ross looks back to the quartets of Haydn, reflecting on the way those have shaped the way we perceive chamber music. Returning to DownEast New Music after her searing performances in 2023, Barzel Ross continues DownEast New Music's tradition of featuring composer/performers, giving audiences a sense of chamber music as a living artifact.

This program runs 60 minutes and features Robert Anemone, Michelle Barzel Ross, Lilit Hartunian (violins),Tanner Menees ( viola), Clare Monfredo and Aaron Wolff (cellos), Edward Kass (bass), and Conrad Winslow (piano).

General admission tickets are $23 in advance, $28 day of the show. Youth tickets are $12. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., Concessions will be available. To purchase tickets, and for more information about The Waldo, parking, and other upcoming events visit: thewaldotheatre.org

Special thanks to The First National Bank and First National Wealth Management as the proud Presenting Sponsor of our Summer Music Series!