CLASSICAL
by Christopher DeLaurenti
THURSDAY 7/5
SEATTLE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL--Even if you're a diehard, memorize-the-core-repertory Classical nut, the SCMF has out-of-the-way pieces for you: Beethoven's Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano in C minor op. 1 and Dvorak's seldom-heard Sextet for Strings op. 48. The festival's only nod to new music (one piece in 50!) is Dan Coleman's Sonata in Two Acts. Coleman and the performers will discuss and preview the Sonata at 7 pm in the McKay Chapel. Lakeside School, 14050 First Ave NE, 283-8808, 8 pm, $15-$32.
GAVIN BRYARS--English composer famed for The Sinking of the Titanic and Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet speaks on collaborating with visual artists. A compelling thinker and writer, Bryars has worked with Christian Boltanski, James Hugonin, and Robert Wilson, so the trip north should be worthwhile. Vancouver Art Gallery, Fourth Floor Annex, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC, 604-662-4700, 6:30 pm, free.
FRIDAY 7/6
SEATTLE SYMPHONY--What does a jazz singer do after becoming a one-hit wonder? Gig with orchestras, of course. Bobby McFerrin conducts the Symphony in Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, Grieg's Holberg Suite, and before Beethoven's Symphony No. 4, he'll perform solo "Vocal Improvisations." Back in the late 1980s, I worked with mentally ill folks who sang, chanted, and moaned McFerrin's Don't Worry Be Happy with autistic regularity, so as long as the promised improvisations don't include that chestnut, I'll be happy. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 215-4747, 1 and 8 pm, $17-$54. Also Thurs July 5, 7:30 pm.
SATURDAY 7/7
ICICLE CREEK SUMMER FESTIVAL--This festival in lovely Leavenworth presents Dan Avshalomov, violist of the American String Quartet, pianist Eduard Zilberkant, and the Kairos Quartet leading a concert of Bach (Brandenburg Concerto No. 5), Brahms (Sonata in F minor for Viola and Piano), and Mendelssohn (Viola Quintet in B-flat major). Sleeping Lady, 7375 Icicle Road, Leavenworth, 509-548-6347 or www.icicle.org, 8 pm, $8-$16. Also Sun July 8, 2 pm.
SUNDAY 7/8
JENNIFER GOOKIN--Ah, the oboe. Which other instrument of the orchestra can sound so electronic and yet sing with such pastoral tenderness? Oboist Jennifer Gookin lectures on modern solo oboe music and plays four pieces by American composers: REEDS by Daniel Pinkham, The Moth by Becky Dale, Late June by Neil Flory, and OBOSOLO by Marilyn J. Ziffrin. Brechemin Auditorium, UW campus, 685-8384, 7 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 7/11
SEATTLE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL--Why doesn't the SCMF program more music by living composers? Aside from the aforementioned Coleman, performing Schnittke's fine Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano just doesn't cut it for new music nuts like me. This year's Festival booklet proclaims Schnittke "one of the world's greatest living composers," which, for a time, was true--until he died in 1998. Such is the lot of the contemporary composer. Also on the program: Haydn's Trio for Violin Cello and Piano, in A-flat major and Brahms' Sextet for Strings, op. 18. Don't miss the free recital of Eugene Ysaÿe's Sonata for Cello in the nearby McKay Chapel at 7 pm. Lakeside School, 14050 First Ave NE, 283-8808, 8 pm, $15-$32.
OUT OF TOWN
JUNO, RAINER MARIA: Thurs July 5, Meow Meow, Portland
MIKE DOUGHTY: Thurs July 5, Berbati's Pan, Portland
IBRAHIM FERRER, RUBEN GONZALEZ: Thurs July 5, Orpheum Theater, Vancouver, BC
FUGAZI: Fri July 6, Archie Browning Sports Centre, Victoria, BC; Sat July 7, Copeland Sports Centre, Burnaby, BC
RICHMOND FONTAINE: Fri July 6, Berbati's Pan, Portland
AIR: Fri July 6, Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
JACKIE-O MOTHERFUCKER, THE SWORDS PROJECT: Fri July 6, Blackbird, Portland
SEX MOB: Sat July 7, Berbati's Pan, Portland
JORMA KAUKONEN: Sun July 8, Aladdin Theatre, Portland
AVEO, CARISSA'S WIERD: Sun July 8, Blackbird, Portland
ANI DIFRANCO: Tues July 10, Opera House, Spokane
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD: Tues July 10, Berbati's Pan
G. LOVE AND SPECIAL SAUCE: Tues July 10, Crystal Ballroom, Portland
THE VON BONDIES, WHITE STRIPES: Tues July 10, Thekla, Olympia
DAVE WAKELING: Wed July 11, Richard's on Richards, Vancouver, BC
