ELIZABETH WILSON
This enterprising cellist and musicologist discusses and performs "post-Soviet" music, a handy catchall term for composers such as Arvo P...rt, Giya Kancheli, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, Petris Vasks, and others who hail from former Soviet "republics" including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. Like their Western counterparts, composers there run the stylistic gamut from traditional and folk-inflected tonality to minimalism, collage, and electronics, but Wilson plans to focus on the "Russian-Soviet influence, which can be seen more in terms of spiritual attitude than in terms of technique." Room 213 in the Music Building, UW campus, 985-7003, 7 pm, free.
UW SUMMER CONCERT BAND
Some might dismiss the symphonic band tradition (think of marching bands sitting down and playing symphonies instead of honking through "Tequila"), but brass-based ensembles usually deliver a good batch of goose bumps. Here they're playing outside, so the avant-eared should perch themselves on the walkway near the Henry Art Gallery for an unusual aural mix of traffic and tubas. Red Square in front of Kane Hall, UW campus, 685-8384, 7:30 pm, free.
FRIDAY AUGUST 20
WHOLE LOTTA NOISE!
This new performance series (which already promises to occur erratically) corrals dancers, musicians, poets, actors, filmmakers, and maybe a chef or two. Performers include the writer Willie Smith, Stephanie Skura, the deliciously disquieting Butoh of P.A.N., Puree ("an absurdist theater group dedicated to the abolition of form and rigidity in the theatrical arts"), and Tempered Steel, an experimental and electrified thumb piano ensemble featuring Ffej, the seldom-seen Frank Junk (anyone remember Utterance Tongue?), and avant guitarist Dennis Rea. LO_FI Performance Gallery, 429 B Eastlake Ave, 930-4970, 8:30 pm, $9.
SATURDAY AUGUST 21
OLYMPIC MUSIC FESTIVAL
This rustic festival continues apace with performances of chamber music for strings. On the program: Haydn's String Quartet in F Major, op. 74, no. 2, and Dvorák's Quintet in A Major for Piano and Strings. The real reason to go is Arnold Schoenberg's String Quartet No. 2 in F# minor, op. 10. The last two movements of this landmark work changed classical music forever by breaking free of tonality's gravitational pull. Also Sun Aug 22 at 2 pm. The Barn, Center Road outside of Quilcene, 527-8839, 2 pm, $12-$24.
SUNDAY AUGUST 22
CCCP
Stamp collectors know that CCCP stood for USSR, which all but obligates Seattle's CCCP (that is, the Contemporary Chamber Composers and Players) to adopt Russian constructivist graphics for their promo materials. This ensemble premieres as yet untitled works by Ryan Hare and Chris Stover as well as the sun only lives for one day by Sarah Bassingthwaighte, Brad Sherman's trio Conversations, Sasquatch for solo piano by Paul Swenson, and Christopher Shainin's Revellers for ensemble and electronics. Seattle Art Museum, 100 University St, 985-7003, 3 pm, $10/$15.
JIM CUTLER JAZZ ORCHESTRA
For big band jazz up close, go hear this group. Led by saxophonist Jim Cutler, this outfit plays old chestnuts, new charts, and an experimental number or two. Tula's, 2214 Second Ave, 443-4221, 8 pm, $5.
