THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17

SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Gerard Schwarz conducts the band in two masterpieces, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 (with soloist Andreas Haefliger) and Bruckner's ennobling epic Symphony No. 7. Also Sat Nov 19 at 8 pm as well as Sun Nov 20 at 2 pm. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave and Union St, 215-4747, 7:30 pm, $15–$87.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18

TRANSLATIONS
Jessika Kenney sings songs written for her by composer Jarrad Powell, who is best known for his ethereal electroacoustic scores for dance. With members of Gamelan Pacifica and an all-star crew of improvisors including Eyvind Kang (viola), Tom Swafford (violin), Annie Lewandowski (accordion), and Beth Fleenor (clarinet). Also Sat Nov 19. PONCHO Concert Hall, 710 E Roy St, 325-6500, 8 pm, $7.50/$15.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19

NORTHWEST CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Aside from Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975) did any other extravagantly esteemed 20th century composer create so much uneven, overrated work? Bloated symphonies, passable film scores, and corny chamber works commingle in an abundant oeuvre that teems with superb string quartets, intrepid piano music, and a handful of smart, structurally tight symphonic works. The NWCO tackles one of his better pieces, the Piano Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet, and Orchestra, a neo-classical romp with japing parodies and a frisky Allegro con brio finale. Also on the program: Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances and Mahler's "Songs of the Wayfarer" arranged by Arnold Schoenberg. And continuing their habit of programming new music, the NWCO performs Andante and Capriccio for trumpet and strings by Allen Vizzutti, who tackles his own trumpet part. Also Sun Nov 20 at 2:30 pm. Recital Hall at Benaroya, Third Ave and Union St, 343-0445, 8 pm, $25–$35.

NOVELLO QUARTET
This well-regarded Berkeley-based quartet perform three Haydn string quartets (nos. 1, 3, and 5 from op. 50) on period instruments. Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 Third Ave W, 415-794-1100, 8 pm, $15/$20.

WATER BABIES
I keep fantasizing that some group will fuse the funky grooves of 1970s cop-show jazz with the abrupt, mind-melting segues of the mid-1970s Miles Davis groups. Plying similar yet more straight-ahead territory, Water Babies manage to bring the funk free of the usual jam-band excesses: deluded musicians who think they can create compelling extended solos, hippie dancing, and superficially avant noodling. ToST, 513 N 36th St, 547-0240, 9 pm, $6.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 21

UW CONTEMPORARY GROUP
Two cycles by local, living composers: Tom Baker's song cycle Speak scored for the unusual combination of soprano (in this performance, Emily Greenleaf), piano, clarinet, violin, cello, and vibraphone. The other cycle, Joël-François Durand's La mesure des choses I–III ("The measure of things"), focuses on solo and trio instruments. Durand's music is often spiky and astringent but laced with unexpected flashes of lyric beauty. Oh, and the UWCG can always be counted on for one golden oldie; this time it's the Webern Concerto op. 24 which scampers across more moods territory in under 10 minutes than many concertos traverse in 40. Meany Theater, UW Campus, 543-4880, 7:30 pm, $10.