Here Be Monsters
-Featuring-
Beerthoven Inc
About Giddings Remembered and Composer David Wilborn
Giddings Remembered, written by Austin native David Wilborn was premiered by Invoke at Beerthoven’s February 2024 program To Invoke History.
Conductor, composer, and trombonist David Wilborn, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, currently serves as Associate Professor of Music at Texas A&M University in College Station. Giddings Remembered is his first work for string quartet. He writes about the inspiration for the quartet,
"When I was a kid, my sister and I would visit my grandmother in Giddings (Texas) over the summer. Many times our visit would coincide with a religious revival that would take place. During the revival, there was a particular song that we would sing...When singing the song, everyone in the church would grab their neighbor's hand and sing while moving their arms rhythmically up and down to the music. I remember people singing the words with such power and conviction, and the arm movement matched the intensity of the singing. I have always wanted to try and use this melody as the focus of a new composition."
As a composer, David Wilborn's music compositions are performed and professionally recorded nationally and internationally. He is especially well known for his original compositions for low brass instruments. As a clinician and trombone soloist, Wilborn has presented sessions and performances at conference venues throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Europe.
About Invoke
Described as “...not anything but everything: Classical, Folk, Bluegrass, Americana and a sound yet to be termed seamlessly merged into a perfect one” (David Srebnik, SiriusXM Classical Producer), Invoke (Nick Montopoli, violin/banjo/vocals; Zach Matteson, violin/vocals; Karl Mitze, viola/mandolin/vocals; Geoff Manyin, cello/vocals) strives to successfully dodge even the most valiant attempts at genre classification. The multi-instrumental quartet encompasses traditions from across America, including bluegrass, Appalachian fiddle tunes, jazz, and minimalism. Fueled by their passion for storytelling, Invoke weaves all of these styles together to form a unique contemporary repertoire, featuring original works composed by and for the group.
Invoke was selected to be the Young Professional String Quartet in Residence at the University of Texas at Austin from 2016-2018. Since being selected as Interlochen’s Emerging Artists Quartet in 2014, the group has been a featured artist and on faculty at the Interlochen Adult Chamber Music Camp. In 2018, Invoke was named a winner of the Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition in New York, NY, received First Prize at the M-Prize International Chamber Arts competition in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and received First Prize in the Coltman Competition in Austin, Texas.
Invoke’s discography includes Souls in the Mud (2015), Furious Creek (2018), and Fantastic Planet (2021). Its debut release, Souls in the Mud, begins with original works that conjure images of America, including the fast-paced opening track “Travesty” and “The Trace” (inspired by bourbon whiskey). The third and title track, “Souls in the Mud,” is an American transformation of a 16th century motet featuring banjo, mandolin, and a bluegrass-influenced boot-stompin’ finale. To round out the EP, Invoke accompanies a historic recording of a haunting traditional English ballad, and finishes with two compositions by prolific American composer Danny Clay. Invoke’s second EP Furious Creek is their first record to include vocals. The title track explores the relationship between humanity and nature with an evocative chant bookending energetic instrumental interludes. A fast-paced tune, “Dogs,” spotlights the banjo with a finger-picking, bluegrass-inspired undertow, and Karl’s elegiac setting of the Walt Whitman, “O Captain! My Captain!” features Nick’s recitation. The EP closes with Invoke’s arrangement of the Stephen Foster classic, “Hard Times,” which has become a favorite closer among concert audiences. In 2019, the Austin Chamber Music Festival commissioned Invoke to compose its own original score to the 1973 French animated feature, Fantastic Planet, performed live with a small orchestra of Young Artists from the Festival’s Workshop. Invoke released Fantastic Planet, the companion album to the project, in 2021. The album features improvisation and adventurous instrumentation, including the electric cello and the igil, a horsehead fiddle from Tuva, Siberia, evoking moody electric soundscapes of the film’s futuristic setting. Invoke’s latest album, Evolve & Travel, has been released on Sono Luminus.
Invoke is strongly committed to championing diverse American voices through commissioning and highlighting new music. Invoke’s ongoing commissioning project, entitled American Postcards, asks composers to pick a time and place in American history and tell its story through the group’s unique artistry. They have commissioned eight new works since 2017, including the latest addition to the initiative, The Lessons of History, by Jonathan Bingham, which premiered in summer 2021.
About Beerthoven
The critically-acclaimed Beerthoven Concert Series is a down-to-earth, approachable celebration of classical song, chamber music, and beer; a quirky mixture of Bach and Doppelbock in unique and intimate settings. Beerthoven finds its inspiration in the musical and festive events of the Austin Saengerrunde as well as the private "salon" concerts of Beethoven's time. Beerthoven events feature live classical music, free beer, and other refreshments and snacks in an all-inclusive manner. There is no backstage here; audience members may even find themselves standing in line for beer with the performers.
Programming is intentionally diverse in tone, instrumentation, and featured performers. Beerthoven supports local artists by offering fair compensation and unique performance venues. Audience members will find our prices at the very low end of typical classical concerts--especially for students and especially given the high quality of the exbeerience.
Beerthoven recently completed its 10th Season of events in Austin! Read more about Our Story or view our Archive of past events to get a feel for our offerings.