Sound Series: Beyond Microtonal Music Festival featuring Ray-Kallay Duo and MikroEnsemble

Saturday, February 29, 2020, 7 p.m.

Two images. The top image is two people seated in front of electronic pianos while putting their heads down. The bottom image is seven people are standing against a blue mural, each holding a different instrument.

Pianists Vicki Ray and Aron Kallay of the Ray-Kallay Duo have given hundreds of world premieres in Los Angeles and across the country. The Ray-Kallay Duo is dedicated to expanding the sonic possibilities of the multiple keyboard concert, often using two acoustic grands, two keyboards or combinations of both. In redefining the 21st century piano duo, they also frequently include live electronics and alternate tuning systems in their programs.

MikroEnsemble is a new Finland-based contemporary music group specializing in microtonal music. The core of the ensemble’s instrumentation is formed by new instruments specifically designed for quarter-tone playing. The newest of these instruments is the quarter-tone piano, built by Otso Haapamäki in 2015. In addition, MikroEnsemble’s original instrument pallet includes a quarter-tone accordion, quarter-tone guitar, quarter-tone flute and quarter-tone clarinet, along with violin and cello.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Co-presented with Music on the Edge series of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Music

Sound Series

Sound Series is an ongoing concert series featuring internationally touring contemporary artists and bands from around the world. Learn more about our Sound Series.