More colors, more timbres, more palette: 45th Parallel Universe premieres new Andy Akiho composition at The Reser

The Oregon composer’s new chamber piece “Copper Variations” was featured in a concert of contemporary classical music alongside works by Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Daniel Wohl.

By Angela Allen for Oregon Arts Watch - February 7, 2025

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(...) Unlike in Seven Pillars, [Akiho] didn’t write for a ton of percussion other than vibes and glockenspiel, a 5-octave marimba, a glass bottle and snare, kick and break drums. But there was enough to feel the constant change-ups of rhythms and tones and timbres. The many moving parts were directed without fuss by Raul Gomez-Rojas, conductor of Portland’s Metropolitan Youth Symphony.

Raúl Gómez-Rojas conducting 45th Parallel Universe. Photo by Bora Yoon.

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