“American Renaissance” Comes to the North Fork

The Long Island Composers Alliance and the Namaste Clarinet Quintet of Perugia, Italy have joined together for a series of concerts in early January 2023 titled “American Renaissance,” featuring innovative new works from contemporary composers living and working on Long Island, including two concerts on the North Fork.

The North Fork concerts will be held Saturday, Jan. 7 at 3 p.m. at the Floyd Memorial Library, 539 First Street in Greenport, and Sunday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Southold Free Library, 53705 Main Road, Southold. 

A third concert on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 at 7 p.m. at the South Nassau Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 228 South Ocean Ave. in Freeport includes a holiday party at 6 p.m. sponsored by The Long Island Composers Alliance. All three concerts are free and open to the public.

The Namaste Quintet is organized by renowned clarinetist Guido Arbonelli, a longtime promoter of the contemporary clarinet repertoire. The quintet features many of his accomplished students and alumni from Italian conservatories. This touring group includes Natalia Benedetti, Mattia Rellini, Letizia Rossi and Valentina Betti Sorbelli, all accomplished performers who play various types of clarinets. 

“Contemporary music is the encounter between two minds: one of the composer and one of the performer,” says Mr. Arbonelli. “By this encounter, both are embarking on a journey of research and curiosity toward new  sounds. Namaste Clarinet Quintet wants to present these new compositions, written and dedicated especially for them.”

Since 1972 the Long Island Composers Alliance has worked to promote composers living and working on Long Island, and to bring their works to new audiences. In recent years they have collaborated with Mr. Arbonelli to bring the works of composers from New York to Italy. Now, Mr. Arbonelli is bringing their works back to an audience closer to home.

The Long Island composers whose works will be featured in these concerts include Marga Richter, Dana Richardson, Jay Anthony Gach, Catherine Neville, George Cork Maul and Edward Smaldone.

“As the world reopens, new trends in music emerge,” said LICA concert manager George Cork Maul, a composer working on the North Fork. “We hope this collaboration is the beginning of something new.”