Beethoven's Sixth & Sō Percussion

Music by Simon, Cuong, and Beethoven
Richardson Auditorium
Get Tickets! Tickets start at $40 (50% discount for children 5-17); save with a ticket package today!

Beethoven’s pastoral sixth symphony, described by the composer as “Recollections of Country Life,” evokes scenes of nature and the serene beauty of the countryside. Carlos Simon’s lively Four Black American Dances showcases dance styles with cultural significance to Black American communities. Princeton’s own Sō Percussion performs Viet Cuong’s Re(new)al, a fascinating work inspired by the power of hydro, wind, and solar energies.

"Through a mix of consummate skill and quirky charm, this mercurial quartet has helped to ignite an explosive new enthusiasm for percussion music old and new." –The New York Times

Due to the length and type of performance, this concert is not suitable for children under the age of 5.

Photo by Anja Schütz

Program

Carlos SIMON / Four Black American Dances  
Viet CUONG / Re(new)al  
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN / Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral"


Key Notes Musical notes

  • Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and premiered in 2023.
  • Viet Cuong writes: “Re(new)al is a percussion quartet concerto that is…devoted to finding unexpected ways to breathe new life into traditional ideas, and the solo quartet therefore performs on several “found” instruments, including crystal glasses and compressed air cans. And while the piece also features more traditional instruments, such as snare drum and vibraphone, I looked for ways to either alter their sounds or find new ways to play them.”
  • Beethoven provided titles for only two of his symphonies: the “Pastoral” and the “Eroica”. The Symphony No. 6 also contains descriptive titles for each movement, giving the listener guidance as to Beethoven’s intentions.

Performers

Rossen Milanov, conductor
Sō Percussion, percussion quartet

Media

Listen to a track of Sō Percussion's recent collaborative album with Caroline Shaw: 

 

More Performances

Featuring Andrea Ross
Holiday
Orchestral
Classical
Featuring Andrea Ross
Holiday
Orchestral
Classical
Edward T. Cone Concert with Leila Josefowicz
Orchestral
Classical
Edward T. Cone Concert with Leila Josefowicz
Orchestral
Classical
Stay Up to Date: Sign up for email updates from the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and its flagship summer program the Princeton Festival.