On February 15, Now Musique received a Cultural Recovery Grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded.

Founded by Aaron Larget-Caplan in 2019, Now Musique is dedicated to exploring the new and neglected in music with solo and chamber music concerts being presented in Boston and beyond. 

Between August and November 2022, Now Musique presented 5 program in 8 concerts in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester. The programs featured 25 composers with many in attendance, as well as a few dead composers for balance. 

We are honored and grateful to have received the award and we look forward to celebrating through music in the near future!

http://nowmusique.com/ 

Our next concert is May 19 in Providence, Rhode Island with Grammy Nominated baritone Johnathan McCullough.

Now Musique is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas. All donations are tax deductible.

Mass Cultural Council Celebrates $51M in Cultural Sector Pandemic Recovery Grants

Funding List

2022

slight return

moments of normalcy

new artistic directions

Catching up

Dreams realized

musical Adventures

2022 By the Numbers (see below for expansion):

• Premieres: 12
• Concerts: 26 
• Espresso: 730-750 (~2 per day)
• Albums: 2 
• Cassettes: 1 
• Publications: 3 
• Collaborations: 8
• Music with electronics: 2
• Interviews & Podcasts: 8 
• Grants: 2 
• Grants Applied for: 8 
• Interviews conducted: 5
• Residencies: 2
• Classes: 12
• Streams: 2.5 million
• Amazing Street Tacos: 2 
• Pieces performed: 79

I know it’s arbitrary, but I would prefer our calendars marked the New Year in the spring, at least in to the Northern Hemisphere. That said, when I awoke on January 1, 2022 I did not know what to expect. 

My album ‘A Guitar Holiday’ was reaching people via streaming in ways I had never experienced (1-million streams to date!)

I was deep into composing what would become ‘honey cadence.’

A few concerts were on the calendar, but it did not feel like Covid had released us from its terrible grasp.

Coupled with the terror of Jan. 6, I knew I needed to focus on Art and appreciate each moment of living and creating.

I began the process of getting back to performing with classes and a concert at Framingham State University before embarking on my first tour since Covid: California!

APRIL TOUR: San Francisco State University –>Museum of Northern California Art, Chico–> Center For New Music, SF –> CSU Bakersfield –> Cal Poly Pomona –> Guitar Solo International (VIDEOS). SEE California Tour Pictures

While on the tour in California, I received news that I had been awarded a grant from the Boston Mayor’s Office for Arts & Culture to produce a series of 5 contemporary music concerts being held in my neighborhood between August and November under my series Now Musique.

Each concert brought composers to Dorchester for performances of their new lullabies and works for guitar + electronics. Read and see pictures HERE.

Upon returning to Boston, honey cadence, the first album dedicated to my own music was released. Mixed and mastered by the great Steve Hunt, I was not expecting much, as who knew if my music would touch people. Needless to say, I was happily surprised to go quickly through the first printing of CDs, and then see it was picked up on a few streaming playlists and it now has 1 million streams since its release in April!
It is my most popular album, which is a bit surreal. And no, my Mom does not do streaming.

My June concerts in Oregon began with an interview and performance on Thursdays @ Three with Christa Wessel for All Classical Portland before performing two solo programs in Portland for CDZ Musica and another at the wonderful Coaster Theatre Playhouse.

Seeing friends and walking on the beach felt like returning home. 

In June I recorded God’s Time: Music of J.S. Bach on Guitar, which was released in September. Featuring 16 of my own arrangements, it was recorded over 3 days and mixed and mastered by the wonderful Paul Averginos. The reviews have been stellar and I’m extremely proud of the album.

I set out to create a Bach album that was not like every other Bach Guitar album.

Mine would explore pieces not often played on the guitar, create new repertoire (a bit of a habit of mine), and bring a fresh voice to a couple of well known works, and I think I did that.

The responses to God’s Time have been overwhelmingly positive.

With over 300K streams since its release, I can’t wait to do another! Read and watch HERE.

One of the great difficulties of Covid was not being able to collaborate with wonderful musicians. Thankfully I had three performances with harpsichordist Frederick Jodry in Boston, Cape Cod, and Newport. Pianist John Thomas improvised over my own compositions in Provincetown – a first, and I joined Convergence Ensemble in November for three duos, two solos, and two quartets in an exhilarating concert titled Strings Galore. Libby Larsen’s Cajun Set was extra special!

I returned to Southern California in November for a series of classes and concerts. Being amongst friends and musicians for more than a day or two was inspiring extremely inspiring. I worked with students of guitarist-artist Peter Yates at UCLA, collaborated with Tom Flaherty and Buzz Gravelle at Pomona College, performed in La Jolla and Carlsbad, and ate amazing tacos!

Even while touring, I kept up with my students. In August we held our first student recital since Covid with players ranging in age of 14-62, and were gifted a wonderful Fernando Sor song with soprano Jessica Cooper.

At the end of November I kicked off my new blog series Music I Am, featuring brief interviews with inspiring and smart musicians and artists about their latest projects, inspirations, and habits. Check it out HERE.

Wishing all of you a happy and healthy year ahead. May 2023 be a year of wonderful music, exciting adventures, and Dreams Realized.

Musically,

Aaron

2022 Numbers Expanded

• Premieres: 12 – Dennis Bathory-Kitsz, Antonio Celso Ribeiro, Dean Rosenthal, Thomas L. Read, Laurie Spiegel, Ian Wiese, Aaron Larget-Caplan
• Concerts: 26 – California, Oregon, Massachusetts, which is still well below pre-covid concert numbers.
• Espresso: 730-50 (~2 per day on average) – mainly cappuccino and Cortado
• Albums: 2 – honey cadence and God’s Time: Music of J.S. Bach on Guitar
• Cassettes: 1 – Etudes Volume 1 by Petridisch 
• Publications: 3 – Bacchanale w/ Edition Peters and two Meet The Composer articles for the American Composers Alliance 
• Collaborations: Frederick Jodry – harpsichord, John Thomas – piano; Convergence Ensemble: Heidi Braun-Hill – violin, Michelle LaCourse – viola, Hyun-Ji Kwon – cello
• Music with electronics: 2 – Lainie Fefferman & Tom Flaherty
• Interviews & Podcasts: All Classical Portland, Conducting Conversations Rhode Island, All things Six Strings (2x), Just One Question, Guitaromanie, Fret Not
• Grants: 3 – Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, multiple Local Cultural Council
• Grants Applied for: 8 
• Interviews conducted: 5 – Music I Am blog series
• Residencies: 2 Kirkland Community Artist Residency, Clinton, New York • Now Musique – Dorchester, Mass.
• Classes: 12 – California, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island
• Streams: 2.5 million – Amazon and Spotify
• Teaching: In person and online with students from California, China, Georgia, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Texas.
• Amazing Street Tacos: 2 – San Francisco Korean Tacos and Los Angeles street tacos
• Pieces performed: 79 compositions by 34 living composers, including 7 chamber works, 12 world premieres, and 29 solos from the New Lullaby Project

* Now Musique Composers TL: John McDonald, Stanley Hoffman, Charles Turner, Aaron Larget-Caplan TR: Larget-Caplan, Ronald Pearl, Brian Schober, Scott Wheeler BL: Tom Flaherty, Larget-Caplan, Stefanie Lubkowski, Ian Wiese, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz BR: Anthony Green, Francine Trester, Jim Dalton, Michael Veloso, Larget-Caplan, Curtis Hughes

On Sunday November 20th at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in Dorchester, I had the pleasure of collaborating on an exciting program of chamber music for Convergence Ensemble with three wonderful musicians: violinist Heidi Braun-Hill, violist Michelle LaCourse, cellist Hyun-Ji Kwon, and myself. 

Strings Galore featured music duos with guitar for violin, viola, and cello by John Cage, Antonio Celso Ribeiro, and Thomas L. Read, as well two quartets for strings and guitar by Roland Dyens and Libby Larsen. A trio by Beethoven, and two guitar solos by Bach and yours truly rounded out the program.

Directed by Rachel Goodwin, Convergence Ensemble seeks to stimulate, support, and inspire stronger connections within and between New England communities through chamber music concerts and community enrichment programs. 

This was my first collaboration with Convergence Ensemble and the musician, and it was awesome!

Rarely do I have the pleasure of sharing 40min of chamber music, and relatively new chamber music, in a single concert. 

Huge thanks to Rachel Goodwin, Rose Hegel, and the Convergence Ensemble board for organizing the concert.

To the composers and friends Antonio Celso Ribeiro and Thomas L. Read, and to the lovely musicians who were gems to create music with.

We will be performing more, so stay tuned!

Microphone by Your Heaven Audio. Guitar strings by Hannabach

In August of this year, I kicked off a series of five concert for Now Musique: two concerts in August followed by one each month through November. Begun in 2019, Now Musique focuses on programming new and neglected music in settings in and out of the concert hall.

Thanks to a grant from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture in June 2022, I was able to program these five concerts and multiple children’s events in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester.

Four of the five programs showcased new music from the New Lullaby Project, works for electronics and guitar, solos from Spain, my Bach arrangements, and solos from honey cadence. One concert featured chamber music for harpsichord and guitar with the wonderful Frederick Jodry.

The “formal” concerts were held at 5:30pm on Thursdays at the Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library, were free for the public to attend, and included a Milk & Cookie reception.

I will be posting video and audio in the near future.

Let me know your thoughts and leave a comment below.

Aaron

PHOTO GALLERY:

Composers:
Lynn Job, Stanley Hoffman, John McDonald, Frank Warren, Charles Turner,, Ronald Pearl, Tom Nazziola, John Johnstone, Brian Schober, Scott Wheeler, Dean Rosenthal, Lainie Fefferman, Tom Flaherty, Ian Wiese, Gregory Biss, Stefanie Lubkowski, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz, Laurie Spiegel, Anthony R. Green, Jim Dalton, Michael Veloso, Curtis Hughes, Francine Trester, Vineet Shende, Larget-Caplan, J.S. Bach, Luigi Boccherini, Domenico Scarlatti, Esteban Sanlucar, and Pascual Marquina

Positives:

• Neighborhood Cultural Events – Rare to have classical music events in the neighborhood.
• 25 living composers featured with many in attendance!
• Families in attendance – the earlier time and relaxed vibe invited families to attend.
• Milk & Cookies – quite the success!
• Press – Feature in the Dorchester Reporter

Become a supporter of Now Musique by giving a tax deductible donation via Fractured Atlas

Responses From Attendees:

What a pleasure it was to attend the “Now Musique” concerts at the Upham’s Corner BPL! Aaron’s varied selection of contemporary guitar pieces is an inspired concept for a library, introducing music that entrances and intrigues, while also respecting the equilibrium of the space. – Doria Hughes

This year, I had enormous pleasure attending 3 sequels of Aaron Larget-Caplan’s “Now Musique” concert series presented in the Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library. I found these short concerts entertaining, full of musical energy, perfectly covering large spectrum of guitar music. Aaron’s introduction to presented pieces included well balanced description of music as well as snippets of music creation stories coming directly from contemporary and frequently local composers.  It was a treasure chest of fun and social interaction.
– Marek Kloczewiak

It was wonderful to have live music in the branch every month from August through November. Aaron was lovely and easy to work with. The music was fresh and interesting and the composer component was something completely unexpected, a real draw for the audience. – Georgia Titonis, Branch Librarian, Uphams Corner Branch library

I had the privilege of attending Aaron’s recent concert at the Uphams Corner Library during which he performed my “Winter Lullaby”. It was a wonderful experience to hear Aaron’s exceptional and sensitive performance of this piece as well as the others on the program, speak with audience members and meet the other composers. The ambiance and reception of those in attendance were memorable.  – Brian Schober, composer

Negatives:

• Traffic – Though aimed for people in the neighborhood, those coming into Boston during rush hour were presented quite the challenge. Greatly appreciated!
• Public Transportation – close to a commuter rail and ample bus lines, but Boston is not consistent so people were hesitant to depend on it.
• Publicity – How to reach potential audiences when attention is spread over multiple digital platforms, major newspaper are cutting back, and postering has a limited scope?
• Concert reviews – none 😢

For Next Time:

• Spread out the concerts over 8-10 months
• Include more performers
• Invite local schools to be involved
• Bring in local businesses
• Add venues in various parts of Boston and beyond

Concert Posters:

Become a supporter of Now Musique by giving a tax deductible donation via Fractured Atlas

Now Musique Composers TL: John McDonald, Stanley Hoffman, Charles Turner, Aaron Larget-Caplan TR: Larget-Caplan, Ronald Pearl, Brian Schober, Scott Wheeler BL: Tom Flaherty, Larget-Caplan, Stefanie Lubkowski, Ian Wiese, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz BR: Anthony Green, Francine Trester, Jim Dalton, Michael Veloso, Larget-Caplan, Curtis Hughes

 

A wonder of gratitude to the people who helped make my 2-weeks in Southern California a great adventure!

There is not enough room for all the pictures and pages could be written about each of the Artists and amazing people I was able to meet and collaborate with. Please see below for links to many of them.

Until the next concert,
Aaron

Here are some worth checking out in the photos:

Robert and Katherine Bender – Karob Studios

Buzz Gravelle – Cal Poly Pomona faculty and Fretless guitars

Peter Yates – Multi-media Artist, Guitarist, UCLA faculty

Adrienne Albert – Composer

Cellista – Musician & Performance Artist

Tom Flaherty – Composer, Pomona Faculty

Gisel Vincent – Artist

Some picture locations:

Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, La Jolla

Schulman Auditorium, Carlsbad

Tacos on the side of the road, Santa Monica

Lofty Coffee, Encinitas

Sunday Nov. 20 • The Convergence Ensemble presents ‘Strings Galore’ a chamber music concert.

Program
Prelude 1, BWV 846 – J.S. Bach
sweet nuance – Aaron Larget-Caplan
from Six Melodies – John Cage, Arr. Larget-Caplan
Trio – Beethoven
Three Vintage Portraits of Exquisite Ladies Expressing Their Frame of Mind – Antonio Celso Ribeiro
Concert Champêtre – Thomas L. Read,
Cajun Set – Libby Larsen  – Gringalet • French Blues • Joe Ferail (Whoop and Stomp)
Tango en Skaï – Roland Dyens, trio arr. Dyens

Musicians: guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan, violist Michelle LaCourse,
violinist Heidi Braun-Hill and cellist Hyun-Ji Kwon.

Time: 4pm
Location: St. Mary’s Church, at 14 Cushing Ave. Boston, MA, 02125
Admission: $15 suggested donation, Students Free
Information: https://www.convergenceensemble.org/

I’m very excited to be heading to Southern California for 12 days of concerts, classes, good food, and great friends. I will have CDs and publications with me 😊. I will be traveling quite a bit, so reach out if you’d like to meet for coffee or have questions about the concerts.

Aaron

Wednesday, Nov. 3 – Pomona College, Claremont – Originally scheduled for March 2020
Class – Time in contemporary music
Lecture ‘Being an Artist Entrepreneur in the 21st Century’

Saturday Nov. 5 – Pomona College, Concert 8pm (click for INFO)
Looking Bach, Listening Forward
Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music

PROGRAM
sweet nuance (2022) by Larget-Caplan
Carnatic Preludes, After J.S. Bach* (2017-2018) by Vineet Shende
No. 1 – Mayamalagovla, in Tisra jaati, Rupaka taal (after BWV 846) – VIDEO
No. 10 – Dhenuka, in Chaturasra jaati, Matya taal (after BWV 853)Chromatic Fantasy*, BWV 903 by J.S. Bach
The Legend of Hagoromo (1992) by Keigo Fujii
Steps and Leaps* (2019) for Guitar + MAX/MSP by Tom Flaherty –VIDEO
Bacchanale* (1940) by John Cage (1912-1992) w/ Buzz Gravelle, Prepared Guitars
* Written for or arranged by Aaron Larget-Caplan

Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music – MAP – HERE

Nov. 7 – Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, La Jolla, Concert 12pm (click for INFO)
MAP – HERE

PROGRAM
Tango en Skaï by Roland Dyens
sweet nuance by Larget-Caplan
God’s Time Is The Very Best Time*, BWV 106 by J.S. Bach
Prelude 1 in C Major, WTC I*, BWV 846 by J.S. Bach – VIDEO
Carnatic Preludes, After J.S. Bach* by Vineet Shende
No. 1 – Mayamalagovla, in Tisra jaati, Rupaka taal (after BWV 846)
moving still by Larget-Caplan
Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen, Arr. Toru Takemitsu
Summer Time by George Gerswhin, Arr. Toru Takemitsu – VIDEO
Panaderos Flamencos by Esteban Sanlucar
The Legend of Hagoromo by Keigo Fujii – VIDEO
* Arranged or written for by Aaron Larget-Caplan

Nov. 9 – UCLA, Masterclass and Arts Discussion with students of Peter Yates

Nov. 12 – Schulman Auditorium, Carlsbad, Concert 7:30pm (click for INFO)

PROGRAM
Prelude 1 in C Major, WTC I*, BWV 846 by J.S. Bach
sweet nuance (2022) by Larget-Caplan
Carnatic Prelude, After J.S. Bach* (2017) by Vineet Shende
No. 1 – Mayamalagovla, in Tisra jaati, Rupaka taal (after BWV 846)
God’s Time is the Very Best Time*, BWV 106 by J.S. Bach
In A Landscape* by John Cage
Chromatic Fantasy*, BWV 903 by J.S. Bach
The Legend of Hagoromo (1992) by Keigo Fujii
* Written for or arranged by Aaron Larget-Caplan

Schulman Auditorium, MAP – HERE

After being asked what repertoire I was performing this fall, it became apparent that I needed to make a list. Some of these works are being repeated on multiple concerts, others presented by Now Musique series, many New Lullaby Project solos, and others are part of a tour in Southern California in November. I know there will be more, and I left off few encores and pieces I have’t quite committed to, but I’ll try to update. Many of the pieces are recorded or on youtube.

Did I forget anyone? If there is something you’d like to hear, leave a comment.

Repertoire Fall 2022

Roland Dyens – Tango en Skaï (1992)
Larget-Caplan – moving still (2021)
J.S. Bach – Prelude in C-major, WTC Bk 1 N. 1, BWV 846
Bach – A Small Prelude and Little Fugue BWV 926 & 961
Bach – God’s Time Is The Very Best Time, BWV 106
Tom Nazziola – Lull-a-by-the-sea (2021)
Dean Rosenthal – Sewing Piece (2021)
John Cage ­– In A Landscape* (1948)
Keigo Fujii – Legend of Hagoromo (1992)
John Johnstone – Blue Lullaby (2015)
Bach – Two small Preludes, BWV 924 & 930
Larget-Caplan – minding play (2022)
Ronald Pearl – Berceuse Inquiète (2021)
Brian Schober – Winter Lullaby (2021)
Scott Wheeler – Nachtlied (2009)
Lainie Fefferman – Carousel (2020)
Tom Flaherty – Steps & Leaps (2019)
Ian Wiese – Midnight Train (2021)
Gregory Biss – Lullaby (after Schumann) (2015)
Stefanie Lubkowski – Drifting (2018)
Dennis Bathory-Kitsz – Lullaby For Justin* (2022)
Larget-Caplan – TBA
Laurie Spiegel – Remembering (2020)
Anthony Green – Counting Backwards (2020)
Jim Dalton – World of Your Own (2012)
Michael Veloso – Little Dancer (2010)
Cutis Hughes – Lullibule (2020)
Francine Trester – Assortment!
Gershwin/Takemitsu – Summertime
Arlen/Takemitsu – Over the Rainbow
Larget-Caplan – sweet nuance (2022)
Bach – Chromatic Fantasy, BWV 903
Cage – Bacchanale (prepared guitar duo)
Vineet Shende – Carnatic Preludes, After J.S. Bach (2017, 2019)
Libby Larsen – Cajun Set (Quartet)
Thomas L. Read – Concert Champêtre (cello-guitar) (2013)
Antonio Celso Ribeiro – 3 Vintage Portraits (viola-guitar) (2018)
John Cage – Six Melodies (violin-guitar)
Ian Wiese – Seeketh Not His Own (2017)

*world premiere

The return of  Now Musique is official!

Composers John McDonald, Stanley Hoffman, Charles Turner

Composer Stanley Hoffman with lullaby inspiration Naomi

I’m very excited to announce that I was awarded an Opportunity Fund Grant from the Mayor’s of Office of Arts & Culture to produce a series of 5 concerts in my Dorchester neighborhood of Upham’s Corner through my series Now Musique.

Read about the awards from the City of Boston HERE.

These Now Musique concerts are free to the public, the concerts will take place at the Upham’s Corner Library with one at the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. I will also introduce contemporary music from the New Lullaby Project in a couple of young person community events at the UC Library.

Each concert will feature lullabies written for the New Lullaby Project, a solo by Larget-Caplan, a couple of standards, and other works. The exact program will be announced prior via this website and on social media.
Composers are encouraged to attend.

These are the first concerts of Now Musique since Covid-19, so we hope you will come and celebrate life through music!

CONCERT SCHEDULE 

CONCERT 1: Nights Songs & Dances
Thursday August 11 • 5:30pm • Concert • Uphams Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library
Music by Lynn Job, Stanley Hoffman, John McDonald, Frank Warren, Charles Turner, Larget-Caplan and Spanish Composers.

CONCERT 2: Frets & Hammers w/ guest harpsichordist Frederick Jodry
Saturday August 20 • 7pm • Concert • St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Music by Bach, Boccherini and Larget-Caplan
Repeated 8/21 in Newport, RI & 8/28 in Provincetown, MA w/slight variation

CONCERT 3: Lullings
Thursday September 15 • 5:30pm • Concert • Uphams Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library
Music by Ronald Pearl, Tom Nazziola, Curtis Hughes, Brian Schober, Scott Wheeler, Dean Rosenthal, Larget-Caplan.

CONCERT 4: Electric Hush 
Thursday October 13 • 5:30pm • Concert • Uphams Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library
Music by Lainie Fefferman, Tom Flaherty, Ian Wiese, Gregory Biss, Stefanie Lubkowski, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz, and Larget-Caplan. Includes two works for electronics and guitar!

CONCERT 5: Catching Dreams
Thursday November 17 • 5:30pm • Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library
Music by Laurie Spiegel, Anthony Green, Jim Dalton, Michael Veloso, John Johnstone, and Francine Trester.

*Please visit Aaron’s Calendar and FB page for program announcements 

Now Musique is a 501c3 under Fractured Atlas. Learn about you can support Now Musique HERE