SUMMER 2025

6th Season

ACMF 2025 features familiar works in the classical canon mixed with cutting-edge new sounds and a world premiere. At the center of this summer’s programming is Beethoven’s titanic string quartet, Opus 127, one of the master’s late, great, works that went on to re-shape the direction of classical music. His contemporaries had difficulty comprehending such a prophetic work – Beethoven’s friend, composer Louis Spohr, described the piece as “an indecipherable, uncorrected horror” – but it is now acknowledged as core repertoire. We’ll also have Bach’s deeply spiritual Partita in B Minor for solo violin, a transcendent work that evokes the essence of infinity. Shostakovich’s folksy fourth quartet brings us to the 20^th century along with two other pieces: Oliver Knussen’s “Secret Psalm” for solo violin (with dance choreographed by local Angus Bernie) and a violin and cello duo by Augusta Read Thomas, “Rumi Settings.” Tom Vignieri’s “Walk with Me” for quartet and improvised jazz saxophone is an annual favorite, and as a treat, we have Devon’s own Gabrielle Mills, who has written a world premiere for saxophone and string quartet based on Devon folk songs.