November 1, 2019 – Liverpool, United Kingdom
I’m writing from Lime Street Station in Liverpool. I am so looking forward to hearing a live performance of Aaron Cassidy’s music for the first time. Line Upon Line Percussion is playing it as part of the University of Liverpool’s Open Circuit Festival.
While A Republic of Spaces shows a growth and some changes in Cassidy’s approach since he wrote his Second String Quartet, it still bears a number of the hallmarks and I’m looking forward to seeing what I discover in the next few days.
This is also my first time seeing Line Upon Line play live. They are performing works by current and recent graduate students in addition to works by Cassidy and Jessie Marino. They consistently program new, challenging repertoire so I am curious about the things they have undertaken for this festival.
(Later edit: it was very interesting arriving in the concert space. There is a gallery where cafe-style concerts are held, so as I ascended the spiraling staircases to hear some of the freshest percussion works I listened to Baroque flute duos being played to an at-capacity cafe).
Next: November 4, 2019 – Recording Upon Rehearsal with Cassidy and Line Upon Line
Ralph Lewis: Composer 