Two harpsichord works by American composer Beth Anderson will be performed by harpsichordist Meg Cotner on Sunday, February 11 - 4:00 PM the Women's Studio Center, 21-25 44th Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, New York.

Ms. Anderson's September Swale and Rhode Island Swale will be performed along with other early and recent music by, about, and for women for the harpsichord, including a number of works by members of New York Women Composers. Selections by Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre, Julie Mandel and others will be performed, with commentary by Ms. Cotner.

Beth Anderson writes, "Ever since a horse named Swale won the Kentucky Derby several years ago, I have used the word "swale" frequently to describe my work. A swale is a meadow or a marsh whose abundant nourishment and moisture support a rich diversity of plant life. Since 1984, my work has been constructed from swatches of newly composed music, rather than found music, which I find reminiscent of the diversity of life found in a swale.

September Swale combines various oriental scales with Satie-like lyricism. It was released on a CD from Antes/Bella Musica in Germany entitled Chilli Con Tango in a version for mandolin and guitar. The piano version can be heard on Nancy Boston's CD, American Women: Modern Voices In Piano Music.

Rhode Island Swale, for harpsichord or piano solo, was commissioned by Bobby Buecker and was first performed by harpsichordist Elaine Comparone, Harpsichord. The piece begins with a Phrygian folk-like tune which ends with a turn (BCBAB). This is followed by a lochrian tango and an aeolian melody in which the harpsichord sings words whose text remains mysteriously hidden under the music, ending with a turn (ABAGA).

Tickets to the February 11 concert are $10. For reservations or more information, contact theWomen's Studio Center at 718-361-5649. Visit them online at http://www.womenstudiocenter.org/.

Meg Cotner is an active freelance harpsichordist based in the New York City area. She plays a wide range of solo and chamber repertoire, from Medieval to Baroque to Contemporary. She has revived both lesser known works and presented a number of world premieres on both coasts, as well as playing many of the standard Baroque works. She performs regularly with the NY-based flute-harpsichord duo, Rossignol Amoureux, and has also appeared recently with the Neue Bach Band, The Greenwich Village Singers, and The Maria Antonia Project. She has played at a variety of venues in the greater New York metro area, including Trinity Church (Wall Street), Columbia University, Waltz-Astoria, and at Music Week at Mohonk Mountain House. Visit her at http://www.myspace.com/megcotner.

Beth Anderson's music has been described as having "a refreshing simplicity without naiveté" and as - "deeply felt, direct, and yes, beautiful" and "charming and deeply felt to the point of romanticism." Her latest CDs are a new recording by Nancy Boston of September Swale as part of American Women: Modern Voices in Piano Music (http://cdbaby.com/cd/nancyboston) and Quilt Music (Albany Records), a CD of chamber music for smaller ensembles. An essay by Ms. Anderson about her music for American Music Center's NewMusicBox web magazine can be read at http://www.newmusicbox.org/page.nmbx?id=53hf02. For more information about composer Beth Anderson, including a bio, list of works, discography and much more, please visit http://www.beand.com.

You can also contact Jeffrey James Arts Consulting at 516-586-3433 or jamesarts@worldnet.att.net for information about Ms. Anderson.

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