Naia String Quartet: Light, Rhythm, and Movement

Our program brings together three distinctive contemporary voices: Osvaldo Golijov, Jessie Montgomery, and Caroline Shaw. Though each composer has a unique musical language, all three works invite us to consider how sound can evoke place, community, memory, and the world around us.

Osvaldo Golijov’s Tenebrae is a haunting expressive work inspired by the ancient Christian tradition of Tenebrae - the service of darkness. Written in response to the violence and uncertainty of the modern world, the piece moves between intimacy and intensity, creating a powerful meditation on grief, hope, and humanity.

Caroline Shaw’s Plan & Elevation turns our attention toward architecture and landscape. Inspired by the gardens and design of Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C., the piece explores the relationship between people and place through shifting textures, colors, and perspectives. Like walking through a garden, the music continually reveals something new around the corner.

Jessie Montgomery’s Strum takes on a different energy, drawing on the rhythmic vitality of American folk music traditions. Its infectious pulse and layered textures create a sense of movement and collective momentum, while moments of lyrical reflection reveal the warmth and versatility of the string ensemble.

Together, these works form a journey through darkness, discovery, and motion: three different perspectives on how music can connect us to one another and to the spaces we inhabit.