Oberlin congratulates alums of eighth blackbird on third Grammy

The Oberlin Conservatory alumni of eighth blackbird have recently won their third Grammy, Best Chamber Music Performance, for their recording of Stephen Hartke’s Meanwhile – Incidental Music to Imaginary Puppet Plays. The ensemble was also given a distinct honor in the classical music genre of performing this award-winning work live at the February 10, 2013 ceremony during the 55th Grammy pre-telecast.

Hartke, the composer, also won the Grammy category Best Contemporary Classical Composition for this piece commissioned by and written for eighth blackbird in 2007.

eighth blackbird is known for performances of kinetic energy as well as an especially rich aural experience. Tim Weiss, professor of conducting and chair of the Division of Conducting and Ensembles at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, helped create and mentor the young sextet, eighth blackbird. He offered these words in congratulations, “Their recording of Hartke's Meanwhile is amazing and so deserving of the Grammy.  It's even better seeing them do it live, from memory and with a little choreography. It was such a knockout the first time I heard them perform it.”

The music video of eighth blackbird’s performance of Meanwhile is available online at http://vimeo.com/51620619. The CD is available on iTunes and through Amazon.com.