Zeena Parkins and William Winant perform Modesty of the Magic Thing at Western Front, May 9

Album pays tribute to American visual artist Jay DeFeo’s 1989 series “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”

SPONSORED POST BY Western Front

William Winant (left, photo by Dennis Letbetter) and Zeena Parkins (photo by Jeff Preiss).

 
 

Western Front is presenting a concert by composer, harpist, and improviser Zeena Parkins with her close collaborator, percussionist William Winant. On May 9, they will perform work from Parkins’s album Modesty of the Magic Thing, released through Tzadik Records in 2025.

Composed by Parkins for harp, percussion, and electronics, Modesty of the Magic Thing pays tribute to American visual artist Jay DeFeo and her 1989 series “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”. These drawings iterate a seven-sided shape derived from a pink cup gifted to DeFeo by sculptor Ron Nagle, rendered in charcoal and metallic powder to create a meditative field of mysterious power. This central form becomes the conceptual core of Parkins’s composition, providing a framework for its line, rhythm, texture, and form.

The work will be performed on acoustic harp, wooden bows, tracer microphone, metal percussion, and several just-intoned instruments, including a unique metallic tubophone designed by Lou Harrison.

Purchase tickets through Western Front.


Post sponsored by Western Front.

 
 
 

Related Articles

Featured
Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs joins forces for SummerSing on May 10
Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs joins forces for SummerSing on May 10

Annual event kicks off the warmer months with performances of folk songs, highlighting the voices of choirs of all ages

Zeena Parkins and William Winant perform Modesty of the Magic Thing at Western Front, May 9
Zeena Parkins and William Winant perform Modesty of the Magic Thing at Western Front, May 9

Album pays tribute to American visual artist Jay DeFeo’s 1989 series “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”

Music review: Vancouver Opera’s La Bohème pours its heart into a classic production that lives up to expectations
Music review: Vancouver Opera’s La Bohème pours its heart into a classic production that lives up to expectations

With glowing garret windows, lush orchestrations, and powerhouse singing, season closer is everything you imagine when you think of Giacomo Puccini’s tragic masterpiece

Silent classic The Passion of Joan of Arc gave Beautiful Violence a sonic challenge
Silent classic The Passion of Joan of Arc gave Beautiful Violence a sonic challenge

The musical duo of Simon Dobbs and Jon McGovern found scoring Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 film a more daunting prospect than they anticipated

In experimental hyaline, x/o and gooie move between solids, liquids, and everything in between
In experimental hyaline, x/o and gooie move between solids, liquids, and everything in between

Through music and movement, the pair explore nature, transformation, and the transitory nature of goo

Ahead of Vetta Chamber Music’s season finale, violist Hung-Wei Huang prepares to take the organization’s reins
Ahead of Vetta Chamber Music’s season finale, violist Hung-Wei Huang prepares to take the organization’s reins

Taiwanese-born artist reflects on learning the ropes from long-time artistic director Joan Blackman, and on performing as a soloist in upcoming concert Celebration

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain serves up plucky takes on rock hits and symphonic classics
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain serves up plucky takes on rock hits and symphonic classics

Long-standing ensemble is set to bring unique comic spirit and serious four-string chops to Vancouver Recital Society event

Novalima will bring an early taste of summer with Afro-Peruvian sounds, April 26
Novalima will bring an early taste of summer with Afro-Peruvian sounds, April 26

The renowned eight-piece band from Lima, Peru, will play the Rickshaw Theatre with Vancouver’s own Empanadas Ilegales

United Voices Choir performs two moving Mass settings in concert, May 9 and 10
United Voices Choir performs two moving Mass settings in concert, May 9 and 10

Spring concerts feature the choir, orchestra, and five soloists performing Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor and Schubert’s Mass in A-flat major

The VSO's Pictures At An Exhibition explores what a painting sounds like at the Orpheum, May 15 and 17
The VSO's Pictures At An Exhibition explores what a painting sounds like at the Orpheum, May 15 and 17

Program also features Macedonian piano sensation Simon Trpčeski in Rachmaninoff’s First Piano Concerto

Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs premieres lush opera-oratorio Mother/Land, May 16
Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs premieres lush opera-oratorio Mother/Land, May 16

Concert features soprano Heidi Duncan, mezzo-sopranos Krisztina Szabó and Simran Claire, and baritone Luka Kawabata

Vancouver Cantata Singers concert is a sort of homecoming for Tyler Duncan
Vancouver Cantata Singers concert is a sort of homecoming for Tyler Duncan

The acclaimed British Columbia–born baritone will perform Johannes Brahms’s A German Requiem with the choir

La Bohème soprano Jonelle Sills embraces Mimi role that first lit her passion for opera
La Bohème soprano Jonelle Sills embraces Mimi role that first lit her passion for opera

Alternating in one of the art form’s most demanding leads, the fast-rising Canadian artist is tapping authenticity in a lush period production at Vancouver Opera

A Choral Feast 4 marks the Vancouver Chamber Choir's season finale, May 14
A Choral Feast 4 marks the Vancouver Chamber Choir's season finale, May 14

Program features two guest choirs, Calgary’s Luminous Voices and Edmonton’s Chronos Vocal Ensemble

Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival celebrates the Power of Music
Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival celebrates the Power of Music

This year’s edition spans repertoires from the Middle Ages to early opera, bookended by landmark works by Monteverdi and Vivaldi

Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto explore the beauty of cross-cultural music, May 14 at BlueShore at CapU
Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto explore the beauty of cross-cultural music, May 14 at BlueShore at CapU

Two master musicians blend tradition and innovation with effortless grace

Vancouver International Jazz Festival announces eclectic Granville Island programming
Vancouver International Jazz Festival announces eclectic Granville Island programming

Performances will take place at Ocean Artworks and the Revue Stage as part of the 41st annual fest, which runs June 19 to July 5

x/o and gooie collaborate to conjure experimental performance hyaline, April 30
x/o and gooie collaborate to conjure experimental performance hyaline, April 30

Interdisciplinary performance features movement, latex wearable sculptures by gooie, and new music from x/o

Vancouver New Music wraps On Curation Mentorship Project with A Voynich Manifesto, May 9
Vancouver New Music wraps On Curation Mentorship Project with A Voynich Manifesto, May 9

Curated by Terri Hron, event explores a mysterious medieval manuscript through shadow theatre and live vocals

Tenor Ian Bostridge and pianist Wenwen Du join forces for a Nebula Performances concert, May 14
Tenor Ian Bostridge and pianist Wenwen Du join forces for a Nebula Performances concert, May 14

The Grammy-winning vocalist and artistic director collaborate on a program featuring music by Hugo Wolf and Benjamin Britten

Vocalists of all ages unite as the Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs performs SummerSing!, May 10
Vocalists of all ages unite as the Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs performs SummerSing!, May 10

Annual celebration at the Chan Centre features nine ensembles, ranging from young artists to seasoned adult performers

MUSIC, ART & DESIGNStir VancouverPartner Content, Western Front