DUO ORFEO guitar duo

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ARTISTSArielbiography

Performing a rare and eclectic repertoire on both classical and electric

guitars, Jamie Balmer and Joseph Ricker as Duo Orfeo are emerging as

one of the most distinctive voices in the classical music world.

Duo Orfeo draw their repertoire largely from under-explored byways ofWestern

musical tradition both past and present, ranging from Renaissance lute and French

Baroque harpsichord music to compositions by such modern masters as Arvo Pärt,

Federico Mompou, Steve Reich, and Valentin Silvestrov. This ever-expanding body of

music includes many of their own arrangements of works written for other instru-

ments, as well as works written for the ensemble of guitar duo.

Orfeo perform their unique repertoire on classical guitars with an approach inspired

by the tradition of Andrés Segovia (which they learned from Phillip de Fremery, a

guitarist and teacher who studied with Segovia and a true curator of his legacy) and

also on vintage electric guitars through tube amplifiers, creating a new sound that is

all their own by playing these instruments (normally associated with styles outside of

classical music) with the finesse, clarity, and focused touch of classical musicians.

Duo Orfeo have toured extensively throughout the eastern U.S., earning the ap-

proval of audiences and the highest praise from presenters. They have recently been

hosted on concert series at Washington College, Bates College, St. Vincent College,

La Grua Center, and Shippensburg University, among many others. Following their

dynamic performances, Duo Orfeo have been lauded by concert presenters as hav-

ing conjured “a synergy which transports the listener,” and as being “one of the few

young guitar ensembles to watch.” Alongside pianist Oni Buchanan and trombone

quartet Guidonian Hand, Duo Orfeo recently collaborated with brilliant kinetic sculp-

tor Arthur Ganson on the performance/installation art project “Machines” in Boston

and New York City. Additionally, Duo Orfeo eagerly perform in jazz cafés, book shops, farmers’ markets, art galleries, union halls, and

other non-traditional venues, and they enjoy a strong local following in their hometowns of Boston and Northampton, MA. Active teach-

ers both, Joe and Jamie strive to incorporate their interest in education and outreach into their work as a performing duo, and their

offerings include guitar masterclasses and interactive children's concerts.

Duo Orfeo have released three recordings to date. 2012's I sing the body electric is their landmark first essay on electric guitars and

features their arrangements of works by John Cage, Federico Mompou, Arvo Pärt, Erik Satie, and Valentin Silvestrov. This album was

produced by the recording artist, composer, and inventor of the archguitar, Peter Blanchette. 2009's Duo Orfeo includes several of Joe

and Jamie’s favorite acoustic selections – music of Frédéric Chopin, Radamés Gnattali, Francesco Da Milano, Federico Mompou, and

Erik Satie. Their breakout debut, The Grace Sessions (2005), features music of Bach, Brahms, Boccherini, and Albéniz. It was recorded live

and unedited in a midnight marathon session in Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst, MA.

Joe Ricker and Jamie Balmer formed Duo Orfeo in 2005, taking their name from Orpheus, the poet and musician of Greek myth. Deeply

enamored with the sonority of their chosen instruments and relentlessly searching out the music most in harmony with their expressive

sensibilities, Duo Orfeo bring to life a world of sound that is intimate, charming, subtle, and haunting.

DUO ORFEO guitar duo

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ARTISTSArielprogram offerings

SOLI DEO GLORIA

SACRED VOCAL MUSIC ARRANGED FOR TWO ELECTRIC GUITARS

Tallis, If Ye Love Me; O Nata Lux

Dowland, Sir John Langton’s Pavan; Loth to Depart

J.S. Bach, Toccata and Fugue in D minor; Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Satie, Sonneries de la Rose + Croix, Gymnopédie No. 1

Nicolai Kedrov, Ochte Nash (Our Father)

Joseph Ricker, Variations on a Theme from the Sacred Harp

Federico Mompou, Pessebres

Arvo Pärt, Da Pacem Domine, Spiegel im Spiegel

J.S. Bach signed many of his manuscripts with the initials S.D.G.

(Soli Deo Gloria) which in Latin means “to the glory of God alone.”

Throughout the ages, many composers have found their great-

est inspiration in the composition of sacred music. Indeed, to find

some of the most profound musical expression of any culture in any

place or time, one need only look to devotional music.

Following in the tradition of instrumentalists of the Renaissance all

over Europe who arranged polyphonic vocal music for the instru-

ments of their time (lutes, viols, recorders), Duo Orfeo presents

a program built around their arrangements for electric guitars of

great sacred vocal music drawn from the whole breadth of west-

ern musical history. Pairing these innovative arrangements with

less directly devotional music, we see the connections between all

music that praises, wonders, fears, and exalts, whether its object

be God, mystery, beauty, or love. Ultimately, it is through the music

itself that the human heart speaks most directly, leaving that which

is deepest unnamed.

PROGRAM OFFERED FEBRUARY THROUGH JUNE, 2014.

FROM PARIS TO SÃO PAULO

François Couperin, Les Bergeries; Les Baricades Mysterieux

Jacques Duphly, Allemande

Erik Satie, Danses de Travers (Crooked Dances)

Radamés Gnattali, Suite Retratos

Antoine de Lhoyer, Duo Concertant in E minor (Opus 31, No. 3)

Francis Poulenc, Mouvements Perpetuels

Astor Piazzolla, Tango Suite

In this captivating all-acoustic program of music from two conti-

nents, Duo Orfeo presents music of fiery energy and unhinged

exuberance alongside music of elegance and delicacy. Decadence

in the music-box simplicity of François Couperin and Jacques

Duphly’s roccoco-esque bon-bons precedes derangement in the

drunken stumbling of Erik Satie’s enigmatic Danses de Travers.

Decadence in the exquisitely crafted charm of Francis Poulenc’s

childlike miniatures, Mouvement Perpetuels, accompanies derange-

ment in the vertigo-inducing chromaticism of Radamés Gnattali’s

jocular Brazilian jazz/pop. Both qualities combine in the Duo Con-

certant of Antoine de Lhoyer, the attempt of an untutored romantic

at Mozartean grace and, finally, in Astor Piazzola’s masterpiece for

guitar duo, the Tango Suite, in which the extreme style and poise

of that Argentinian dance is punctuated by outbursts of passionate

melodicism and wild polytonal melismas.

PROGRAM OFFERED SEPTEMBER 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 2014.

DUO ORFEO guitar duo

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ARTISTSAriel

I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC

John Cage, In a Landscape

Valentin Silvestrov, selections from Silent Songs

Erik Satie, Gnossiennes Nos. 2 and 3; Gymnopédies Nos. 1 and 3

Arvo Pärt, Fratres; Spiegel im Spiegel

Federico Mompou, Musica Callada, Book 1, I-III

With the groundbreaking release of their album I sing the body

electric in 2012, Duo Orfeo introduced a striking new sound to

the classical music world: modern classical masterpieces played

on electric guitars. They continue to thrill audiences with the live

performance that they offer with this program.

Described as “a milestone record that encompasses their pedi-

gree and their passion in a completely original and captivating

way,”* I sing the body electric is comprised of Duo Orfeo member

Joe Ricker’s “incredibly tasteful” arrangements for two electric

guitars of a selection of works, mostly for piano, by composers

John Cage, Erik Satie, Valentin Silvestrov, Arvo Pärt, and Federico

Mompou. These pieces represent a thread that runs through

modern classical music in which turbulence and complexity are

eschewed in favor of an aesthetic that is quietly powerful, deeply

searching, beautifully simple and simply beautiful.

Playing instruments not originally intended for classical music

(a 1969 Fender Jazzmaster and a 1978 Gibson ES-335 arch-top

through vintage Fender tube amplifiers) with the finesse, clarity,

and focused touch of classical musicians, Duo Orfeo has created

a sound that has been described as “a kind of decadently gentle

interplay awash in reverb with an achingly patient attention to

attack, tone, and color.”

To sum it up, “for all its unconventional ingredients, I sing the

body electric adds up to one completely accessible whole…a

singular whole that bounces and undulates in the most un-

plugged, organic of ways.”

*All quotes are from Elias Blumm’s CD review on icareifyoulisten.com.

PROGRAM OFFERED SEPTEMBER 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 2014.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Grieg, Lyric Pieces, selections

J.S. Bach, Prelude & Fugue, BWV 849; Prelude & Fugue, BWV 854

Antoine de Lhoyer, Duo Concertant in A, Op. 31, No. 1

Schubert, Minuet and Trios D. 89, No. 3

Khachaturian, Masquerade, Waltz

Rossini, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Ouverture

Chopin, Nocturne Op. 9, No. 1

Mendelssohn, Lied Ohne Worte Op. 53, No. 2; String Quartet No.

1, Op. 12, Canzonetta; Lied Ohne Worte Op. 62, No. 1

Phillip de Fremery, Music After Lorca

The central concepts of drama — exposition, conflict, climax, reso-

lution — function no less in the fugues of Bach than in the stories

of Sophocles. Duo Orfeo explores the expansive dramatic pos-

sibilities of instrumental music in this program, itself a drama with a

diverse cast.

Each half of “Dramatis Personae” explores character contrasts: be-

tween the weightless, Mozartean virtuosity of Lhoyer’s Duo Concer-

tant and the heavy pathos of Schubert’s D.89 Minuet; between the

fleeting, nostalgic scenescapes of Grieg and the eternal contrapun-

tal monuments of the Well-Tempered Clavier; between the raucous

flamboyance of Guiliani’s transcription of The Barber of Seville

Overture and the introverted beauty of Chopin’s Op. 9; between

the soaring bel canto declarations of Mendelssohn’s Songs Without

Words and the fluttering flights of semiquavers in his Canzonetta.

Of the works that close each half, the dramatic crux of Khachaturi-

an’s Masquerade and de Fremery’s Music After Lorca is of a slightly

different sense: each was originally conceived as incidental music

to a staged drama. The buoyant waltz from Masquerade calls forth

all the grandeur, jealousy, and passion which teem in the play of

that name (an Othellian tragedy set in St. Petersburg high society).

Music After Lorca was composed for acclaimed Lorca biographer

Leslie Stainton’s Poet in New York. Drawing inspiration from the

great cantaores, dancers and guitarists of Andalusian Flamenco,

Music After Lorca is a work of propulsive energy and striking con-

trasts, conjuring scenes of longing, terror, and redemption.

PROGRAM OFFERED FEBRUARY THROUGH JUNE, 2014.

program offerings (cont.)

DUO ORFEO guitar duo

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ARTISTSArieladditional offerings

INTERACTIVE CHILDREN’S CONCERT

Duo Orfeo offers a short, highly accessible program geared toward

younger audiences. This program includes pieces from around

the world whose characters and components are easily grasped,

played on classical and electric guitars. It features stories about

the pieces played, when and where they come from, as well as

demonstrations of Joe and Jamie’s instruments and the differences

between them. Designed to catch the curiosity of young listeners,

this concert will expose them to new sound worlds and ways of

engaging with music, all while teaching by example the value of

collaboration and concentrated effort.

FORUM ON COMPOSING AND ARRANGING FOR GUITAR DUO

Duo Orfeo maintains a vested involvement in expanding the litera-

ture of great guitar duo music. This workshop, based in Joe and

Jamie’s work as arrangers, is suitable for composition students or

anyone interested in arranging music for guitars. With their own

examples and those drawn from the repertoire, they’ll dem-

onstrate the basics of effective guitar writing as well as some

issues peculiar to guitar duo.

GUITAR MASTERCLASSES

Duo Orfeo offers masterclasses to guitarists and guitar ensem-

bles of all levels. As teachers, Joseph Ricker and Jamie Balmer

share an interest in seeing aspiring artists attain their full po-

tential. They accomplish this work by helping students to clarify

and attain their goals, and to find new meanings in old texts. On

a more general level, Joe and Jamie aim to broaden students’

understanding of concert music as both field of inquiry and

social discourse: How do we come to know the dramatic truth of

a composition? And how do we marshal the guitar’s resources

toward a unique expression of that truth? The masterclass is the

ideal setting in which to explore these vital questions.

DUO ORFEO guitar duo

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ARTISTSArielpress/testimonials“For Joe Ricker and Jamie Balmer, two

of a crop of young, classically trained

guitarists who are finding new means

of expression through finely honed

technique, I sing the body electric is a

milestone record that encompasses their

pedigree and their passion in a com-

pletely original and captivating way.”

–I Care If You Listen, Elias Blumm review-

ing Duo Orfeo's CD “I sing the body

electric”

“It is always a pleasure to hear Duo

Orfeo play. While both players are fine

musicians in their own right, together,

they have a synergy which transports the

listener. This quality led me to hire them

to perform at the national conference of

the Association of Anglican Musicians.

This distinguished audience was mesmerized by their playing

and many commented that hearing Duo Orfeo was one of the

highlights of the conference!”

–Bert Landman, Music Director, Trinity Episcopal Church, Hartford, CT

“It is with a great deal of pleasure and anticipation that I rec-

ommend the newly emerging classical guitar team Duo Orfeo

whose two members, Joseph Ricker and Jamie Balmer, though

each in full possession of the capabilities and understanding

necessary for independent solo careers, are choosing instead

to pool their magnificent resources and bring to us repertoire

which could not be played by a soloist.

For many years I have known them both as highly talented

and disciplined individual players, and I have witnessed more

recently the gradual expansion of their vision for Duo Orfeo.

This is an ensemble of very high value. I congratulate them on

their great promise, for marvelous deeds

already done, and especially on the deep

commitment they have unflinchingly estab-

lished together. Bravo.”

–Phillip de Fremery, classical guitarist

“To collaborate with these artists of the

highest sensitivity was a great pleasure.

The Duo Orfeo embodies grace and

beauty, playing a distinctive repertoire

from both the past and present.”

–David Macbride, composer

“Duo Orfeo played at my art gallery and it

was the perfect concert for the venue. The

intertwining melodies and harmonies were

thrilling. I loved how Joe and Jamie’s easy-

going and friendly manner helped make

the audience relaxed and happy. They also graciously chatted

with my guests before and after the show. I would certainly have

them again for both ambient music as well as for formal con-

certs.”

–Kalman Gacs, Founder and Director of True Gallery, Needham, MA

“The most encouraging aspect of Duo Orfeo performances is

the tangible sense that each and every time they play they are

determined not only to engage each listener but also entertain

them! For me, this is one of the few young guitar ensembles to

watch and listen for in the next few seasons. I would encourage

any arts presenter with an appropriate space for classical guitar

to find a creative way to challenge, advance and ultimately book

this duo as soon as possible…”

–Seth Warner, Manager, The Olin Arts Center, Bates College,

Lewiston, ME