"Ten Rooms" was composed in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Fondation des États-Unis (FEU, 14 boulevard Jourdan, Paris) and also to commemorate the important role the ten fifth-floor FEU rooms have played in the lives of countless young artists, thanks to Harriet Hale Woolley's 1930 bequest of $50,000 to the Conseil d'Administration de la Fondation des États-Unis of the Cité Universitaire of the University of Paris "to maintain ten rooms in the American House for the use of the beneficiaries of the scholarships." (New York Times, July 26, 1931).

The melodies in this cello quartet derive from the names of four grand musicians who taught the composer.  ("Hommage aux anciens professeurs de musique du compositeur à Paris qui lui ont "mis le pied à l'étrier", tels qu'Yvonne Desportes, Jean-Paul Holstein, Noël Lee, et Michel Merlet.")

Perfomed by Andrew Briggs, Sarah Ghandour, Hilary Metzger, and David Simpson. The triangles used in this live world premiere performance are 19th-century triangles, graciously lent by a percussionist friend of Hilary Metzger for the occasion.

"Ten Rooms" for 'cello quartet, by Jon Magnussen (2020)(World Premiere Performance)

Jon Magnussen

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