Synesthesia is defined as a sensation produced in one modality when a stimulus is applied to another modality, as when the hearing of a certain sound induces the visualization of a certain color.
In this case, it's a fusion of light and sound designed and directed by Matthew Schlief with original music performed by Two Star Symphony.
Two Star Symphony is a Houston based string quartet who have won many awards and accolades for their original and ingenious music. They have produced four CD's, scored original music for silent films, played small bars, vast auditoriums and have performed from coast to coast.
We asked Margaret Lejeuene, cellist for the band a few questions about Two Star and the upcoming Synesthesia performance.
Read the interview and get performance info after the jump
Can you quickly give us a brief history of the group and a rundown of the current Two Star lineup.
We started Two Star Symphony in October of 2002. At first we were a string trio and now we have two violins, viola, cello, harp, clarinet, marimba, stand up bass and percussion. The line up of instruments changes depending on the project. We have 8 members.
What can we expect of the Synesthesia project, we heard it's gonna be like Laser Two Star Symphony, is that accurate?
Laser Two Star!!! Matt Schlief, the lighting professor at Rice is designing this show with the college's new lighting board. I don't know all of the technical stuff about it, but I do know that it will be awesome....and its free!
Is this new technology, is it Houston based?
It is new technology. I think that this Houston show will be the first of its kind. The colors are amazing. There will even be a song done to black and white lights...Gorey inspired.
Will we be seeing the quartet or the orchestra? Who comprises the Two Star Orchestra and what extra instruments can we look forward to hearing?
This performance will have some songs done by the quartet (Jo Bird-viola, Debra Brown-violin, Jerry Ochoa-violin and Margaret Lejeune-cello). There will also be some songs done with the full orchestra. We will add John Duboise-clarinet, Kirk Suddreath-percussion, Cathy Power-marimba and bell kit and Chris Bakos-bass. Our full band or the Two Star Symphony Orchestra is awesome. I am constantly in awe of them and they make this performance even more amazing.
What's up for Two Star Symphony after Synesthesia?
In October we are doing music for a ballet of Titus Andronicus with the Dominic Walsh Dance Theater. It will be at the Hobby Center. For more info you can check out http://www.twostarsymphony.com or http://www.dwdt.org
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Houstonist got a preview of this show and we highly recommend coming out to see this free performance. It should not be missed and if you enjoy original composed and orchestrated music you will not be disappointed.
Two Star Symphony will be performing Synesthesia this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 14th, 15th &16th at 8pm at Rice University's Hamman Hall, entrance 20 & 21 off Sunset Blvd. Admission is free.
For more information check out http://theatre.rice.edu and http://twostarsymphony.com
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