A Far Cry

A Far Cry
Name	A Far Cry
Origin	Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Genre	Chamber orchestra, Contemporary classical, Baroque, Minimalism
Years active	2007–2020
Members	Variable collective of 18–25 musicians
Associated acts	Boston Symphony Orchestra, New England Conservatory, Juilliard School

A Far Cry is a chamber orchestra collective founded in Boston in 2007 that brought together musicians from institutions such as the New England Conservatory, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Juilliard School to explore repertory ranging from Baroque to contemporary works. The ensemble operated as a conductor-less group with a democratic organizational model, developing a profile through recordings, international tours, and educational initiatives. Over its active years the ensemble collaborated with composers, artists, and presenters across North America, Europe, and Asia, earning critical attention from outlets associated with Gramophone, The New York Times, and BBC Music Magazine.

Background and Formation

A Far Cry emerged from a Boston scene that included institutions like the New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, and ensembles such as the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; founding players sought an alternative to traditional orchestra hierarchies. Key early figures were alumni and faculty from New England Conservatory and performers with ties to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, who modeled practices on collective ensembles like Australian Chamber Orchestra and Kronos Quartet. The group's name reflected an aesthetic distance from mainstream orchestral structures while emphasizing chamber-music intimacy in venues ranging from conservatory halls to festivals like the Tanglewood Festival and BBC Proms.

Musical Style and Repertoire

The ensemble’s repertory spanned works by composers including Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartók, Arvo Pärt, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams, Terry Riley, Caroline Shaw, Missy Mazzoli, and Gavin Bryars. Stylistically the players negotiated Baroque practices alongside period-informed phrasing and modern techniques associated with Minimalism, Spectralism, and contemporary chamber writing. Rehearsal methodology borrowed from practices developed at institutions like the Juilliard School and ensembles such as Ensemble InterContemporain, emphasizing small-group leadership, shared interpretation, and rotation of concertmaster responsibilities similar to the Academy of St Martin in the Fields's chamber approach. Programming paired canonical works by Antonín Dvořák and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky with premieres by living composers affiliated with Bang on a Can and university composition programs like those at Harvard University and Yale School of Music.

Recordings and Releases

A Far Cry released albums on labels including Decca Classics and independent imprints, featuring repertoire that ranged from chamber arrangements of symphonic repertoire to new commissions. Notable releases presented works by Johann Sebastian Bach in inventive ensemble settings, alongside contemporary cycles by composers such as Caroline Shaw and Missy Mazzoli. Critical response from publications like Gramophone, The New York Times, BBC Music Magazine, and The Boston Globe highlighted the group's tight ensemble playing, dynamic articulations, and innovative programming. The ensemble also recorded collaborative projects with artists associated with Nonesuch Records and performed commissions funded through grants from organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts and foundations connected to chamber music philanthropy.

Tours and Performances

Touring activity brought the ensemble to presenters and festivals such as the Tanglewood Festival, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival, and venues across Europe, Asia, and North America. The group appeared alongside soloists and conductors with links to institutions like the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic, and participated in residencies at conservatories including the New England Conservatory and Curtis Institute of Music. Their live programs frequently integrated thematic projects—pairings of Bach and Steve Reich, or Mozart framed by contemporary commissions—that resonated with presenters such as Lincoln Center and series curated by presenters from Avery Fisher Hall to smaller chamber spaces affiliated with the Fromm Music Foundation.

Educational and Community Programs

A Far Cry developed educational and community engagement initiatives modeled on conservatory outreach and ensemble residency traditions practiced at institutions like Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, and the Royal Academy of Music. Programs included chamber coaching, masterclasses, and composition workshops for students at conservatories and public schools, and collaborations with community organizations and arts presenters such as Boston Lyric Opera and local cultural centers. The ensemble’s teaching roster connected them with college and university programs at Harvard University, Yale University, and regional conservatories, providing mentorship to young musicians and commissioning pieces from emerging composers in academic networks like IRCAM and university composition departments.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout its career the ensemble received recognition from industry and arts organizations, earning coverage in Gramophone, commendations from regional cultural councils, and invitations to major festivals like the BBC Proms and Edinburgh International Festival. Grants and awards came from bodies such as the National Endowment for the Arts and regional arts foundations, and the ensemble’s recordings were nominated for distinctions in classical music press including listings in The New York Times critics' picks and features in BBC Music Magazine's recommended releases. Its model of collective leadership influenced discourse in orchestral studies at academic conferences and was cited in programming conversations at institutions like the League of American Orchestras and the American Symphony Orchestra League.

Category:Chamber orchestras Category:Musical groups from Boston