
| What is "Artifacts" DuoWest has combined forces with internationally renowned and celebrated vocal composer Craig Bohmler and award-winning lyricist Marion Adler to create a major work (song cycle) for mezzo- soprano, cello and piano that musically evokes the mystery and disappearance of the great Hohokam civilization: a native American people, who then populated mainly the Valley now known as the Phoenix Metropolitan area and adjoining areas of Arizona and New Mexico. Using the myths, the science and the conjecture, the song cycle will have original poetry and music inspired by the artifacts themselves and seeks to compel the listener into the fascinating aspects of a civilization, rich in culture, and advanced in science that vanished from the face of the earth, leaving only its “Artifacts.” Ron Cipolla of "Treasures of our Past, Inc." has offered to coordinate an assemblage of rare Hohokam artifacts to accompany and compliment the premiere performance as an exhibit to be seen at the performance venue. This will enable audience members to connect the art with the music. Slides of the artifacts will be projected during the performance itself, thus heightening awareness of a former American civilization about which we know so little. In connection with the performances, proposed sessions with Park Rangers and anthropological experts have been discussed to enlighten the public on remaining “Hohokam” sites of interest including the “big house” in Casa Grande Arizona and the many areas of interpretive petroglyphs that remain present on boulders and rock formations throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan Valley. This unique collaboration of Hohokam art and music is a new way to take listeners outside of the box, and bring them to the heart of a great civilization long past. With respect to all Native American cultures, this composition should heighten awareness of a people, that many listeners even here in the west know little about. As we face the great issues of global warming, wars, famine, scarce resources and diminishing fossil fuels, it is possible that the work “Artifacts” can also serve as a metaphor for our time, as many of these same salient issues may have impacted the disappearance of the Hohokam people. “Artifacts” is being supported by private and corporate donations and matching grants (one from the “Argosy” foundation) and grants from the Arizona Commission on the Arts in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts. To contribute and become a part of what promises to be the most exciting and original cultural event in Phoenix during the 2008-2009 season, contact the DuoWest Hotline at:480-650-2089 or email DuoWest at duowest@aol.com The inaugural performance is slated for April 2009, (date to be announced within weeks) and several unique venues are being considered at this time that will make the concert a destination as well as a performance. Tickets to this one-of-a-kind evening will be available soon on the DuoWest website and will include a pre-concert lecture by the composer, a viewing of the artifacts, the World Premiere performance and a gala reception following the Premiere. Biographies of the Commissioned Composer, Lyricist and guest Mezzo-Soprano. Craig Bohmler (composer) is frequently performed in Europe and North America. Mainly a composer for the lyric theater and the solo voice, he has written 3 operas, 9 musicals, 150 art songs, choral, orchestral and chamber works, including operas for Houston Grand Opera and Opera San Jose. Off-Broadway musicals include GUNMETAL BLUES and ENTER THE GUARDSMAN (1st prize winner-Int’l Musical of the Year) He has received 3 NEA grants and 3 Meet the Composer grants, ASCAP and Dramatist’s Guild Awards. His works are published by TRW, SBMP, and Samuel French, and recorded by Columbus, Centaur, Original Cast, and BMS records. More information may be found at Craigbohmler.com Marion Adler is an award winning lyricist whose work has been seen across Canada, the US, and Europe. In 2000, Ms. Adler was a winner of the richest prize available to an artist in the U.S., the Kleban award, for her body of work as a lyricist. Ms. Adler has developed and work shopped her writing at the O'Neill Institute in Connecticut and the Dramatist's Guild, NAMT, ASCAP and BMI in New York City. Works include ALL THE MORE TO LOVE for the Laguna Playhouse in California, a song cycle SAINTS AND SINNERS for the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, an adaptation of Leslie Watt's award winning children's book THE BAABAA SHEEP QUARTET, and an original lyric play OVERBOARD. Greek-American mezzo-soprano, Layna Chianakas, has sung leading opera roles ranging from Sesto in GUILIO CESARE (Handel) to Santuzza in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANCA with major opera companies across the United States and Europe. She was named Artistic Ambassador of the United States, performing recitals in Central and South America. She spent three years touring with The Songs of Franz Schubert Concert Series performing over 100 recitals, accompanied by world- renowned accompanist, John Wustman. Having soloed with many orchestras and choral groups, Ms. Chianakas sang the world premiere of SAINTS written for her by Craig Bohmler, with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. |
| "ARTIFACTS" |





