‘Her Memory Is Liquid’ Blends Music and Memory in Powerful Chicago Concert
CHICAGO — A recent installment of the New Music Chicago Presents concert series delivered an evocative and deeply emotional performance titled “New Memories, Lost Memories”, featuring the acclaimed Wurtz-Berger Duo. Pianist Amy Wurtz and cellist Alyson Berger headlined the event, which was livestreamed in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Experimental Sound Studio.
Presented under the umbrella of New Music Chicago (NMC)—a community formed in 1982 to uplift contemporary composers and performers—the performance wove together dissonance, memory, poetry, and reflection in a program that resonated well beyond the final note.
The Power of Contemporary Composition
Opening the program was “The Gates of Light” by Polish composer Marta Ptaszynska, a former University of Chicago faculty member. The piece began with ominous tension: a rumbling cello met by a thunderous piano, creating a sense of mystery that grew into a chaotic but compelling musical narrative. As the music intensified with screams of the cello and unsettling piano progressions, it eventually softened into a subdued, reflective conclusion.
Next came a quieter but emotionally resonant piece by New York composer Catherine Neville. Her second movement of “Three Romantic Pieces” introduced a melancholic yet graceful soundscape. “I hope she’s watching,” said Wurtz in the livestream—a personal note that brought intimacy to a short yet memorable performance.
Themes of Waiting and Hope
One of the most thought-provoking contributions came from Josh Rodriguez, who introduced “All in the Waiting”, inspired by a fragment from T.S. Eliot’s poem “Wait Without Hope.” The piece opened with delicate, almost fragile string and piano work, evoking both calm and fragility. At times playful, at others fractured, it mimicked the unpredictability of life and emotion. The piano’s steady pulse anchored the piece, creating a heartbeat amid drifting cello lines.
‘Her Memory Is Liquid’: A Tribute to Family and Loss
The emotional centerpiece of the concert was “Her Memory Is Liquid”, composed by Amy Wurtz herself and based on a poem by Theresa Squires Collins. The work was commissioned by Theresa’s mother, Helen Gagel, in tribute to her own mother, who struggled with dementia. The line, “Her memory is liquid, it condenses and evaporates,” captured the essence of the music.
With soft piano arpeggios and repeated, reaching cello notes, Wurtz’s composition moved like a memory slipping through fingers—sometimes joyful, often painful, but always human. Tension and confusion built in waves, echoing the journey of those navigating memory loss, before giving way to quiet moments of love and clarity.
An Energetic Finale: ‘The Maloik’
The concert closed with Amos Gillespie’s “The Maloik”, a short, spirited piece inspired by the famous hand gesture meant to ward off evil. From mournful beginnings to Spanish-tinged energy, the music explored drama, power, and tempo with rapid transitions and bursts of rhythm. It was a vibrant end to a night of introspection and experimentation.
The live audience at Experimental Sound Studio responded warmly, and the performance is now available online through New Music Chicago’s official website.
Have you ever experienced a piece of music that helped you process a memory or emotion? Share your thoughts with us or explore more local music events at ChicagoMusicGuide.com.