TURNmusic and New Amsterdam Records present: Black Gate

Tuesday July 22, 2025 at The Phoenix Gallery & Music Hall, Waterbury

Gallery Opens 7pm / Music 7:30pm

$25-40 Sliding / Youth, Caregiver Free

Tickets here.

TURNmusic and New Amsterdam Records present an international double bill featuring music and performances from American cellist/composer Clarice Jensen & Dutch harpist Lavinia Meijer, culminating in the US premiere of BlackGate, by Irish composer Caimin Gilmore. 

Jensen, whose album The experience of repetition as death was described by NPR as “among the great ambient albums of the 21st century,” here presents preview material from her forthcoming new record.

Meijer, one of the foremost harp players in Europe, regularly appears on the biggest classical stages in the world & holds the distinction as the only classical artist to have hit the top 10 in the Dutch album charts with three consecutive albums.

Gilmore, a double bassist & member of new music group Crash Ensemble, is celebrating the release of his debut album BlackGate on New Amsterdam & Ten Spot Records (IRL), August 1st.The work will receive a series of special US performances from Jensen & Meijer in July. Gilmore is currently touring the US with Irish band Ye Vagabonds & has performed on over 40 albums, including releases from Leonard Cohen & Damon Albarn, but here emerges with BlackGate as a major new Irish compositional voice.

Programme
Set I - Lavinia Meijer solo harp
Lavinia Meijer - Are you still somewhere? (harp) ‘4
Lavinia Meijer - Atmospheric Rivers (harp) ‘6
Philip Glass - Metamorphosis Two (arr. harp) ‘6

Set II - Clarice Jensen solo cello & effects pedals ‘25
Works from Jensen's forthcoming album In holiday clothing, out of the great darkness due for release on FatCat/130701 October, 2025. ‘25

Set III - US Premiere of BlackGate by Caimin Gilmore  ‘24

Performers
Cello - Clarice Jenson
Harp - Lavinia Meijer
With tape

BLACKGATE, written for cello, double bass, harp & DX7, was recorded by Meijer, Gilmore & Irish cellist Kate Ellis (Crash Ensemble, Martin Hayes) in ’24. It had its world premiere at Kilkenny Arts Festival (IRL) & subsequent performance at New Music Dublin Festival in the National Concert Hall of Ireland this year. It will receive its US premiere on July 21st at PS 21 Centre for Contemporary Performance and TURNmusic presents at The Phoenix Gallery July 22nd, with a special rearrangement of the work for Lavinia Meijer and Clarice Jensen.

BlackGate, is a cross-genre piece reflecting & encapsulating Gilmore’s multifaceted career across a spectrum of styles, from contemporary music to pop, classical and folk. Gilmore’s playing & music has been described as:

“Caimin Gilmore’s upright bass-playing was reminiscent of Danny Thompson’s work, fluid and sunlit.” - The Spectator

“Discovering this EP is like discovering you actually breathe. You simply can’t live without it.” - Folk Radio UK

Thanks to our partners at New Amsterdam Records for supporting these touring artists and collaborating on this event.