Auricolae

Auricolae

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Did You Know?

  • Auricolae means “little ears” in Latin.

Auricolae, which means “little ears” in Latin, is a string trio led by violist and narrator David Yang.  In both their Fairy Tales, Folklore and Fables assembly and Storytelling Through Music residency programs, Auricolae brings classic folk and fairytales to life through contemporary musical settings scored for strings and narrator. The ensemble has commissioned many new works such as Ferdinand the Bull, Bremen Town Musicians, Rumplestiltskin, The Prince Rooster, The Three Little Pigs and Jack and the Beanstalk.  All of these compositions use a wide range of instrumental techniques to dramatize the text.  Audiences are drawn into these complex musical soundscapes by David Yang’s highly inventive story-telling manner that invites active participation.

Auricolae's history of commissioning new works for grade school audiences is a rich and inspiring one. Their strategy of using familiar tales as the underlying narratives for new musical works provides young listeners a way to connect both to the stories and to the composition process itself.  In their Storytelling Through Music residency program, a class writes its own version of a standard tale and then sets it to music using an easily grasped system of graphic notation. 

Musicopia not just supports music and musicians in schools but plays a vital role in actually creating some of the pieces that are performed. Musicopia (formerly Strings for Schools) has played an essential role in the commissioning process through its work in conjunction with Auricolae Storytelling and Music Troupe (David Yang and Tom Kraines, Directors).

To date, Musicopia and Auricolae have worked together to commission 11 new works for the ensemble. Through the American Composer's Forum Community Partner Grants, Musicopia has commissioned four new works for Auricolae: "Bremen Town Musicians" by Kile Smith, "Three Little Pigs" by Danny Dorff, "Rumpilstilskin" by Bob Capanna, and "Jack and the Beanstalk" by Eric Sessler.  In a Musicopia-sponsored residency with Auricolae at The Rose Valley School, the students wrote the libretto and music for a piece (realized brilliantly by co-Director Tom Kraines) called "Shaking and Twitching." Tom Kraines also wrote "Hansel and Gretal," which receive its world premiere in Spring 2009 and co-Director David Yang wrote two klezmer works: "Prince Rooster," and "Lubin, from Chelm." Dan Colson wrote "The Princess and the Pea" and Andrew Waggoner wrote "The Emporor's New Clothes," both based on stories by Hans Cristian Anderson and through direct commissions for David Yang (and indirectly for Musicopia and Auricolae.)  Lastly, an as-yet-untitled work by the Argentinean/Jewish composer Martin Kusnowski is almost ready for its 2009 premier by Auricolae. This piece has the unusual characteristic of working in English or Spanish versions.

When David started Auricolae in 2001 there was ONE piece for storyteller and violin and cello and barely any pieces for storyteller and music outside of Peter and the Wolf. Now there are eleven new pieces and both Musicopia and Auricolae have been directly involved in creating an entirely new genre of music for kids.

Auricolae began giving programs in 2001, and David Yang has been coaching chamber music through Musicopia for much longer.  The Auricolae trio settled very happily on its current personnel in the fall of 2006.  David was delighted to find a spiritual and musical soul-mate in cellist Tom Kraines, who is now Auricolae’s co-director.  This engaging and endlessly inventive pair of artists co-teaches the residency workshops.  Together, they demystify the musical creative process, inviting students to become composers and storytellers themselves.  In the residency program, David—who is also a highly skilled visual artist—helps students express their musical ideas in graphic form, and Tom, who can play in virtually any style, interprets the students’ notations.  Their workshops are joyous, spirited events, that help students explore develop new skills in literacy and active listening.  The final concerts feature the students performing their own story and composition alongside the full Auricolae trio.  To form this trio, David and Tom are joined by the ebullient Venezuelan violinist Carlos Rubio, who brings a gleaming tone as well as his own unique sense of humor to this dedicated team of musicians.

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