The Music Division is excited to present the premieres of two newly commissioned works by renowned living women composers, Tania León and Jlin.
On April 11, violinist Jennifer Koh and pianist Tomas Sauer will premiere the Library of Congress McKim Fund Commission “Para Violín y Piano” by Cuban American composer Tania León. This highly anticipated work traces its origins to 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. León, a celebrated conductor, educator, and composer, is known for expanding classical music by integrating different music styles in classical music including Afro-Cuban influences. A founding member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, she has composed for major orchestras and ensembles worldwide and has received numerous honors, including the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Music for “Stride,” 2024 Kennedy Center Honors and the New York Governor’s Lifetime Achievement. Throughout her career, León has remained a steadfast advocate for diversity in classical music.
León previously received two commissions from the Library of Congress. In 2001, she commissioned Desde for orchestra by the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress. The premiere was performed at the Carnegie Hall in 2004 by the American Composers Orchestra. The holograph score is located in the Music Division’s collections. In 2000, León commissioned “Fanfarria,” a fanfare composition for brass and percussion commissioned for the Copland Centennial Celebration honoring American composer Aaron Copland.
The April 11 performance will highlight León’s music, featuring violinist Jennifer Koh and the Del Sol String Quartet. Koh, an acclaimed champion of contemporary composers, previously commissioned and premiered “Stride” as part of her Alone Together project, which supported composers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Del Sol, a San Francisco-based string quartet renowned for its commitment to contemporary music and cross-cultural collaborations, has also performed León’s works, showcasing her rhythmically rich and expressive compositions. Their collaboration underscores a shared mission to bring diverse and global perspectives to contemporary chamber music.
On May 15, electronic composer Jlin will premiere the Library of Congress’s first complete electronic commission. Jlin (Jerrilynn Patton) is an American electronic music producer and composer recognized for her innovative approach to rhythm and sound design. Originally emerging from the footwork scene in Gary, Indiana, she has since expanded her artistic scope, integrating avant-garde influences and intricate percussive structures. Her critically acclaimed albums, including “Dark Energy” and “Black Origami,” have established her as a pioneering force in contemporary classical and dance music circles.
Jlin’s compositions have been performed by leading artists and ensembles, including Third Coast Percussion, which commissioned and recorded her work “Perspectives,” which was featured in the Library of Congress digital concert series in 2021. The Kronos Quartet commissioned “Little Black Book” as part of their Fifty for the Future project, which was performed at the Library of Congress in 2024. Choreographer Wayne McGregor incorporated her music into his dance production “Autobiography.” Ensemble Intercontemporain has performed her orchestral work, and the Mivos Quartet has engaged with her compositions in a contemporary classical setting. With this commission, Jlin continues to expand the boundaries of electronic composition, bridging the worlds of electronic, and contemporary classical music to the iconic Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building.
These two premieres commemorate the centennial of the Concerts from the Library of Congress series. The series’ longstanding tradition of fostering artistic innovation is reinforced by its commitment to supporting groundbreaking new works and visionary artists. Here is to a century of extraordinary music making!