August 20, 2024

Nicholas DiEugenio and friends launch The Gut Instinct Chamber Music Project

The Gut Instinct Chamber Music Project is a three-part concert series in UNC Chapel Hill's Person Recital Hall which brings UNC's historical instrument collection together with artists committed to presenting inspired, visceral, historically informed performances of the 19th-century chamber music repertoire. This season's programming features music of female composers and their artistic circles. The name "Gut Instinct" is a play on words. In 19th-century Europe, the violin, viola, and cello were strung with (sheep) gut.

All of the artists collaborating with the Pleyel and Graf pianos at UNC-Chapel Hill (built in 19th-century Paris and Vienna, respectively) use these gut string materials. The turn of phrase "gut instinct" also refers to the visceral, accessible nature of the musical performances that the artists of this series will be presenting. We want to make "Historically Informed Performance" accessible, relatable, and culturally relevant! We also want to feature these special pianos that are rarely heard by the public, along with great music by female composers which has remained lesser known to the greater public for far too long!

For more info on this series, visit the project page!