Erik Nielsen marks a birthday with TURNmusic in Waterbury and Burlington this weekend

September 19, 2025  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

Vermont composer Erik Nielsen is celebrating a birthday, and TURNmusic is throwing two parties this weekend – one each in Waterbury on Saturday, and in Burlington on Sunday. 

Vermont composer Erik Nielsen. Courtesy photo

TURNmusic’s string quartet is Mary Rowell, Brooke Quiggins, Elizabeth Reid, and John Dunlop. They will play and Dan Liptak will join on clarinet for a program of Nielsen's string quartets and quintet. 

The music, as it turns out, was arranged precisely for such an occasion. 

“For several years, I have had in mind a musical performance idea that was very important to me. In my head, it was called ‘The String Quartet Project.’ I wanted to pair some of my large-scale works for the ensemble with a brand new quartet written especially for the occasion. But first I had to find an ensemble willing and able to take on such a project,” Nielsen writes, explaining how the project came together with TURNmusic, directed by Anne Decker. 

“Fortunately for me, my friend and long-time colleague Anne Decker immediately said yes when I proposed the idea of having the TURNmusic quartet perform the program, for which I will be eternally grateful,” he continued.

Nielsen said he wanted to include a 2002 piece called “Clarinet Quintet” that he created originally on commission from the National Symphony Orchestra, and a 2007 “String Quartet #2” written on commission for the Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph’s  centennial. 

TURNmusic’s string quartet (pictured): violinists Mary Rowell, Brooke Quiggins, violist Elizabeth Reid, cellist John Dunlop. Courtesy photo

Needing more to round out the program, he said he reached back to 2001 and a single-movement piece titled “That Silent Land” to pair alongside a new third string quartet. It’s subtitled “Three Brothers,” he explained. “Since ‘That Silent Land’ was written in memory of my late older brother, Karl, and the new work is dedicated to Karl and my late younger brother, Lars.”

Taken together, Nielsen said the entire program promises “enough balance of hope, humor, intensity, sadness, whimsy and spirituality to engage and satisfy the listeners.”

Details 

Saturday’s performance is at The Phoenix Art Gallery and Music Hall, at 5 Stowe St. in Waterbury. Doors open at 7, music at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $30-50 on a sliding scale. Youths and their caregivers are free. BYOB. Pay at the door or in advance online. 

Sunday’s performance is at 4 p.m. at Main Street Landing, One Main St. in Burlington. Admission is $30-50, sliding scale. Youths and their caregivers are free. Pay at the door or in advance online.