​About the "South Shore  Suite" & our "Journey Beyond the Notes"

Recent Performances

Thursday 10/15/2020: Catharine & Levi Coffin State Historic Site, ​Fountain City, Indiana

Sunday 10/18/2020: T.C. Steele State Historic Site,
Nashville, Indiana
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Click Above Links for More Details!

"South Shore Suite" by Jorge Muniz is a six movement composition for flute and classical guitar, commissioned by Duo Sequenza with the support of generous individual contributions. In celebration of the State of Indiana’s bicentennial year in 2016, this work was the centerpiece of Duo Sequenza's "Bi-Sequenz-ennial," Concert Season in 2016/17, and is a fresh and welcome new addition to the flute and classical guitar repertoire. The piece represents a journey across the Northwest Indiana Region, traveling by train on the South Shore Line.

​Dr. Jorge Muniz is gifted with a masterful compositional technique for both instruments, and has imaginatively captured compelling South Shore regional subjects and turned these into music.

A composer of international stature, Muniz lives in the easternmost area of the South Shore Region, near South Bend. Providentially, when approached by Duo Sequenza about writing a new piece of music featuring the Dunes area, he was riding the South Shore Rail Line to Chicago on a regular basis! Jorge’s evocative compositional style, residency in the Region, and heart-felt enthusiasm for this project, made him a singularly auspicious choice to write this brilliant new work.

“South Shore Suite” received its World Premiere at the historic Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso, Indiana, where Duo Sequenza serves as the Chamber-Ensemble-in-Residence, on January 18, 2017. 

With the support of a generous grant from the Indiana Arts Commission through its "Arts in the Parks and Historic Places" program, co-funded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana State Museum, Debra, Paul, and Jorge continued their artistic collaboration to develop "South Shore Suite" into "Journey Beyond the Notes," a full-length Interactive Concert Experience. This program toured throughout the state of Indiana for four summer-fall seasons, 2017 - 2020.

​During the event, audience members participate in musical activities with the artists and composer to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the music.  The interactive portion of the program is followed by a formal performance of the work in its entirety.

From the video, "Sound is all around us…but what exactly makes it music?"  This artistic event of exploration and discovery transports you on a bold musical adventure! Featuring lively creative interplay with the artists, our “Journey Beyond the Notes" is family and sensory-friendly! Come aboard for music in motion!"

Inspiration for the piece includes the love story of Indian Princess Mishawaka, the famous sand dune Mount Baldy, majestic Lake Michigan, the Indiana Dunes, the legend of Diana of the Dunes, and gangster John Dillinger. 

The music itself draws from diverse musical elements from musical traditions found throughout the state of Indiana: jazz, blues, country, R&B, as well as more contemporary hip-hop or rock elements. Aspects of these styles serve only as accessory contributions to a contemporary classically composed work written on a very organic compositional fabric. Certain musical objects are represented through judicious use extended instrumental techniques. Collage and fragmentation techniques aid in creating the imagery portrayed in each movement. The alto flute with its unique tonal colors contributes to the musical palette in the Mount Baldy movement.

“South Shore Suite” by Jorge Muniz and our "Journey Beyond the Notes" which has grown out of it, are a tribute to the Northwest Indiana Region. This major new addition to the flute and classical guitar repertoire is poised to become an appealing Midwest legacy to a national audience.

Music by Jorge Muniz, Script by Debra Silvert, Copyright 2017 Duo Sequenza