CONCERT PREVIEW: The Frequency Festival connects a far-flung constellation of sounds

The 2026 program, which includes the local debut of Norwegian alternate-tuning wizard Fredrik Rasten, draws a line through one-bit electronics, Scottish balladry, musically hybrid fictional history, and more.

by Bill Meyer February 4, 2026

“Given that the members of this local saxophone quartet chose the name ~Nois, you might expect, well, a lot of noise. But though the ensemble can raise a ruckus when the score demands, their approach is generally refined and precise. Because ~Nois formed in 2016, like the Frequency Festival they’re coming up on double digits. Their lineup has changed over time—it’s currently Julian Velasco on soprano, Natalia Warthen on alto, Jordan Lulloff on tenor, and János Csontos on baritone—but they’ve stayed steadfast in their mission to cultivate new music for saxophones. The group will present the world premiere of The Perpetual, Poly-Iterative, Multivalent, Transmodal, Vibe Maximizer, a concert-length work by Alex Mincek. Mincek is a saxophonist himself as well as a member of renowned group Wet Ink; his compositions often strive to make apparently incompatible sounds and methods work together.”