Aphex Twin, Conlon Nancarrow, György Ligeti, Josquin, Harrison Birtwistle, The Shaggs—not a list of CDs owned by the
eclectic or indecisive, but rather a sample
of the intriguing programming in store for an evening of chamber music. Hailed by The New York Times as “the future of classical music,” the brilliant 20-member band known as Alarm Will Sound boasts “wild precision and brass balls” (Boston Weekly Dig). False impressions of classical music today will be obliterated this Halloween in Blacksburg.

With four CD releases available, the group consists of alums from the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY) now quite acquainted with performances at Carnegie Hall. Combining their diverse experiences in composition, improvisation, jazz and popular styles, early music and world music, they have established themselves as one of the leading chamber music groups of their kind. Alongside Eighth Blackbird and the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Alarm Will Sound introduced new options for the classical musicians of tomorrow and redefined the idea of a typical recital.

In the spirit of their smart, diverse programming, the Oct. 31 concert focuses on arrhythmia: the desire of rhythm, regularity, or pulse. In the 20th century, pulse versus a deliberate avoidance of rhythmic regularity fought to assert what proves truly inventive and deserving of intrinsic values. Focusing on these conflicting claims, Alarm Will Sound brings diversity to the table; offering works with tampered or unstable pulse. (Turn on your car radio, add your turn signal, and then imagine four other turn signals.) A fundamental beat grab listeners, while the conflicts keep us observant with the additional intriguing musical elements.

Composer Conlon Nancarrow serves as the most appropriate frame for the program, having his repertoire centered on music that juxtaposes rhythms. Think of two independent bass lines derived from a blues progression, stacked with a simple melody played above them (in four different tempi). In the 15th century, similarly minded Josquin had multiple voices singing the same thing, also at different speeds. In Nancarrow’s day, frustration with human limitations led to 40 years of music devoted to the player piano. Alarm Will Sound, however, performs Nancarrow’s music live.

Similar to Nancarrow’s influence from the vernacular, Alarm Will Sound will also perform music from their must-own-CD Acoustica, which features intelligent dance music by Aphex Twin. Classical music fans will also discover the cult following associated with The Shaggs, a group once proclaimed as “the most horrible” rock band ever (The New York Times).

In the midst of all this, the group features music by some of the most prominent classical composers, including the late, great György Ligeti. While perhaps the furthest removed from the previously mentioned music, the premise of the evening still holds true. Feeling reminiscent of his work for 100 ticking metronomes (yes, that’s 100 different tempi), listeners can enjoy a portion of Ligeti’s “Chamber Concerto.” The insinuation to machines found here (as well as in the work by Harrison Birtwistle) completes the highly varied yet integrated program.

So save your candy corn for later and see why Alarm Will Sound “has developed powerful ideas about how to renovate the concert experience,” (Alex Ross, The Rest is Noise). From the head bobber to the ultra-polyrhythmic fan, all should make their way to Squires Recital Salon in Blacksburg at 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

C.R. Kasprzyk is a classically trained composer and saxophonist and currently serves on faculty at Bluefield College.