Composer Blogs@Sequenza21.com
Composer/keyboardist/producer Elodie Lauten creates operas, music for dance and theatre, orchestral, chamber and instrumental music. Not a household name, she is however widely recognized by historians as a leading figure of post-minimalism and a force on the new music scene, with 20 releases on a number of labels.

Her opera Waking in New York, Portrait of Allen Ginsberg was presented by the New York City Opera (2004 VOX and Friends) in May 2004, after being released on 4Tay, following three well-received productions. OrfReo, a new opera for Baroque ensemble was premiered at Merkin Hall by the Queen's Chamber Band, whose New Music Alive CD (released on Capstone in 2004) includes Lauten's The Architect. The Orfreo CD was released in December 2004 on Studio 21. In September 2004 Lauten was composer-in-residence at Hope College, MI. Lauten's Symphony 2001, was premiered in February 2003 by the SEM Orchestra in New York. In 1999, Lauten's Deus ex Machina Cycle for voices and Baroque ensemble (4Tay) received strong critical acclaim in the US and Europe. Lauten's Variations On The Orange Cycle (Lovely Music, 1998) was included in Chamber Music America's list of 100 best works of the 20th century.

Born in Paris, France, she was classically trained as a pianist since age 7. She received a Master's in composition from New York University where she studied Western composition with Dinu Ghezzo and Indian classical music with Ahkmal Parwez. Daughter of jazz pianist/drummer Errol Parker, she is also a fluent improviser. She became an American citizen in 1984 and has lived in New York since the early seventies

Visit Elodie Lauten's Web Site
Sunday, September 11, 2005
LaMonte Still Young

The event of the month takes place at the MELA Foundation Dream House, 275 Church St, 3rd Floor, between Franklin & White St, on Saturdays, September 17 and 24 at 9PM: La Monte Young’s Trio for Strings, both versions, the original 1958 version, which was actually LaMonte’s last serial work – yes, for those who didn’t know, the ultimate pioneer of minimalist started out as a Webern-influenced serialist… and the new just intonation version revised in 1984, 2001 and 2005. There are certain works in the lifetime of a composer that are more meaningful and deserved to be revisited, and this is one of them. The performers are Garcia Ouzounian, violin and viola, Erik Ulman, violin and viola, Reynard Rott, cello, led by Charles Curtis, cello. This is one of those rare performances that are not to be missed. A few years back, I remember a performance of the ‘hold B and F# for a long time’ piece, and that was unforgettable.

Also note, the Dream House will be open for the 2005-06 season from 2PM to midnight Thursdays and Saturdays through June 17, 2006.

Completing this revisiting of early minimalism, a Robert Smithson (most well known for his provocative earthwork, the Spiral Jetty, 1970) event takes place on the water at the pier by Canal Street around 6PM… if you’re going to be in Tribeca on Saturday… it’s worth checking out.