Speaking of Rzewski (and aren’t we always), he’ll be at Zankel Hall on Thursday night when the Opus 21 Ensemble presents an all-Fred birthday bash, highlighted by the world premiere of Natural Things, a major new work written specifically for Opus 21, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall, the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, and Opus 21 (with support from the Chamber Music America Commissioning Program).

Also on the program are Spots (1986), War Songs (2007-08) – NY Premiere, Attica (1972) and a two-piano performance of Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues (1980) with Stephen Drury manning the other piano. Festivities begin at 7:30; the composer’s actual birthday was April 13.

UPDATED:

The kids at Newspeak noticed that in one of my increasingly frequent senior moments I forgot to mention that they are presenting a concert at the Brooklyn Lyceum on Friday night, May 2, called Which Side Are You On- Music By, For, and Against Frederic Rzewski. Says here that the concert is “one part tribute to Rzewski, one part torch-passing, and one part challenge.” The program includes works by some young political composers, including Ted Hearne who just premiered his work the Katrina Ballads at Greenwich House in NYC a few weeks ago. The concert will be hosted by WNYC’s Evening Music host, Terrance McKnight, and there will be a moderated discussion between Newspeak director and composer David T. Little and composer Frederic Rzewski. For those of you who may not know, Newspeak is an eight-piece amplified ensemble, which fuses rock and classical traditions. Brooklyn Lyceum, (718) 857.4816

The New York Times noticed today that Henry Brant had died.