May 2011 - Sequenza21

Composers, Concerts, Contemporary Classical, Festivals, File Under?, Interviews, Performers, Philadelphia, Piano

Marilyn Nonken talks about Feldman Festival

Pianist Marilyn Nonken is performing Triadic Memories on June 4 in Philadelphia as part of “American Sublime,” a festival devoted to the works of Morton Feldman. Marilyn was kind enough to tell us a bit about working on Feldman’s music, as well as some of her other upcoming projects. -What were your early encounters with Feldman’s music like? I can’t remember my first live Feldman experience as a listener. One of the first works I remember hearing was FOR SAMUEL BECKETT. My first experience playing Feldman was with Ensemble 21, when we performed VIOLIN VIOLA CELLO PIANO, which was

May 31, 2011April 18, 2025 by Christian Carey

Composers, Concert review, Contemporary Classical

Review: Don Freund’s PASSION With Tropes

Full disclosure is necessary up front: last year I had the pleasure of studying composition with Don Freund at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University. Our working relationship was fruitful and inspiring, and I left his studio with new insight, skills, and quite a lot of new music. So what are some of the important things I learned from him? Passion, energy and confidence are infectious. Anything goes stylistically when instilled with passion, energy and confidence. Know thy instruments and use them with passion, energy and confidence. Take risks and don’t be afraid to fall flat on your face

May 30, 2011April 18, 2025 by Jeremy Podgursky

Chamber Music, Composers, Concerts, Contemporary Classical, Festivals, Philadelphia

Feldman Festival in Philly

Anyone who thinks that straightened circumstances of a still sluggish economy have dampened the ambitions of concert presenters need look no further than Philadelphia to see a sublime idea at work. Bowerbird, a Philly-based non-profit, is mounting “American Sublime,” a seven concert festival devoted to the works of New York School composer Morton Feldman (1926-’87). The concerts run from June 4-12, with ticket prices ranging from free to $20. Marilyn’s hands. Photo by Peter Schütte Excerpt from Triadic Memories, performed by Marilyn Nonken on Mode 136 Courtesy Mode Records A M E R I C A N S U B L I M E A

May 28, 2011May 28, 2011 by Christian Carey

Chicago, Contemporary Classical, Flute, Percussion

Third Coast Percussion join with 8bb’s Tim Munro on the Mayne Stage in Chicago

One of Chicago’s most notable chamber ensembles, Third Coast Percussion, joined forces on Tuesday evening with flutist Tim Munro (of eighth blackbird) to create an intriguing evening exploring music from the 20th and 21st centuries. While flute and percussion might not be an obvious combination, it worked extremely well with the assistance of some subtle amplification that did not detract or distract from the overall performance and actually assisted in giving what would have been an overly dry ambience some life. The concert was well-programmed with a healthy balance between new works by Australian composer Anthony Pateras and Third Coast

May 25, 2011 by Rob Deemer

Composers, Concerts, Contemporary Classical, File Under?, Interviews

Talea plays Neuwirth Tonight!

As I mentioned yesterday, Talea Ensemble will be giving a concert of works by Olga Neuwirth in New York City on Tuesday at 8 PM (Details/tickets here). The group’s percussionist, Alex Lipowski, was kind enough to talk with me about Talea’s activities of late and tomorrow’s show. – This has been a busy season for Talea Ensemble. Do you feel that the group’s reach and activities are expanding of late? The 2010-‘11 season has been an amazing collection of projects for Talea and we are so grateful for each of them. One of our goals is to reach as wide

May 24, 2011May 24, 2011 by Christian Carey

Contemporary Classical, Online, Radio

Call for recorded music written to commemorate 9/11 tragedy

We Remember September 11 // 24 Hour WPRB Live Radio Marathon At the 10th anniversary of September 11, Classical Discoveries with Marvin Rosen will present a 24 hour live radio marathon, totally devoted to music written by composers from many countries as a reaction to the unforgettable events of that day. The program will air on WPRB 103.3 Princeton and around the world at www.wprb.com and will start on Saturday, September 10 at 7:00pm ET until 7:00pm the next day, Sunday, September 11, 2011. Marvin has already in quite impressive collection of 9/11 works some of which have already been

May 21, 2011May 21, 2011 by Steve Layton

Opera

Elodie Lauten’s The Death of Don Juan

This musical creation – call it theater or call it opera – with its live dancing singers and singing dancers – one-person virtual orchestra with live guitar and psychedelic visual imagery projections on the floor, is an entirely new production, with a 2010-11 score, of Elodie Lauten‘s iconic, The Death of Don Juan, (originally conceived in 1981), with its present premiere showing at the Theater for the New City. This is an amazing production of a compelling musical, visual and visceral work, with wonderful sound – magical – with Ms. Lauten controlling the Electronic Orchestra, and excellent performances by the

May 18, 2011May 18, 2011 by Mark Greenfast

Choral Music, Classical Music, Concerts, Contemporary Classical, Events

PASSION with Tropes by Don Freund

Art by Margaret Dolinsky, Copyright 2011 Dear Colleagues, If you are in the vicinity of Bloomington, Indiana, come join us at the premiere of the 2011 version of Don Freund‘s PASSION with Tropes, scheduled for May 20 and 21 at the Ruth N. Hall Theatre of Indiana University. Originally conceived as a monumental oratorio for large forces, it was adapted by Freund for an immersive and interactive multidisciplinary production. In this 80-minute version, PASSION with Tropes is cast for actors, dancers, and an ensemble of approximately 40 voices and instrumentalists who take multiple roles as soloists, chamber groups and even

May 15, 2011May 15, 2011 by Carmen-Helena Tellez

Birthdays, Composers, Contemporary Classical, Experimental Music

Alvin at 80

Daniel Wolf’s appreciation is better than anything I need to muster, so I’ll just say Happy Birthday Alvin Lucier, wonderful milestone, and thanks for some of the most beautifully pure musical and sonic revelations ever conceived. Update: While I still don’t have much to add, I will point you to this wonderful discovery… In 1972-3, When (now long & well-established) experimental composer/performer Nicolas Collins was a fresh-faced freshman in college, he took Lucier’s Introduction to Electronic Music class. Good student he was, Collins also took copious notes on what Lucier taught them during those two semesters. Collins has gone ahead

May 14, 2011May 15, 2011 by Steve Layton

Contemporary Classical

Trade you a Phil Glass for a Billy Bolcom and a composer to be named later

As a boy, Joe Polisi dreamed of being a major league baseball player. Alas, not everyone grows up to be Derek Jeter so Joe “settled” for becoming Dr. Joseph William Polisi, president of The Juilliard School since September 1984, bringing to that position his previous experience as a college administrator, a writer in the fields of music, public policy and the arts, and an accomplished bassoonist. And, Wednesday, he made it into the Hall of Fame–not the one in Cooperstown, but the The American Classical Music Hall of Fame, a national institution, based in Cincinnati, the biggest little town in America

May 14, 2011May 16, 2011 by Jerry Bowles

Month: May 2011