Tuesday 5 May 2015

Mountains and Waves: Bryce Dessner and New American Music

Image - Hiroshi Sugimoto
Image Hiroshi Sugimoto
The Barbican is continuing its vein of programming in the interesting intersection between popular, classical and experimental. Following on from weekends devoted to Nonsuch Records, and curated by Nico Muhly, on 9-10 May 2015 there will be a weekend of events curated by Bryce Dessner, composer, guitarist and member of rock band The National. The weekend will focus on an emerging American generation, featuring new music and multi-arts performances inspired by the landscape of the USA.

Highlights from an action packed weekend includes the world premiere of Wave Movements by Bryce Dessner and Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry, performed by the Britten Sinfonia with Maddy Prior and featuring visuals by Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto; the European premiere of Round-Up, a musical and cinematic portrait of the classic American rodeo, conceived by Sufjan Stevens with cinematographers Aaron and Alex Craig, performed by percussion/piano quartet Yarn/Wire; the UK premieres of two new pieces by Bryce Dessner written for Chicago-based ensemble eighth blackbird and New York City percussion quartet So Percussion; the European premiere of Black Mountain Songs, a multimedia song cycle inspired by North Carolina’s Black Mountain College with music by Bryce Dessner, Richard Reed Parry, Caroline Shaw, Tim Hecker and others, presented by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.

More classic scores include Terry Riley’s In C and Steve Reich’s Drumming, plus music by Philip Glass, Michael Gordon, John Luther Adams, composers from Sleeping Giant collective, including Timo Andres. There will be solo performances from sound artist Tim Hecker with special guest Kara-Lis Coverdale, organist James McVinnie and musician and composer Caroline Shaw.

Further information and tickets from the Barbican website.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Popular Posts this month