Friday 16 September 2005, 20.00–22.00

The American composer Alvin Lucier was an early pioneer of sound works which use systems as a generative device. He has since produced innovations in many areas of musical composition and performance, including the notation of physical gestures, the use of brain waves in live performance, and the evocation of room acoustics for musical purposes. His recent works include a series of performances in which, by means of close tunings with pure tones, sound waves are caused to spin through space.

For this series of performances, Lucier presents work that has a strong connection to the artistic strategies represented in Open Systems: Rethinking Art  c.1970. The programme features four compositions by Lucier; one piece by his former student, the late British composer, video artist and filmmaker Stuart Marshall;  work by noted British composer John White; as well as new work in the spirit of Lucier's practice by emerging composers John Lely, Andrew Morgan, and Tim Parkinson. The composers will perform their work in collaboration with a group of emerging musicians.

Provisional Programme:

Alvin Lucier (USA)
1. In Memoriam John Higgins for solo clarinet (1984)
2. Silver Street Car: For the Orchestra for solo triangle and microphone (1988)
3. Opera with Objects (1996)
4. Wave Songs for solo soprano (1997)
(total duration: 60')

Stuart Marshall (UK)
5. A Sagging and Reading Room for four cassette players

John White (UK)
6. Ricercare (1983, 10')

John Lely (UK)
7. White Noise Machine (2004, 10')

Tim Parkinson (UK)
8. Two Cardboard Boxes (2003, 10')

Andrew Morgan (USA/UK)
9. ? (2005)

Tate Modern  Starr Auditorium
£12 (£10 concessions), booking recommended

    

This event is related to the Open Systems: Rethinking Art c.1970 exhibition