Celebrations of the John Cage centennial begin in earnest at Juilliard with the annual Focus! festival dedicated to his music. The six concerts, running January 27-February 3, are almost all-Cage. The only exception is the January 30 event titled “Launching the Percussion Revolution” which includes Henry Cowell‘s Ostinato Pianissimo (1934) and Lou Harrison‘s Concerto for Organ with Percussion Orchestra (1973) with soloist Benjamin Sheen. Daniel Druckman leads the Juilliard Percussion Ensemble. Otherwise, the festival features about 38 different works from all stages of Cage’s career. Festival director Joel Sachs conducts the New Juilliard Ensemble in the final event. And tickets are free.
Here’s the full rundown of events:
FOCUS! FESTIVAL 2012
SOUNDS RE-IMAGINED: JOHN CAGE AT 100
Friday, January 27, 8 PM, Peter Jay Sharp Theater (Juilliard, 155 West 65th Street)
Lara Secord-Haid, soprano
Davone Tines, bass-baritone
59 ½” For a String Player (1953)
Nocturne for Violin and Piano (1947)
Living Room Music (1940)
In a Landscape (1948)
Theater Piece (1960)
Postcard from Heaven (1982)
Imaginary Landscape No. 4 (March No. 2) (1951)
The Südwest Juilliard Radio Orchestra, Joel Sachs, founding conductor
Aria 2 and 2B, from Song Books Vol. 1 (1970) with Solos from Concert for Piano and Orchestra (1958)
Monday, January 30, 8 PM, Peter Jay Sharp Theater
Juilliard Percussion Ensemble
Daniel Druckman, director
Benjamin Sheen, organ
“Launching the Percussion Revolution”
Henry Cowell – Ostinato Pianissimo (1934)
John Cage – Three2 (1991)
John Cage – Third Construction (1941)
John Cage – Credo In Us (1942)
Lou Harrison – Concerto for Organ with Percussion Orchestra (1973)
Tuesday, January 31, 7 PM, Peter Jay Sharp Theater
Pre-Concert Panel with Pia Gilbert, Joan La Barbara, Laura Kuhn, and Margaret Leng Tan
Joel Sachs, moderator
Tuesday, January 31, 8 PM, Peter Jay Sharp Theater
Music for Wind Instruments (1938)
ear for EAR (1983)
Music Walk (1958)
“44 Harmonies” from Apartment House 1776 (1976)
Arr. string quartet by Irvine Arditti
27’10.554” For a Percussionist (1956) with excerpts from 45’ for a Speaker (1954)
Wednesday, February 1, 8 PM, Paul Hall (Juilliard, 155 West 65th Street)
The Wonderful Widow of Eighteen Springs (1942)
Nowth Upon Nacht (1984)
But What About the Noise of Crumpling Paper… (1985)
The JPC Ensemble
String Quartet in Four Parts (1950)
Eight Whiskus (1985)
Some of “The Harmony of Maine” (1978)
Sonatas and Interludes, Part III (1946-48)
Thursday, February 2, 8 PM, Paul Hall
Five Songs for Contralto (1938)
Six Melodies for Violin and Keyboard (1950)
Imaginary Landscape No. 1 (1939)
Etudes Boreales, Nos. I and III (1978)
Sonnekus2 (1985) with Satie Cabaret Songs
Child of Tree (1975)
The Perilous Night (1944)
Friday, February 3, 8 PM, Alice Tully Hall (Broadway and 65th Street)
New Juilliard Ensemble
Joel Sachs, director and conductor
Katya Gruzglina, soprano
Lilla Heinrich Szász, soprano
Nathaniel La Nasa, prepared piano
Allegra Chapman, piano
Fourteen (1990) with Litany for the Whale (1980)
The Seasons (1947)
Concerto for Prepared Piano and Chamber Orchestra (1950-51)
Excerpts from Sixteen Dances (1950-51)
Concert for Piano and Orchestra (1957-58) with Aria (1958)
Photo: John Cage by Rhoda Nathans, Courtesy of the John Cage Trust
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