April 2014

Littoral

A Celebration of Muriel Spark

An evening of anecdotes and admiration celebrates the life and work of Muriel Spark in anticipation of a forthcoming collection of her essays and 8 republished novels (New Directions). With authors and editors Barbara Epler, Maud Newton, Sadie Stein, Emily Stokes and Thessaly LaForce with moderator Michael Barron.

The US Premiere of Evan Calder Williams' film "Violent X" features a live improvised soundtrack by Tokyo-based Taku Unami with Williams, joining a work of pulp and radical history to early instances of cinema narration and accompaniment. In a second set, Unami collaborates with Eugene Thacker and Jarrod Fowler.

Ultima Festival New York 2014

Henning Christiansen: Requiem of Art (NYC) Fluxorum Organum / Ne(x)tworks

Radical Danish artist Henning Christiansen’s performance work "Requiem of Art (NYC) Fluxorum Organum" receives its first NY presentation, in a new interpretation developed by Anton Lukoszevieze, who leads the superb Ne(x)tworks ensemble. The program includes works by Arne Nordheim, Shelley Burgon and Kristin Norderval.

Ultima Festival New York 2014

Serena-Maneesh & Vocal Ensemble / Frode Haltli

Ultima closes with attention turned to composer Arne Nordheim. Acclaimed Nordic group Serena-Maneesh & vocal ensemble perform Somnambulism, a tribute to Nordheim's musical spirit. His "Flashing" is performed by outstanding accordionist Frode Haltli, alongside works by Magnar Åm, Aldo Clementi, and Hans Abrahamsen.

Ultima Festival New York 2014

Lubomyr Melnyk / Antti Tolvi

First Unitarian Congregational Society: 116 Pierrepont St., Brooklyn, 11201

An afternoon concert pairs solo piano performances by the young Finnish musician Antti Tolvi and acclaimed composer/performer Lubomyr Melnyk, architect of the Continuous Music method. Both venture far outside the classical tradition, sharing an emphasis on the instrument's capacity for extended harmony and overtone.

Tomutonttu AKA Finnish sound artist Jan Anderzén (Kemialliset Ystävät) returns to ISSUE for a rare US show— an ecstatic combination of reed streams, mutilated voices, groovy animal noises. Italian free jazz combo Jooklo Duo collaborate with guitarist Bill Nace, best known as half of Body/Head.

Littoral

WSB100: Elliott Sharp & Steve Buscemi

ISSUE and WSB100 present a celebration of the legacy of William S. Burroughs during the 100th anniversary of the writer's birth. Actor, director, and writer Steve Buscemi and composer/multi-instrumentalist Elliott Sharp collaborate, creating a collage of sound and words from texts by William Burroughs.

Ultima Festival New York 2014

Jacob Kirkegaard presents Else Marie Pade, Yarn/Wire

Berlin-based Danish sound artist Jacob Kirkegaard presents Faust and other works by the pioneering electronic musician Else Marie Pade (not present). Acclaimed piano/percussion quartet Yarn/WIre perform works by composers Øyvind Torvund, Simon Steen-Andersen and Anna Thorvaldsdottir/Sigurdur Gudjonsson.

Mark Fell

Leftfield British electronics producer Mark Fell presents a tonal mix of extended duration including new and unreleased works by himself as well as references to the various traditions that have informed his practice, establishing a dialogue between techno, the American minimalists and tonal spectralism.

Ultima Festival New York 2014

Catherine Christer Hennix & Chora(s)san Time-Court Mirage

Catherine Christer Hennix appears alongside her Berlin-based just intonation ensemble Chora(s)san Time-Court Mirage as part of Ultima. In their first-ever US performance the group premieres Blues Alif Lam MimM, intended to reveal the blues' origins in the eastern musical traditions of raga and maqam musics.

Unsound Festival NY 2014

SOLD OUT! Ben Vida “Damaged Particulates (undersong edition)”

Experimental Intermedia: 224 Centre St, NYC

“Damaged Particulates (undersong edition)” is a new exploration of sub bass created by one the most prolific sound artists and electronic musicians in New York today, Ben Vida. Low frequencies will be transmitted directly to your body through seat-backs equipped with SubPac, a high-fidelity tactile audio system.

Unsound Festival NY 2014

Demdike Stare's "Concealed" / Phill Niblock / Stara Rzeka

First Unitarian Congregational Society: 116 Pierrepont St., Brooklyn, 11201

A special presentation of Demdike Stare’s audio-visual work “Concealed” is performed the Sinfonietta Cracovia players. Phill Niblock presents and solo work as well as "Unipolar Dance" for two violins. Stara Rzeka, a key player in Poland’s experimental scene offers "magical brutalism", blurring black metal and ambient.

Unsound Festival NY 2014

Sean Meehan & Ben Manley / Håkon Stene / Hubert Zemler

An afternoon percussion concert is headlined by Sean Meehan & Ben Manely, veterans of the NY scene since the 80s, who improvise duo. Warsaw-based Hubert Zemler plays solo, crossing new music, world music and improvisation. Norway’s Håkon Stene performs works by Lars Petter Hagen and Michael Pisaro.

Jason Lescalleet: "Trophy Tape"

Anthology Film Archives: 32 Second Ave, NYC 10003

ISSUE & Antholgy team up for an eclectic/electric evening with Jason Lescalleet, one of America’s most dedicated sound artists. Lescalleet commissioned 13 artists to create videos for the 13 tracks on the first disc of "Songs About Nothing", tonight features the audio-visual album plus shorts by collaborators.

Unsound Festival NY 2014

Oren Ambarchi: Knots / EVOL play Hanne Darboven

UNSOUND OPENING NIGHT: Oren Ambarchi presents a live version of “Knots” featuring percussionist Joe Talia and violist James Rushford leading the Sinfonietta Cracovia players. Spanish computer-music outfit EVOL premiere a new reinterpretation of conceptual artist and composer Hanne Darboven's legendary piece "Opus 17a".

David Grubbs reads from "Records Ruin the Landscape: John Cage, the Sixties, and Sound Recording", his long-awaited study of the role of sound recordings in representing experimental music of the 1960s. Grubbs is joined in discussion by a "jukebox jury" including Branden W. Joseph, Lisa Kahlden, and Marina Rosenfeld.