Composers Concordance: Charles Vs. Gene
Free
- Sishel Claverie, mezzo-soprano
- Michiyo Suzuki, clarinet
- Lynn Bechtold, violin
- Markus Kaitila, piano
- Robert C. Ford, poetry
- Seth Boustead, moderator
On Thursday, October 31st at 7pm Eastern, Composers Concordance presents "Charles Vs. Gene." Charles Coleman and Gene Pritsker have been friendly adversaries for over 30 years. On the friendly side, they have performed each other's music and have a genuine admiration and respect for each other's "awesome" craft. On the adversary side, Charles and Gene have argued about the purpose of music, how it should be composed, arranged, performed, "mistakes" in each other's scores, composers that suck, don't suck, etc. A lot of these issues between them usually come up when there are a few beers involved.
In the end, they decided.....let's settle this! Who is the better composer?!
So, on Halloween Night at Kostabi World in NYC, it's going to happen!
Both of them have composed four works each, with the same titles and instrumentation (clarinet, violin, and piano). One of which is an arrangement of a work by their friend Mark Kostabi. He will judge which of the two arrangements of his music he likes best.
Other works involve the poetry of Imelda O'Reilly (sung by the mezzo-soprano Sishel Claverie) and Robert C. Ford (who will recite his words as their music is being performed), both poets will judge which composer did the best musical setting of their works.
And finally! Charles and Gene have also written a work called Versus for the aforementioned instrumentation. The AUDIENCE gets to vote on which "Versus" piece they like best!
Moderator Seth Boustead will sit between the two composers on stage and make sure it's a civil competition and no one gets hurt.
The in-person event will also be livestreamed on Composers Concordance's Facebook Page.
About Composers Concordance
Staying in rotation for 40 years in NYC is a rare feat. In the case of a new music presenting organization, it requires not only diligence and cognizance of achievements of the past but also an ethic of keeping one's ear to the ground for emerging stylistic and technological developments, as well as talented new composers on the scene.
Composers Concordance, founded in 1984 by Joseph Pehrson and Patrick Hardish, advised by Otto Luening, strives to present contemporary music in innovative ways, with an emphasis on thematic programming. Directors Gene Pritsker and Dan Cooper co-curate the programs and lead the CompCord Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra, and Big Band. Associate Directors are Milica Paranosic, Peter Jarvis, Debra Kaye, and Seth Boustead.
Composers Concordance has also created a Naxos-distributed record label: Composers Concordance Records, co-directed by Peter Jarvis. Composers Concordance's overriding vision is to promote contemporary music, composers, and new works as a rightful and respected part of society. Good music performed and recorded well, pushing the boundaries of sound and composition.
http://www.composersconcordance.comAbout Sishel Claverie, mezzo-soprano
About Michiyo Suzuki, clarinet
About Lynn Bechtold, violin
Violinist/composer Lynn Bechtold, a native of Pittsburgh, has appeared in recital throughout the U.S., Argentina, Canada, France, Holland, Japan, and Switzerland. An advocate of new music, she has worked with composers such as Derek Bermel, Carter Burwell, Gloria Coates, George Crumb, Beatriz Ferreyra, John Harbison, and Morton Subotnick, and has premiered works on the Tribeca New Music Festival and the Princeton Composers' Series. In 2001, she gave the premiere of Violynn, a work for violin and electronics written for her by Alvin Lucier. All About Jazz noted her for her "virtuosity and technical expertise," I CARE IF YOU LISTEN pointed out her "brilliance of sound, technical mastery, and stunning expressivity," San Diego Story called her "unapologetically dominating," and Strings Magazine labeled her "impressive" and "close to the edge."
https://www.violynn.net/