The evolution of the Yamaha Disklavier has matched step for step changes in technology. Technological enhancements to the instrument have attracted the attention of electro-acoustic composers and performers.To explore what many composers have done with the disklavier the Electronic Music Foundation has been presenting a series of concerts, The Extended Piano, at the White Box Gallery on Broome Street.
Electronic Music Foundation Website
Entrance to the White Box Gallery on Broome Street
On April 1, seven composer/performers showcased their work with the disklavier with each incorporating the instrument with different instruments. The result was a marvelous display of creativity and invention. Certainly the most colorful was Balls by Miya Masaoka. Although originally composed for Kathleen Supove for piano, disklavier and ping pong balls, Ms. Masaoka transcribed the work for laser koto, disklavier and extra large ping pong balls. The motions of her hands and arms as she interrupted the laser beams to activate processed sounds from the disklavier and koto were marvelous to watch. In addition, she monitored and worked with her computer and played the koto with choreographed perfection. Sonically, it was fascinating to hear the evocative sounds of the traditional koto placed up against processed koto sounds and the sounds of the disklavier.
Immediately preceding Balls was Arbelos by Stefabi Bassanese. An Italian composer associated with such names as Luigi Nono and Mauricio Kagel, Mr. Bassanese has here created a work where a live performer, in this case Jenny Lin, whose Ligeti recital I had just heard, interacts with the disklavier as if playing a duet, but with both "performers" playing the entire keyboard and not just limited to treble or bass registers as is the case with a tradition piano duet. The work begins with a dreamy, floating ethereal sound that moves into a very nervous, spiky and highly driven section. In this section especially, I imagine that the the challenge of a live performer navigating the keys and intersecting with pinpoint precision with the pre-recorded sounds, would be great. The music then returns to the dreamy, ethereal sounds of the opening to finish out the work.
I was delighted to see that one of my favorite performance artists, Pamela Z, would be performing one of her works, in this case a structured improvisation called pf. In addition to the disklavier and her own singing, she also used an ultrasonic controller. Often, the disklavier would play single notes. Her use of interactive sound processing to create layers that function almost like a chorus was quite fascinating to experience and, on occasion, her beautiful natural voice would emerge.
The same is not the same by percussionist Lukas Ligeti (son of Gyorgy Ligeti) kicked off the program with a virtuoso duo between a drum kit and the disklavier. The music moved from minimalistic to bebop and finally to a very strange but convincing duo of disklavier playing an imitation of preclassical galant music (complete with Alberti-styled bass patterns) with interjections by the drum kit. He shares with his father a fascination with polyrhythms and African percussion practices but has at least one foot and one arm in the rock world.
Other works on the program included Nolnoc for bass clarinet, electronics and disklavier by NYC downtown music fixture Elliott Sharp (a work dedicated to Conlon Nancarrow);The Talking Cure for recitation, electronics and disklavier) by Alvin Lucier protege Nicholas (Nick) Collins; and Equilibrium for disklavier and visuals by R. Luke DuBois where the disklavier generates a visual language that corresponds to a performative action.
This dip into some cutting-edge uses of electronics prompted me to visit Harvestworks on Broadway, a studio that provides musician with a space and some equipment to experiment with. On April 3rd I got to take in a little of a celebration honoring Lawrence Casserly, longtime British composer, performer and collaborator in the realm of real-time electro-acoustic music.
Experiencing cutting-edge activities in music was one of the reasons I wanted to come to New York and these experiences have always left me wanting more.
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