Wednesday, May 28, 2008

MUSIC FOR 6008 SPOKES-May 31


Received from Gregory Oh today.

Q: Do you still need cyclists? A: YES!!!
Q: Is it hard? A: NO!!!! (5 easy instructions)
Q: Is it fast? A: NO! (easy, comfortable pace, riding in formation)
Q: How do i join in the fun? A: Check out gregoryoh.com/6008 spokes for more details and instructions on how to register as a cyclist. No registration is needed to play "In C"
Q: Is Eine Brise a good piece? A: I have no idea...
Q: When is the rehearsal? A: Earlier that day - probably around noon or 1 pm.

May 31, 2008 - 3:00 p.m.

MUSIC FOR 6008 SPOKES
New Music Arts Projects
Track field, King Edward PS, 112 Lippincott St., Toronto

Sometimes a bicycle with a bell is more useful than a graduate degree in making music. Case in point - Mauricio Kagel's Eine Brise (procession) for 111 cyclists. The work may have been intended as a two-page testament to conceptual art, but mere technicalities cannot stop the two-wheeled artistic soul. A crticial mass of cyclists will ride around the audience in formation, creating a web of sonic undulation. It could sound wonderful, it could sound awful, but in truth we'll have no idea until the actual performance! If you have a bike with a bell or horn, are not too ashamed to make strange noises, and are interested in "riding" some Kagel, go to gregoryoh.com/6008spokes to find more details on how to join in the fun. If you want to participate but don't want to ride, we are looking for about 15 volunteers to help us out with the event.

On the same program, former Dancemaker Julia Aplin choreographs an ensemble of teenaged cyclists/dancers in her Bicycle Ballet, set to music by John Gzowski. Going far beyond obvious functionality, Aplin helps us to find new things to love and adore about our Mieles, Treks and Norcos, and the people who ride them

Finally, EVERYONE is invited to bring an instrument, or just their voice, and participate in an open performance of Terry Riley's In C. It is easy to play and lots of fun. Music is available at gregoryoh.com/6008 spokes. All are welcome to perform. If you've never played this work before, be brave and find out how fun and easy it is; if you have played this work before, you won't need any encouragement!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Technology in the Arts Conference

It was my privilege to present to people at the Technology in the Arts conference at the University of Waterloo May 9-10 on the subject of classical music in virtual reality.

My introductory presentation can be found here. In addition I have posted my backgrounder document with more detailed technical information here

But the magic really happened when Alessandro Marangoni, stepped up to the real piano in Italy and the virtual piano as Benito Flores and charmed the participants across oceans and media.