John Cage News

21C Music Festival - five days of newly-minted music during which audiences have an opportunity to experience fresh new sounds and ideas from the greatest musical minds of today - moves from May to January with the sixth edition of the festival. From January 16 to 20, this edition will celebrate the American minimalist composer Terry Riley, with his music being performed in three of the concerts, including one that he will headline, titled Terry Riley: Live at 85! Additionally, more than a half of the works presented during the festival will be receiving premieres - 6 world, 1 North American, 10 Canadian, 4 Ontario, and 1 Toronto, by 10 Canadian composers.

Heresy Records has announced the release of Testamenta new album by theater composer Mel Mercier, the son of Peadar Mercier, (one of the founders of The Chieftans) who was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play, and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design.Testament is an album of eleven music compositions by Mel Mercier (born. 23. December, 1959), and holds the titles of Composer/Percussionist/Professor, and Chair of Performing Arts at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Executive Producer Diane Borger, announces the return of American Modern Opera Company (AMOC) for its second annual Run AMOC! Festival December 14-16, 2018. The "hot-bed of boundary-pushing, inventive, chance-taking artists" (ZEALnyc) will present four pieces featuring company members at venues around Harvard Square in Cambridge.

Long-time westsider musicians Mari Kimura (violinist/composer) and Bruce Brubaker (piano) will join up for 'CODEX to CAGE' an eclectic concert program in the heart of Upper West Side on Monday, December 10 at 7:30 PM at North of History, 445 Columbus Avenue (81-82 Street).  Kimura will perform solo violin works ranging from Bach to Ioanis Xenakis to works of her own. Brubaker, who heads the Piano program at the New England Conservatory and is a renowned interpreter of Philip Glass and Terry Riley, will perform works from his repertoire, including 'Codex Faenza,' a 15th-century manuscript that Brubaker has arranged. Kimura and Brubaker will join forces in their interpretation of John Cage's 'Fontana Mix' to conclude the concert.

AILEEN PASSLOFF,  STEPPING FORWARD: One Foot (in front of the other) A program of dances by Aileen Passloff  with reconstructions of the choreographies of James Waring and Remy Charlip  And screenings of excerpts from two of Marta Renzi's films   Sunday January 13 at 3 PM 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue Tickets: $25 in advance; $35 at the door Reservations: 212.415.5500  or  www.92y.org/event/dig-dance-aileen-passloff  

Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist singersongwriter Raul Midon performs beyond any labels, styles, or genres. Las Vegas audiences will get to enjoy this unique performer at Myron's Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 9.

On Saturday, November 17, the LA Phil will take a deep dive into the experimental and influential Fluxus movement with Fluxconcert, one of the largest Fluxus events ever to be put on by a major symphony orchestra. Designed to dissolve the perceived boundaries between audience, musician, and work, Fluxconcert will activate Walt Disney Concert Hall with sound, light, and action emanating from throughout the building. It will be an evening of chance encounters, unexpected delights, and historic performances including:

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) announces the naming of its Studio 4B for the great American entertainer, actor, singer, and comedian Danny Kaye (1911-1987) and his wife Sylvia Fine Kaye (1913-1991), an accomplished lyricist, composer, and producer who mostly collaborated with her husband, writing material that he performed. The dedication completes the naming of all of BAC's studios and theaters for gifted artists, friends and/or mentors to Founder and Artistic Director Mikhail Baryshnikov-a roster that includes philanthropist Howard Gilman; artists Jerome Robbins, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Rudolf Nureyev; and BAC's founding managing director emerita, Christina Sterner.

On Today, October 19, 2018 at 8:00pm, Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) presents a performance by Jace Clayton aka DJ /rupture in conjunction with the African Americans in WNC & Southern Appalachia Conference. The event features Clayton's latest video The Jacob Lawrence of Jacob Lawrence, a hand-drawn animation with texts that form part of the script for the live performance, inspired by BMCM+AC's landmark exhibition Between Form and Content: Perspectives on Jacob Lawrence.

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Rosanne Cashreturns to Carnegie Hall this season to curate and host American Byways, a two-concert exploration in Zankel Hall highlighting the rich and disparate elements in American roots music.

From October 31 - November 4 at The Harman Center for the Arts in the heart of the nation's capital, The Washington Ballet will showcase its range of abilities and depth of versatility in an extraordinary program that pays tribute to the 20th century's most accomplished American modern choreographers. Contemporary Masters will include iconic works by three of the greatest influencers of modern American dance, Mark Morris, Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor.  

American Composers Orchestra (ACO) will open its 2018-2019 season with a concert honoring Phenomenal Women presented by Carnegie Hall in Zankel Hall on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 7:30pm. The performance, conducted by ACO Music Director George Manahan, will feature the world premiere of Valerie Coleman's Phenomenal Women performed by the Imani Winds with ACO; as well as the world premiere of Alex Temple's Three Principles of Noir with singer Meaghan Burke, director Amber Treadway, and costumes by Storm Garner. Grammy and Grawemeyer Award-winning composer Joan Tower's Chamber Dance from 2006, which treats the orchestra as a chamber ensemble, completes the program.

American Composers Orchestra (ACO) will open its 2018-2019 season with a concert honoring Phenomenal Women presented by Carnegie Hall in Zankel Hall on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 7:30pm. The performance, conducted by ACO Music Director George Manahan, will feature the world premiere of Valerie Coleman's Phenomenal Women performed by the Imani Winds with ACO; as well as the world premiere of Alex Temple's Three Principles of Noir with singer Meaghan Burke, director Amber Treadway, and costumes by Storm Garner. Grammy and Grawemeyer Award-winning composer Joan Tower's Chamber Dance from 2006, which treats the orchestra as a chamber ensemble, completes the program.

On Friday, October 19, 2018 at 8:00pm, Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) presents a performance by Jace Clayton aka DJ /rupture in conjunction with the African Americans in WNC & Southern Appalachia Conference. The event features Clayton's latest video The Jacob Lawrence of Jacob Lawrence, a hand-drawn animation with texts that form part of the script for the live performance, inspired by BMCM+AC's landmark exhibition Between Form and Content: Perspectives on Jacob Lawrence.

On Friday 25th January 2019 Heresy Records will release Testament, an album of eleven compositions by Mel Mercier (b. 23. December, 1959), Composer/Percussionist/Professor and Chair of Performing Arts at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. Mel was first introduced to music by his father, Peadar Mercier, a member of the Chieftains, who taught him to play the Irish traditional percussion instruments, the bodhrán and bones. As one of the world's leading Irish percussionists He has performed and recorded with many of the leading artists in this genre including, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Donal Lunny, Pallé Mikkleborg, Martin Hayes, Liam Ó Maonlaoi, Alan Stivell, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Caitríona O'Leary and Bill Whelan.

Symphony's OPENING NIGHT GALA, spotlighting violinist Joshua Bell, boded well for the 2018-19 season to come and the orchestra's celebration of Charlotte's 250th anniversary.

The highly-acclaimed, young Ariel Quartet returns to New York City in the fall of 2018 with two captivating performances: as a part of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra's Nightcap series, as well as the Aspect Foundation for Music & Arts series, based at The Italian Academy of Columbia University.

Tras enfatizar que uno de los compromisos del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA) es ofrecer lo mejor del arte contemporáneo universal, la directora general del INBA, Lidia Camacho, inauguró la exposición Escuchar con los ojos. Arte sonoro en España.

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) continues its Fall 2018 season on Monday, October 15, 2018 at 7:30pm with the New York-based chamber ensemble yMusic at BAC's Jerome Robbins Theater (450 W. 37th Street). yMusic applies its virtuosic execution and unique ensemble configuration (string trio, flute, clarinet, and trumpet) to New York Premieres by two of today's foremost composers – Bryce Dessner and Nico Muhly – and additional works by Gabriel Kahane,Gabriella Smith, and Andrew Norman.

Composer Patrick Grant re-releases his first album 'FIELDS AMAZE and other sTRANGE music' on his label Peppergreen Media. It's remixed, remastered, and reimagined - with bonus material.