Episode Twenty One – Kyle Gann

For those of us who were participants in and/or avid listeners to “new” and “experimental” music in the mid-to-late 20th century, Kyle Gann’s name is resonant with the history of the musical arts during those extraordinary years. He is a writer, educator and composer. As a columnist/critic for the Village Voice he documented the work of musical artists in New York City who were part of what became known as “Downtown Music.” He has written seven books and many articles on the music of composers and 20th century styles. As an educator he has been on the faculties at Bucknell University and Bard College. As a composer he has created a large body of work for ensembles, soloists and orchestral/chamber orchestras. In this episode we will discuss and listen to two of those works written or adapted for the Relache Ensemble. “Hesapa Ki Lakhota Ki Thawapi” is bases on a Lakhota flag song for flute, soprano saxophone, synthesizer and percussion. It was recorded in 1997 on Monroe Street Music. Movements 1 “Sun” and 2 “Venus” from “The Planets,” was written for the Relache Ensemble between 1994 and 2008. It was recorded in 2010 on the Meyer Media label. For more information about Kyle Gann, visit his website at http://www.kylegann.com. For more information on the Relache Chronicles, log on at http://www.relachechronicles.org.

Paul Epstein’s music is deceptive. What appear to be beautiful melodies set within easy-to-recognize harmonies that cradle traditional tonal centers demand careful listening. Those melodies and harmonies are tricky. They slip in and out of an aural context that’s been carefully designed by an artist who has carefully studied the music from Machaut to Stravinsky to Reich. As Kyle Gann has so beautifully written, “The music sounds simple, but actually it’s very intricate and tremendously inventive within small confines.”This episode features two works of Paul’s that were composed for the members of the Relache Ensemble. Paul was a close associate and friend of Relache for many years having composed ten works for the group and its members. We’ll feature two of those works, “Moving Voices” for two singers and flute and “Chamber Music: 3 Songs from Home” for singer Barbara Noska and the Relache Ensemble. To comment on Paul’s music, we’ve asked a former student of his in Philadelphia, Dustin Hurt to join us as we relive Paul’s music and life.

Episode Nineteen of the Relache Chronicles is the third of three dedicated to Music in Motion, a project created by the Relache Organization in partnership with the Atlantic Center for the Arts. Between 1995 and 2001 the Relache Ensemble and four other ensembles, each dedicated to the creation and performance of contemporary music, collaborated with five presenting organizations in five cities throughout the U.S. The intent was to collaborate with composers to create new works while interacting with a potential audience as the work was in development. An overarching goal was to enhance the audience for new musical works while expanding the repertoire of each ensemble. Phase One comprised the first three years. Phase Two comprised the second two years and introduced an interactive computer program named "The Virtual Concert," which was developed by composer-educator Mark Weber. In this episode Mark will discuss his role in the development of The Virtual Concert and the tools he created to compose a work for the Relache Ensemble while sharing those tools with the audience, both in person and virtually. Two works of Mark's will be played, "Disconnect IV," and "Asphalt Grooves."