A composer and pianist active across multiple musical communities, Iyer has created a consistently innovative, emotionally resonant body of work over the last twenty-five years, earning him a place as one of the leading music-makers of his generation. – ECM RecordsĬomposer bio: Described by The New York Times as a “social conscience, multimedia collaborator, system builder, rhapsodist, historical thinker and multicultural gateway,” Vijay Iyer has carved out a unique path as an influential, prolific, shape-shifting presence in twenty-first-century music. Iyer gives a positive value to the concept of ‘mutation’ in this music, and variously appears in it as an interpreter of notated elements, as an improviser, and as “a sort of laptop artist, mixing in noise and different sounds,” encouraging the transformative processes. Through thematic interactivity, the interweaving of acoustic and electronic sound-textures, and some decisive improvisational interventions in notated music, Vijay Iyer has created a multi-faceted suite whose very subject is change. VIJAY IYER Mutations IV, VI, and VII for string quartet, piano and electronics (2005)Ībout the work: A major piece built out of cells and fragments, veers through many atmospheres, from moment to moment propulsive, enveloping, lyrical, luminescent, and strangely beautiful.

Threadgill is an early member of the AACM.

The New York Times has called him “perhaps the most important jazz composer of his generation.” Threadgill is a recipient of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Music for In for a Penny, In for a Pound. ”Ĭomposer bio: For over forty years, Henry Threadgill has been celebrated as one of the most forward-thinking composers and multi- instrumentalists in American music. The score and parts are available for free online at. “This piece was commissioned for Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire, a project of the Kronos Performing Arts Association. That’s why improvisation is so important… We won’t improve anything unless we have an improvisational approach to life.” We get to where we are because of exploration. It’s a shame that the classical concert world doesn’t understand how important it is… Everything is about exploration. “Kronos knows it’s important and I know it’s important. “The improvisational component is very important,” he said in an interview while describing his philosophy which guided the creation of this piece. HENRY THREADGILL Sixfivetwo (2018) for string quartet – Seattle PremiereĪbout the work: Henry Threadgill composed Sixfivetwo, a 12-minute work for string quartet that includes opportunities for players to improvise.

Carnatic music violin notes