Event overview
The Contemporary Music Ensemble directed by Mira Benjamin, give this immersive performance of Julius Eastman’s large scale chamber work, Femenine.
Julius Eastman (born in 1940) was a gay African-American composer of works that were minimal in form but maximal in effect, who had a life of minimal possessions combined with outrageous behavior. He was also an incredible performer (vocalist and pianist), best known for singing on the 1973 Grammy-nominated Nonesuch recording of Peter Maxwell Davies's 'Eight Songs for a Mad King'.
In late 1981 or early 1982, Eastman was evicted from his apartment in New York City. City marshals placed his belongings on the sidewalk, including all of his scores, and Eastman walked away, leaving everything behind. After years of drifting in and out of homeless shelters, he died in a hospital in Buffalo in May of 1990. The first obituary, by Kyle Gann in the Village Voice, appeared nine months later.
“Eastman’s stated aim with 'Femenine' was to please listeners, saying of the piece that ‘the end sounds like the angels opening up heaven . . . should we say euphoria?’” –Mary Jane Leach
Free event, all welcome
Photograph of Julius Eastman by Donald W. Burkhardt
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Mar 2019 | 8:00pm - 9:30pm |
Accessibility
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