Event overview
The Lost Tape Music of Conlon Nancarrow
Reclusive Mexican/American maverick Conlon Nancarrow composed some of the most beautifully complex music ever created using an early form of digital programming – punching holes into a roll of paper to be played on a player piano. His original ambition in the late 1940’s however was to create a complete mechanical orchestra. Lacking the engineering resources this was soon abandoned, but not before it was used as source material for what is one of the most unusual pieces of early music concrete. This presentation will tell the story of this little known work and illustrate some of the innovative compositional strategies that Nancarrow employed at this time and throughout his unique career.
Dominic Murcott is a composer, percussionist, curator and educator based in London. In April 2012 he curated the critically acclaimed festival “Impossible Brilliance: The Music of Conlon Nancarrow” at London's Southbank Centre, contributing among other things new Nancarrow arrangements for the London Sinfonietta and a new composition for percussionist Joby Burgess. His current projects include a new ensemble piece around a 1/2 tonne bronze bell specially made in collaboration with sculptor Marcus Vergette and a new film and performance work for virtuoso harpist Sioned Williams. Starting as a self taught musician, his early career included playing drums with no-wave pioneers 'Blurt' and composing for the highly successful V-Tol Dance Company. Academia and PhD came later. He currently plays vibes with the High Llamas and is Head of Composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and lectures internationally on the music of Conlon Nancarrow.
All welcome, not just for graduates!
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 2013 | 5:00pm - 6:30pm |
Accessibility
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