Dal Niente teams up with genre-bending percussionists Beyond This Point for an interdisciplinary performance of sound, theater, and music. The centerpiece of the show is Simon Steen-Andersen’s Black Box Music for percussion solo, amplified box, 15 instruments and video. According to the composer, “The starting point is the classical soloist-conductor, only in this case, the conducting and solo part are one and the same. The setting is a traditional theatre stage with curtains, props and light; only in this case, the stage is also an instrument. Black Box Music could be said to be a deconstruction of conducting and puppet theatre as well as an exploration and exploitation of the audio/visual relations inherent in conducting and staging. The “grand show” is in three movements, starting with ‘Ouverture’ and ‘Slow Middle Movement’ and then finishing off with a festive, pompous, 'Self-Imploding Finale’.” Dal Niente will also give the Chicago premiere of Michelle Lou’s new work for chamber ensemble and electronics.

Program
*indicates Chicago Premiere

Simon Steen-Andersen, Black Box Music* (2012) for percussion solo, video, and ensemble

Michelle Lou, new work* (2023) for ensemble

This concert is presented as part of Gray Sound 5

Sponsors:

Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
Ernst Von Siemens Music Foundation
Gray Sound at the University of Chicago
Goethe Foundation
Illinois Arts Council Association