John Cage’s “Lecture on Nothing” (1959) is a seminal work where Cage outlines and discusses his thinking about sound and silence, chance and indeterminacy in a very all-encompassing way. Accompanying the “Lecture” will be works from that period “Solo for Viola” from Concert for Piano and Orchestra (1958-59) as well as from his later “number” pieces Four3. So his music and his ideas will be presented simultaneously.
John King
Is a world-renowned composer, guitarist and violist who has worked collaboratively with many ensembles, string quartets, choreographers and directors. He has had commissions from the Kronos and Ethel string quartets that have led to an ongoing relationship of developing new works. Since 1985 he has been a composer and musician with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company working alongside John Cage and David Tudor. From 2003 until the closing of MCDC in Dec. 2011 he was a Co-Director of the Music Committee for the Company; curating, composing and performing the music for their many performances including MCDC’s final 2-year Legacy Tour. He was also commissioned by MCDC to compose Astral Epitaphs for brass, choir and live electronics for their final performances at the Park Avenue Armory, NYC, in Dec. 2011He has written 3 operas: herzstück/heartpiece, based on the text of Heiner Müller, la belle captive based on texts by Alain Robbe-Grillet, , Dice Thrown, . King has also written 3 short pieces for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus using ancient Greek texts, used within the composition Astral Epitaphs..
He has 3 recent CD releases of music for string quartet; 10 Mysteries and AllSteel (Tzadik); and Ethel (Cantaloupe). And he is also the recipient of the 2009 Alpert Award in the Arts for Music.
Krzysztof Knittel
Composer, virtuoso electronic instruments, co-author of a number of improvised music groups
KEW Composers’ Group (1974-76), the Independent Electroacoustic Music Studio (1982-84), ‘Pociąg Towarowy’ (set up in 1986), the European Improvisation Orchestra (1996-98), the CH&K&K Group (founded in 1999) and ‘Kawalerowie Błotni’ (set up in 2003).
Born in Warsaw in 1947, he studied at the Departments of Sound Engineering and of Composition, Conducting and Music Theory of the Fryderyk Chopin State Higher School of Music in Warsaw. Since 1973 he has collaborated with the Polish Radio Experimental Studio. In 1978 he worked for the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts in Buffalo. He composes symphonic, chamber, stage, electro-acoustic and computer works, he also creates sound installations. As a composer and performer of his works performed in most European countries, Asia, North America and South America. His discography includes 50 albums. During martial law, acted in an independent cultural environments. He co-founded the Audio-Art Festival, was the director of the Warsaw Autumn currently chaired by the Polish Council of Music.He is a professor at the University of Music in Warsaw Frederic Chopin and also teaches at the Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw and music academies in Lodz and Krakow. In 1985 he was awarded the “Solidarity”, in 1998 awarded by the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts in New York, the Cyprian Kamil Norwid Artistic Award, the Gloria Artis and the Polish Composers Union Award.
Marcin Piotr ŁopackiGraduated from Frederic Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in composition class of prof. Zygmunt Krauze (master’s diploma in 2011) and in the conducting class of prof. Marek Pijarowski (bachelor’s diploma in 2012). He was scholar of the alma mater.He was awarded four times in composition competitions, and three times in Young Music Forum concert series organized by Austrian Culture Forum in Warsaw and FCUM. In 2011 he was awarded with scholarship of Societe Generale bank.In 2010 – 2012 years he conducted Ad Hoc Ensemble – a chamber orchestra founded by himself, with which he made many first performances and recordings.In 2012 he was a conductor assistant of FCUM Symphony Orchestra and worked on Mozart and Bruckner compositions.In 2007 he was chosen to be a board member of Jeunesses Musicales Polska society.In 2008 – 2010 years he was a secretary of Polish Composers’ Union Young Circle, then – in 2010 – 2012 – a board member. At present he a chairman of the Circle.Since 2009 he is also member of Euforis society of artists.Since 2007 he works Number of his music compositions exceeds 60 pieces and is still growiComposer often gives concerts as a pianist, improvising musician, conductor.
Lublin Event is presented with the permission and support of the Merce Cunningham Trust.
