Hearing The Music of Our Time

Unsilent Night

2008-11-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

We are getting ready with the final details for our really cool Yule event, Unsilent Night. It's free and it's fun! Let us know if you want to be part of it!

Halloween

2008-10-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

Remember when people used to be "afraid" of new music?!

October concert buzz

2008-10-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share this really nice comment from our friend who runs radio molecule, which is a great Internet-based radio station of new music. She was responding to our October 18 season debut concert.

I'm amazed at the amount of work SFNM has projected for this year!! It's heart warming for me to see that your intention is to offer Santa Fe incredibly interesting, intelligent, dynamic and cutting edge events! To me you guys are "it" at the moment and I hope that Santa Fe can wake up and see the immense value of what you're doing... The cool venues that you use in town connecting you to the different artistic communities, I'm sure, will generate the energy that you want. Congratulations on the new season! I'm looking forward to all the events. You guys are a great asset to Santa Fe and my cultural Santa Fe loves. wish you all the best!

Thank you, we are glad to be doing what we do!

2008-2009 Reading List

2008-10-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is Santa Fe New Music's 2008-2009 season reading list! You can add comments and suggestions by hitting the "comments" button at the bottom of this post. Enjoy the Music&Word focus!

FALL 2008 SANTA FE NEW MUSIC “MUSIC&WORD” READING LIST

FOR THE SEASON:
The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century, by Alex Ross
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007)
This acclaimed, readable narrative of 20th Century music serves as a backbone for appreciating the development of today’s new music, and is the subject of SFNM Artistic Director John Kennedy’s fall lecture series “Beyond the Noise”, presented in conjunction with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

OCTOBER 18 CONCERT:
Americas: Essays on American Music and Culture 1973-80, by Peter Garland (Soundings Press, 1982)
A beautiful and eloquent consideration of experimental American composers by a featured composer on our October concert. Garland reveals a visionary view of cultural transformations and the emergence of a “post-classical” aesthetic.
Out of print – but available through public libraries – or call us to borrow!

NOVEMBER 2 CONCERT:
Many resources are available to explore the mythic legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as the works of literature and art inspired by the story. Do your own Googling, or start here:

Orpheus and Eurydice
Orpheus
Eurydice

NOVEMBER 16 CONCERT:
The Walk by William deBuys (Trinity University Press, 2007)
New Mexico author William deBuys composed the introductory essay for Marthanne Verbit’s new CD “Endangered”, which is the featured music on this concert paying heed to the perils facing the environment. The Walk is deBuys’ most recent book, with meditations addressing both personal and environmental issues, and with great sensitivity to being close to the earth here in New Mexico. The Walk has been said to “describe hope in terms of mountain and sky, river and pine, mindfulness and love”.

DECEMBER 11 CONCERT:
Essays Before a Sonata, by Charles Ives (Available in several different editions, but we recommend: Three Classics in the Aesthetic of Music, Dover, 1962).
A literary accompaniment to the Concord Sonata performed on this concert, Ives preferred the audience to read the text first. With passages on Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne, this is Ives’ most mature analysis of his aesthetic.

The Heart of Thoreau's Journals, ed. Odell Shepard (Dover, 1961)
A wonderful compendium of many of the best moments in Henry David Thoreau’s journals, the subject of text for the John Cage work on the concert, Lecture on the Weather.

Lecture on the Weather, by John Cage. (CF Peters Music, copyright material). These texts by Cage and Thoreau are performed during the work, but are simultaneously mixed and sometimes hard to follow. Email sfnm for a copyright release form and we can provide you with an authorized copy.

Take the Quiz!

2008-10-07T16:18:00.001-07:00

This was our fun summer quiz, which we've removed from the website, since Summer is (sigh) gone.

But it's still a lot of fun to test your knowledge. Check it out!

New Facebook Page for SFNM

2008-10-07T10:15:00.001-07:00

Just to let you all know we now have a mechanism for even more Facebook merriment.

Beyond the Noise, Session Six

2008-10-01T16:38:00.001-07:00

Open thread for discussion and questions related to the sixth of the six-part series.

A New Millennium. The final session will discuss music of the past 10 years — looking at the perspective of both the digital renegade as well as the globalized corporate composer. Primary trends in the music of Thomas Ades, William Duckworth, Pascal Dusapin, Michael Gordon, David Lang, Kaija Saariaho, Tan Dun, and others.

Beyond the Noise, Session Five

2008-10-01T16:36:00.002-07:00

Open thread for discussion and questions related to the fifth of the six-part series.

The Eighties and Nineties. This session discusses a different fin de siècle, with stylistic degeneration in a realm of exhausted ideas and dead ends – with attempts at new aesthetics playing out in a commodified marketplace of ideas. Primary trends in the music of John Adams, Glass and Reich, Henryk Górecki, Arvo Part, John Zorn, and others.

Beyond the Noise, Session Four

2008-10-01T16:36:00.001-07:00

Open thread for discussion and questions related to the fourth of the six-part series.

The Sixties and Seventies. We will look at the high-water mark for stylistic pluralism, freewheeling experimentalism, and the collision of primitivism and high complexity. Primary currents in the music of George Crumb, Gyorgi Ligeti, Harry Partch, James Tenney, Iannis Xenakis – as well as in the birth of pulse-driven tonal minimalism.

Beyond the Noise, Session Three

2008-10-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

Open thread for discussion and questions related to the third of the six-part series.

John Cage and the Post-War Aesthetic Revolution. This session will examine the work of John Cage and the “liberation of sound.” We will consider both the playful and theoretical aspects of Cage’s work and delve into his influence on European composers including the Darmstadt circle (Boulez, Stockhausen) as well as the New York and Pacific Rim Schools.

Beyond the Noise, Session Two

2008-10-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

Open thread for discussion and questions related to the second of the six-part series.

The Rest is Noise, Part Two. A consideration of Part Two of The Rest is Noise: with a focus on the birth of a new avant-garde through American experimentalism – Charles Ives, Henry Cowell, Johanna Beyer, and Lou Harrison – and their effect on Europe.

Beyond the Noise, Session One

2008-10-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Open thread for discussion and questions related to the first of the six-part series.

The Rest is Noise, Part One. A consideration of Part One of The Rest is Noise: the primary aesthetic streams of early 20th Century music - Strauss, Schoenberg, and Stravinsky – and their legacy into the present.

What is New Music? Our forthcoming class with the O'Keeffe Museum helps you answer for yourself!

2008-09-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

SFNM and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Announce Six-Part Lecture Series: "Beyond the Noise: Listening to Modern Music"

Course Begins October 16, 2008 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM. Series runs Thursdays, October 16 and 30, November 6, 13, 20, and December 4.

A six-part lecture series presented by Santa Fe New Music and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Led by composer/conductor John Kennedy, one of the U.S. leading advocates of new music, and Artistic Director of Santa Fe New Music.

The course is inspired in part by 2008 MacArthur “Genius” Award-laureate Alex Ross’ recent book: The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century.

Using Ross’ book as a point of departure, Kennedy will carry the exploration of 20th-century music into its current-day framework, providing insights into the historical innovations and social contexts of modern music, including biographical information about the composers. For those who have asked the question “What is New Music?” this course is an excellent opportunity to begin forging your own answer.

Course takes place at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Education Annex, 123 Grant Avenue. $10 per class, $50 for the series; Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Members $8 per class, $45 for the series. Reservations required at: 505.946.1039.

Course Outline:

1) Thursday, October 16, 6:00 p.m.
The Rest is Noise, Part One.
A consideration of Part One of The Rest is Noise: the primary aesthetic streams of early 20th Century music - Strauss, Schoenberg, and Stravinsky – and their legacy into the present.

2) Thursday, October 30, 6:00 p.m.
The Rest is Noise, Part Two.
A consideration of Part Two of The Rest is Noise: with a focus on the birth of a new avant-garde through American experimentalism – Charles Ives, Henry Cowell, Johanna Beyer, and Lou Harrison – and their effect on Europe.

3) Thursday, November 6, 6:00 p.m.
John Cage and the Post-War Aesthetic Revolution.
This session will examine the work of John Cage and the “liberation of sound.” We will consider both the playful and theoretical aspects of Cage’s work and delve into his influence on European composers including the Darmstadt circle (Boulez, Stockhausen) as well as the New York and Pacific Rim Schools.

4) Thursday, November 13, 6:00 p.m.
The Sixties and Seventies.
We will look at the high-water mark for stylistic pluralism, freewheeling experimentalism, and the collision of primitivism and high complexity. Primary currents in the music of George Crumb, Gyorgi Ligeti, Harry Partch, James Tenney, Iannis Xenakis – as well as in the birth of pulse-driven tonal minimalism.

5) Thursday, November 20, 6:00 p.m.
The Eighties and Nineties.
This session discusses a different fin de siècle, with stylistic degeneration in a realm of exhausted ideas and dead ends – with attempts at new aesthetics playing out in a commodified marketplace of ideas. Primary trends in the music of John Adams, Glass and Reich, Henryk Górecki, Arvo Part, John Zorn, and others.

6) Thursday, December 6, 6:00 p.m.
A New Millennium.
The final session will discuss music of the past 10 years — looking at the perspective of both the digital renegade as well as the globalized corporate composer. Primary trends in the music of Thomas Ades, William Duckworth, Pascal Dusapin, Michael Gordon, David Lang, Kaija Saariaho, Tan Dun, and others.

Class participants will be encouraged to discuss the lectures, and ask and answer questions by utilizing this very blog. Links to soundfiles and other resources will be posted at our website.

Class space is limited! Sign up today at 505-946-1039.

All the Composers We've Presented (mostly)

2008-09-25T13:25:00.001-07:00

Another thing that emerges from our archives, and pretty cool -- links to the many composers whose works we have presented from 2000-2001 through 2007-2008 seasons.

Work in progress -- more to come!

Back to the Very Beginning

2008-09-25T11:45:00.001-07:00

Just posted to SFNM's archive page, the notes from our very first concert, November 3-5 2000!
Yes, we're in our eighth season!!

SFNM's Season

2008-08-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

Santa Fe New Music's 2008-2009 season is now announced and tickets are on sale. Check it out and let us know what you think about what's in store!

Oh no! Eno?

2008-08-04T06:18:00.000-07:00

An interesting Internet tiff centering around Kyle Gann and David Byrne caught our eye. Often when we tell people who have more of a "pop music" background than a "classical music" background about what we do, they veer towards references to Laurie Anderson, the Talking Heads, and their clubbing/loft-y 80's downtown cohorts. And while no one is "hating on these people" just because they achieved fame and commercial success (!) there are some fundamental aesthetic/historic/attitudinal (etc.) differences between their "schools of thought" and the musical approach of, say, Santa Fe New Music.

Is it just a 21st century revival of the "culture wars" in music? Do we even care?

For the background, read this post and you want to delve further, the ones it links to. And weigh in with your thoughts here if you like.

New Blog for Teachers and Eductors

2008-07-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all you who have enjoyed the quiz. Tell your friends! We still have more lazy days of summer ahead.

Looking to the fall, nevertheless, we wanted to announce the creation of a new blog for parents, educators, and classrooms, related to the Language of Birds Youth Opera Project. Check out this blog and spread the word!

Quizzical

2008-07-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

To celebrate our newly created blog, we've created a fun quiz about new music. If you'd like to comment on the quiz and what you think about it, or learn from it, or what else you want to know, or anything like that -- just add a comment below.

And if you want more detailed answers, we have 'em (but you'll have to write us a love letter to receive them by email). Contact us at info@sfnm.org if you want the cheat sheet! (But try taking the quiz first!)

Cheers and Happy 4th of July!

Welcome

2008-06-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

This is OUR blog -- whether you are new to new music or an expert in the field. Send us* your thoughts, discoveries, ramblings (not too rambly!) on your encounters with the music of our time, through Santa Fe New Music's actual concerts, special events, education programs, or simply how what we bring to you has jolted your inspiration to new discoveries. We'll share them with others, and begin a co-created dialogue about not just what Santa Fe New Music is doing or has done, but your encounters with The Music of Our Time.

HOW TO CREATE A NEW THREAD OR POST:
Email your blog entries to info@sfnm.org.

HOW TO REPLY TO A THREAD OR POST:
Just hit the comments area.

*Blog entries and replies will be subjected to commonsense rules of etiquette and language, and to the content determinations by our editorial collective.