Do-It-Yourself Music: The Dragon Curveball

Join FEDStage Director and Artist-in-Residence Kevin Joest and brass ensemble eGALitarian as they workshop a brand new piece of music, an algorithm that places the compositional emphasis on the performers themselves. Over the course of four sessions this summer, we will delve into the machine that has been “coded” to produce endless variations unique to the individual ensembles and musicians. Kevin says of the work:

“This idea began life as a process piece where all musical building blocks (pitches, rhythms, etc.) were determined, then fed into a recursive algorithm to create something endlessly new, yet familiar. As I defined these elements, I realized that an infinite number of pieces could be generated using this method, ultimately leading me to the conclusion that these generative rules could be the work itself. After ensemble members provide the necessary inputs - average ages, month of the concert, how many instruments a specific person plays, for example - the algorithm generates each musician’s part. These self-similar parts then combine to create a work that is unique to the ensemble as well as the performers, yet still recognizable as this particular piece of music. The individual inputs, which ultimately create the piece, produce a personalized work based on those performing it, regardless of instrumentation, size, or ensemble skill level.”

We invite you to join us in experiencing (or even helping create) this work for the first time, provide feedback, impressions, & ideas of your own, and enjoy the camaraderie of unique experience, all over a home cooked meal. Hope to see you there!

eGALitarian is a brass ensemble of women from graduates of conservatories across New York City. We are dedicated to inspiring and improving the lives of women of all ages in our community - through outreach events and performances across the city. eGALitarian was recently awarded the NY Women Composers Seed Money grant, funding a recent concert in Brooklyn and a grant from Juilliard to create a music video. In May, eGALitarian was invited to present a recital at the International Women’s Brass Conference in Tempe, Arizona.

Other event dates in this series: June 20, July 10, July 31