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Lincoln Center Festival lead support is provided by American Express
July 14 –15 Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College Cloud River Mountain
Composers Michael Gordon , David Lang , Lao Luo , Julia Wolfe Voice Gong Linna Sheng Nie Yunlei
Bang on a Can All-Stars Bass Robert Black Cello Ashley Bathgate Piano Vicky Chow Percussion David Cossin Electric Guitar Mark Stewart Clarinet and Bass Clarinet Ken Thomson
Lighting Design Aaron Copp Sound Engineer Jody Elff
Approximate running time: 1 hour and 10 minutes, with no intermission
This performance is made possible in part by the Josie Robertson Fund for Lincoln Center. Public support for Festival 2017 is provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 2
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A Note from the command the elements and conjure up Composers new worlds. It seemed like a great metaphor for what we are trying to do. We hope to provide a contemporary answer to This project comes directly out of a chance the question of what a new and authentic meeting in China between Bang on a Can collaboration of Chinese and American art co-founder Michael Gordon, Chinese music may be. vocalist Gong Linna, and her musical part - ner, composer Lao Luo. It took only a few Cloud River Mountain honors the “sound moments of conversation to recognize worlds” of both China and the West, fus - how committed each of them is to building ing texts sung in both Mandarin and bridges between cultures. Bang on a Can English with a wide range of contemporary has toured China several times, introduc - musical languages. The lyrics are inspired ing new audiences to experimental music by the tales, myths, and poems of gods, from the West, while Gong Linna is an spirits, and the world of the shamans, pri - artist equally at home in the disciplines of marily drawn from Qu Yuan, the famous both Chinese traditional vocal technique Chinese poet and minister who lived dur - and global contemporary music styles. It ing the Warring States period and whose felt natural to try to build a bridge together. poems were first published during the Han Dynasty in the Chu Ci (Songs of the Sout h) The Bang on a Can composers—Michael anthology. Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe— started a wide-ranging conversation with Referring to the first line of lyrics in this Gong Linna and Lao Luo, exchanging ideas concert—“What manner of things are the of how to go about building this bridge. To darkness and light?”—our music may well find common ground for writing this be understood as our artistic answer to music, we stepped deep into history, this question. drawing our inspirations from ancient Chinese mythology. Central to the program —Michael Gordon, David Lang, is the invention of the singer as a kind of Lao Luo, Julia Wolfe modern shaman, who uses her powers to 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 3
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Program
Ming Ming An An (Darkness and Light) Music Lao Luo Lyrics Qu Yuan from Heavenly Questions (in Chu Ci )
When Yi Shot Down the Sun Music Michael Gordon Lyrics Qu Yuan from Heavenly Questions (in Chu Ci )
The Lady in the Moon Music David Lang Lyrics David Lang inspired by Li Shangyin’s Chang E
Yun Zhong Jun (The Lord in the Clouds) Music Lao Luo Lyrics Qu Yuan from Nine Songs (in Chu Ci )
Into the Clouds Music Julia Wolfe Lyrics adapted from Yun Zhong Jun by Qu Yuan
Jiu Tian (Nine Fields of Heaven) Music Lao Luo Lyrics Qu Yuan from Heavenly Questions (in Chu Ci )
Shui Shan (Water Mountain) Music Michael Gordon, David Lang, Lao Luo, Julia Wolfe
River Music Michael Gordon Lyrics adapted from He Bo by Qu Yuan
He Bo (River Earl) Music Lao Luo Lyrics Qu Yuan from Nine Songs (in Chu Ci )
Tilted Music Julia Wolfe Lyrics Julia Wolfe inspired by the Chinese myth of GongGong
Girl with Mountain Music David Lang Lyrics David Lang inspired by Qu Yuan's Shang Gui
Shan Gui (Mountain Spirit) Music Lao Luo Lyrics Qu Yuan from Nine Songs (in Chu Ci ) 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 4
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Texts and Translations
Ming Ming An An (Darkness and Light) 明明暗暗
What manner of things are the darkness 明明暗暗，惟時何為？ and light?
Who passed down the story, the story of the beginning of things? What was it like before sky and earth had taken shape? In that murk where light and darkness were yet undivided, How do we know about the chaos of unsubstantial forms?
How did Yin and Yang come together, and 陰陽三合，何本何化？ how could they originate and transform all things that are by their commingling?
When Yi Shot Down the Sun
When Yi shot down the sun Why did the Eagle shed its plumes? How does the heaven keep its motion? Who fixed the Zodiac? Why do the stars stay fast in the sky? Are North and South As great as East and West? How many miles is the voyage of a soul?
Moon Goddess
your candle your shadow your screen your marble are you sorry now? your river your heaven your moon your stars are you sorry now? you stole the potion you look out over the sea and sky you brood all through the night 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 5
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Yun Zhong Jun (The Lord in the Clouds) 云中君
We have bathed in orchid water and 浴蘭湯兮沐芳，華採衣兮若英。 washed our hair with perfumes 靈連蜷兮既留，爛昭昭兮未央。 And dressed ourselves like flowers 蹇將憺兮壽宮，與日月兮齊光。 in embroidered clothing. 龍駕兮帝服，聊翱遊兮周章。 The god has halted, swaying, above us, 靈皇皇兮既降，猋遠舉兮雲中。 Shining with a persistent radiance. 覽冀州兮有餘，橫四海兮焉窮。 He is going to rest in the House of Life. 思夫君兮太息，極勞心兮 His brightness is like that of the sun and moon. In his dragon chariot, dresses in imperial splendor, Now he flies off to wander round the sky. The god had just descended in bright majesty, When off in a whirl he soared again, far into the clouds. He looks down on Ji-zhou, and the lands beyond it; There is no place in the world that he does not pass over. Thinking of that lord makes me sigh And afflicts my heart with a grievous longing.
—Translation by David Hawkes
Into the Clouds
We bathed and washed our hair and dressed ourselves Like flowers Swaying Sun and moon round the sky In a whirl Into the clouds There is no place Makes me sigh 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 6
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Jiu Tian (Nine Fields of Heaven) 九天
Whose compass measured out the nine- 圜則九重，孰營度之？ fold heavens? Whose work was this and 惟茲何功，孰初作之？ how did he accomplish it? Where were 斡維焉系，天極焉加？ the circling cords fastened, and where 八柱何當，東南何虧？ was the sky’s pole fixed? Where did the 九天之際，安放安屬？ Eight Pillars meet the sky, and why were 隅隈多有，誰知其數？ they too short for it in the south-east?
Where do the nine fields of heaven extend to and where do they join each other? The ins and outs of their edges must be very many: who knows their number?
—Translation by David Hawkes
Shui Shan (Water Mountain) (instrumental)
River
By Nine Mouths of the river I wander with you Dragons draw my chariot. Climbing Kunlun mountain I look back to distant shores My heart leaps wildly Riding a white turtle Chasing spotted fish Let me play with you while river waters rush 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 7
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He Bo (River Earl) 河伯
I wander with you by the Nine Mouths of 與女遊兮九河，衝風起兮橫波。 the river 乘水車兮荷蓋，駕兩龍兮驂螭。 When the storm wind rises and slashes 登崑崙兮四望，心飛揚兮浩蕩。 up the waves. 日將暮兮悵忘歸，惟極浦兮寤懷。 I ride a water chariot with a canopy of 魚鱗屋兮龍堂，紫貝闕兮朱宮。 lotus; 靈何為兮水中，乘白黿兮逐文魚。 Two dragons draw it, 與女遊兮河之渚，流澌紛兮將來下。 between two water serpents. 子交手兮東行，送美人兮南浦。 波滔滔兮來迎，魚鱗鱗兮媵予。 I climb the Kunlun mountain and look over the four quarters, And my heart leaps up in me, beating wildly. Though the day will soon end; I forget to go in my pleasure: Longingly I look back to that distant shore. Of fish-scale his place is, with a dragon-scale hall; Purple cowrie gate-towers; rooms of pearl. And what does the god do, down there in the water?
Riding a white turtle, he chases the spot - ted fishes. Let me play with you among the river’s islets, While the swollen waters come rushing on their way! Eastward your journey, with hands stately folded, Bearing your fair bride to the southern harbor. The waves come racing up to meet me, And shoals of fishes are my bridal train.
—Translation by David Hawkes
Tilted
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Girl with Mountain
Girl with mountain I am hiding On the mountain All alone I see And I forget That I must leave
Shan Gui (Mountain Spirit) 山鬼
It seems there’s someone in a fold 若有人兮山之阿，被薜荔兮帶女羅。 in the hills, 既含睇兮又宜笑，子慕予兮善窈窕。 wearing a fig-leaf cloak and a belt of dodder, 乘赤豹兮從文狸，辛夷車兮結桂旗。 She looks slyly at me with a hint of a smile, 被石蘭兮帶杜衡，折芳馨兮遺所思。 “Do you find me attractive, graceful, alluring?” 余處幽篁兮終不見天，路險難兮獨後來。 Driving red leopards, striped wildcats 表獨立兮山之上，雲容容兮而在下。 following, 杳冥冥兮羌晝晦，東風飄兮神靈雨。 her magnolia-decked chariot 留靈脩兮憺忘歸，歲既晏兮孰華予。 with cassia banners, 採三秀兮於山間，石磊磊兮葛蔓蔓。 Dressed in fern and wild ginger, she 怨公子兮悵忘歸，君思我兮不得閒。 gathers sweet herbs to give to her love. 山中人兮芳杜若，飲石泉兮蔭松柏。 I find myself in a hidden grove where 君思我兮然疑作。 the sky is never seen, 靁填填兮雨冥冥，猿啾啾兮又夜鳴。 where paths are hazardous and steep 風颯颯兮木蕭蕭，思公子兮徒離憂。 and make me late to meet you. I stand alone on top of a hill with turbulent clouds below, Stillness, gloom, turning day into night, east wind bringing the goddess’s rain Held back by the beauty, I quietly forget to return, and I pick Three-Flowerings among the hill, and the arrowroot among the heaped rocks. Wanting my fair lady I forget I must leave, while she thinks of me but has no leisure.
The girl in the mountains smells sweetly of pollia, and drinks from stony springs and rests beneath pines She thinks of me, but is doubting, aloof. Thunder roars, the sky darkens with rain, simians chatter and then call in the night, Winds moan, trees rustle and I think of my lady and stand there alone.
—Translation by Christopher Evans 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 9
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About the Artists David Lang (Composer) is one of today’s most highly esteemed and performed American composers. His 2002 work the Michael Gordon (Composer) merges so-called laws of nature was performed as rhythmic invention with power in his part of So¯ Percussion: Trilogy at last year’s music, embodying, in the words of the Lincoln Center Festival. His simple song New Yorker’s Alex Ross, “the fury of punk #3, written as part of his score for Paolo rock, the nervous brilliance of free jazz, and Sorrentino’s film Youth, received many the intransigence of classical modernism.” honors in 2016, including Academy Award, Over the past 30 years, he has produced a Golden Globe, and Critics Choice nomina - diverse body of work, ranging from large- tions. His the little match girl passion — scale pieces for ensembles and major commissioned by Carnegie Hall and based orchestral commissions to works con - on a fable by Hans Christian Andersen and ceived specifically for the recording studio. Lang’s own rewriting of the libretto to Transcending categorization, this music Bach’s St. Matthew Passion —won the represents the collision of introspection 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Music, and the and directness. The 2016 –17 season recording was awarded a 2010 Grammy includes premieres of his works by the Award for Best Small Ensemble Britt Festival Orchestra ( Natural History ), Performance. Recent premieres include Young People’s Chorus of NYC ( Great his opera the loser, which opened the Trees of New York City ), Dublin Guitar Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 2016 Next Quartet ( Amplified ), Ballett Zürich ( COR - Wave Festival, for which he served as PUS ), Crash Ensemble, The Crossing Choir composer, librettist, and stage director; the (The Anonymous Man ), and the Rotterdam public domain for 1,000 singers at 2016’s Philharmonic ( The Unchanging Sea ). Other Mostly Mozart Festival; chamber opera season highlights include The Trance on anatomy theater at Los Angeles Opera and tour with Ictus Ensemble and Maud Le at the Prototype Festival in New York; and Pladec and dancers, Timber performed at concerto man made for S o¯ Percussion and the Big Ears Festival, Dystopia danced by a consortium of orchestras, including the Doug Varone and Dancers, and Rushes per - BBC Symphony and the Los Angeles formed at National Sawdust in Brooklyn. Philharmonic. In addition to his work as His work has been commissioned by composer, he is artist-in-residence at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the BBC the Institute for Advanced Study in Proms, Seattle Symphony, Rotterdam Princeton, New Jersey, and professor of Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Age of composition at the Yale School of Music. Enlightenment, Brooklyn Academy of He is co-founder and co-artistic director of Music, Britt Festival, and Sydney 2000 New York’s legendary music collective Olympic Arts Festival, among others. His Bang on a Can. recordings include Timber Remixed, Dystopia, Rushes, Timber, Weather, Light Lao Luo (Composer) was born in Germany is Calling, Decasia, (purgatorio) POP - as Robert Zollitsch and first traveled to OPERA, Van Gogh, Trance, and Big Noise China in 1993 to study the Chinese zither, from Nicaragua . He is co-founder and co- the Qin, at the Shanghai Conservatory of artistic director of New York’s legendary Music. After dedicating more than 20 years music collective Bang on a Can. to Chinese music, he is now recognized as one of the driving energies of China’s new art music. His musical language is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, yet incorporates 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 10
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worldwide influences into a unique colorful Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, sound. In his vocal music compositions, he and Carnegie Hall, and has been recorded brings new life to ancient and classical on the Cantaloupe Music, Teldec, Chinese poetry, including song cycles Point/Universal, Sony Classical, and using Tang and Song Dynasty poetry and Argo/Decca labels. In 2009 she joined the the oratorio The Nine Songs, using material NYU Steinhardt School’s composition fac - from the Chu Ci , written by “China’s ulty. She is co-founder and co-artistic director Homer,” Qu Yuan. His works have been of New York’s legendary music collective performed by many Chinese orchestras Bang on a Can. and ensembles, including the Central Chinese Orchestra and Shanghai Gong Linna (Voice) performs music that, Symphony Orchestra. As part of his part - though steeped in Chinese tradition, defies nership with the Hong Kong China neat categorization into any musical genre. Orchestra, he composed Resounding Her vocal style merges a vast number of Chimes, which utilizes a giant set of bells contrasting traditional vocal techniques excavated from the tomb of Marques Yi of from Chinese opera and folk song tradi - Zeng. His works have been performed tions, resulting in music encompassing around the world. sophisticated art songs based on classical Chinese lyrics, experimental songs with Julia Wolfe (Composer) draws inspiration vocal acrobatics, and a unique art-pop from folk, classical, and rock genres, bringing style. Born in Guizhou, a largely ethnic a modern sensibility to each while simultane - minority province known for its flamboyant ously tearing down the walls between them. singing culture, she first performed on Her music is distinguished by a physicality stage at age five. Her early career included and power that push performers to seven years of vocal education at the extremes and demands attention from the Chinese Conservatory of Music, a position audience. She is a 2016 MacArthur Fellow. as soloist at the Central Chinese Orchestra, Her Pulitzer Prize –winning concert-length and numerous awards and prizes. She oratorio, Anthracite Fields for chorus and developed her style through regional field instruments, draws on oral histories, inter - trips and intense studies of Chinese views, speeches, and more to honor the traditional vocal techniques, becoming an people who persevered and endured in the innovator of contemporary Chinese vocal Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Region. The music. She has been extensively perform - New York Philharmonic will premiere her ing with her own chamber music ensemble new evening-length commission for orches - and with many major Chinese orchestras, tra and women’s chorus in fall 2018, contin - including the Hong Kong Chinese uing her interest in American labor history Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, with the subject of women in New York’s and Beijing Broadcast Orchestra. She is garment industry at the turn of the century. also dedicated to creating a modern teach - She has collaborated with theater artist Anna ing system for Chinese vocal techniques, Deavere Smith, choreographer Susan which will lead more Chinese singers to Marshall, designers Jeff Sugg and Jim find their own new yet tradition-based Findlay, and director François Girard, among vocal style. others. Her music has been heard at venues including Sydney Olympic Arts Festival, LG Arts Center (South Korea), Settembre Musica (Italy), Théâtre de la Ville (France), 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 11
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Nie Yunlei (Sheng) grew up in a traditional a six-movement suite for solo cello entitled music environment in Northern China’s ASH, which premiered in January in New Henan province, where he learned to play York. the suona (Chinese double reed instrument) and sheng (Chinese mouth organ) at an early Robert Black (Bass) tours the world creat - age. Later he studied sheng at the Beijing ing unheard-of music for solo double bass, Opera Conservatory and became a member and collaborates with adventurous com - of the Beijing Opera Troupe, where he is cur - posers, musicians, dancers, artists, actors, rently concertmaster. Through his experi - and technophiles. He has commissioned, ence playing sheng in traditional wedding collaborated, or performed with musicians and funeral bands from Henan (music that from John Cage to DJ Spooky, Elliott Carter can be described as “Balkan Brass from to Meredith Monk, Cecil Taylor to young China”), he has synthesized his skills in the emerging composers, as well as Brazilian rural and academic styles—strong in rhythm painter Ige D’Aquino, Japanese choreogra - and improvisation on one hand, sophisti - pher Yoshiko Chuma, American actor cated and complex on the other. He began Kathryn Walker, English sound artist/DJ working with Gong Linna and Lao Luo in Mira Calix, and Swiss-American filmmaker 2004 and has participated in many of Gong Rudy Burckhardt. In 2015 he commis - Linna’s performances and recordings. In sioned Philip Glass to compose a seven- 2015 he became leader of “Gong Luo New movement solo Partita that includes Art Ensemble.” recited poetry by seven of downtown New York’s most illustrious musician/poets. His Ashley Bathgate (Cello) has been current project Possessed is a series of described as an “eloquent new music inter - solo improvisatory outdoor performances preter” ( New York Times ) and “a glorious in Utah’s rugged canyon/desert landscape, cellist” ( Washington Post ) who released on DVD and CD by Cantaloupe combines “bittersweet lyricism along with Records this year. He has also recorded for ferocious chops” ( New York magazine). The New World Records ( Modern American desire to create a dynamic energy Bass ), Mode Records ( The Complete Bass exchange with her audience and build upon Music of Christian Wolff and The Bass the ensuing chemistry is a pillar of her phi - Music of Giacinto Scels i ), and O.O. Discs losophy as a performer. Her dynamism (State of the Bass ), along with Bang on a drives her to venture into previously Can All-Stars on Cantaloupe Records. He uncharted areas of groundbreaking sounds teaches at The Hartt School at the and techniques, smashing the mold of a University of Hartford, Festival Eleazar de cello’s traditionally perceived voice. In 2014 Carvalho (Brazil), and Manhattan School of she premiered a new Cello Concerto by Music’s Contemporary Performance Australian composer Kate Moore with the Program. He recently received the degree ASKO|Schönberg ensemble at the Gaudea - of Comendador—Mérito Cultural e mus Festival in Utrecht. She recorded an Artistico from the Fundação Educacional, album of Moore’s solo cello works, released Cultural, e Artistica Elezar de Carvalho in in 2016 on Cantaloupe Music. In 2015 she recognition of 25 years of distinguished gave the world premiere of What Moves contributions to the cultural and artistic life You, a collaborative performance project of Brazil. with jookin dance sensation Lil Buck at Spo - leto Festival USA. She commissioned the composer collective Sleeping Giant to write 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 12
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Vicky Chow (Piano) has been described as collaborations with Blue Man Group, “brilliant” ( New York Times ), “a monster Mabou Mines, and director Peter Sellars. pianist” ( Time Out New York ), and a “new He was featured percussion soloist in Tan star of new music” ( Los Angeles Times ). Dun’s Grammy- and Oscar-winning score She is pianist for the Bang on a Can All- for Ang Lee’s film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Stars, Grand Band, New Music Detroit, and Dragon . He performed with Sting on the X88 and has collaborated with groups Symphonicity tour and has performed as including the International Contemporary soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Ensemble. Her recordings of Steve Reich’s Orchestra Radio France, Saint Paul Piano Counterpoint (Nonesuch) and Tristan Chamber Orchestra, Sao Paulo State Perich’s Surface Image (New Amsterdam Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Gothenburg Records) were included in “top albums of Symphony, Hong Kong Symphony, and the year” lists in Rolling Stone and on Singapore Symphony. He is also a Rhapsody. Her solo album AORTA (New composer and has invented several new Amsterdam Records) features new works instruments that expand the limits of by Rome Prize winners Andy Akiho and traditional percussion. He is the curator for Chris Cerrone, and Molly Joyce, Daniel the Sound Res Festival, an experimental Wohl, Jacob Cooper, and Jakub Ciupinski. music festival in southern Italy, and teaches An EP of Sonatra, a new solo piano work percussion at Queens College in New York. by Michael Gordon, has been released on Cantaloupe Music. Interviews and articles Mark Stewart (Electric Guitar) has featuring her have appeared in Huffington recorded, toured, and been musical direc - Post, Gramophone , New York Times , tor with Paul Simon since 1998. A founding Vancouver Sun , and more. Her perfor - member of the Bang on a Can All-Stars and mances of works by Morton Feldman and the comic duo Polygraph Lounge with key - John Cage were featured on BBC3’s docu - board and theremin wizard Rob mentary series The Sound and the Fury , Schwimmer, he has also worked with based on Alex Ross’s book The Rest Is Steve Reich, Sting, Anthony Braxton, Bob Noise . Upcoming commissions include Dylan, Charles Wourinen, Cecil Taylor, works by composers Fjóla Evans, David Meredith Monk, Stevie Wonder, Phillip Brynjar Franzson, Gabriella Smith, Vincent Glass, Hugh Masekela, Iva Bittova, Bruce Ho, and Nicole Lizée. Springsteen, Ornette Coleman, Edie Brickell, Don Byron, Joan Baez, Paul David Cossin (Percussion) was born and McCartney, Jimmy Cliff, the Everly raised in Queens and studied classical Brothers, Fred Frith, Alison Krauss, David percussion at the Manhattan School of Krakauer, Bobby McFerrin, David Byrne, Music. His interest in classical percussion, James Taylor, The Roches, Aaron Neville, drum set, non-western hand drumming, and Marc Ribot. He has worked with com - composition, and improvisation has led to poser Elliot Goldenthal on music for the performances across a broad spectrum of films A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The musical and artistic forms to incorporate Tempest, Across the Universe, Titus, The new media with percussion. He has Butcher Boy, The Good Thief, In Dreams, recorded and performed with Steve Reich and Heat, often playing instruments of his and Musicians, Philip Glass, Yo-Yo Ma, own design and construction. He has Meredith Monk, Tan Dun, Cecil Taylor, designed instruments for Theater for a Talujon Percussion Quartet, and the trio New Audience productions of A Real Quiet. Theater projects include Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear, 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 13
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and invented the WhirlyCopter, a bicycle- world premiere of Rules of the Game , cre - powered Pythagorean choir of singing ated by Jonah Bokaer, Daniel Arsham, and tubes, and the Big Boing, a 24-foot sonic Pharrell Williams; Natalie Merchant’s banquet table mbira that seats 30 children recent U.S. tour; Mike Birbiglia’s Thank playing 490 found objects. He is on the fac - God for Jokes and My Girlfriend’s ulty of the Manhattan School of Music and Boyfriend ; a concert DVD by Yo-Yo Ma and a visiting lecturer at MIT. He lives in New the Silk Road Ensemble at Tanglewood; York and makes his living playing and writ - Where We Live by S o¯ Percussion at BAM; ing popular music, semi-popular music, and and the Goat Rodeo Sessions U.S. tour unpopular music. with Yo-Yo Ma and Chris Thile. He has designed for the Old Globe, Kennedy Ken Thomson (Clarinet and Bass Clarinet) is Center, Dallas Theater Center, and other a Brooklyn-based clarinetist, saxophonist, and theaters across the country. He has composer. In addition to the All-Stars, Ken is worked extensively in the dance world, in an anchoring force with Bang on a Can, as 2008 receiving his second Bessie Award music director and saxophonist with Asphalt for Jonah Bokaer’s The Invention of Minus Orchestra, and as a faculty member of Bang One . He also had a long association with on a Can’s Summer Music Festival at MASS Merce Cunningham, designing such pieces MoCA. With his quintet Slow/Fast, he has as Ground Level Overlay, Windows, and toured and released two discs, including Set - Biped, for which he also won a Bessie tle (NCM East Records, 2014). His 2013 CD, Award. Thaw (Cantaloupe Music), of his composi - tions performed by the JACK Quartet, was Jody Elff (Sound Engineer) is an audio called the #1 Classical CD of 2013 by engineer, sound artist, musician, and Rhapsody.com and listed on NPR’s “Top 10 composer who has worked in many Songs Public Radio Can’t Stop Playing.” He unusual musical and sonic environments. co-leads the chamber/punk/jazz band Gut - He was most recently at Lincoln Center bucket, with whom he has toured extensively Festival in 2013 as the sound designer for in the U.S. and internationally for over 16 The Blind Experience. He has worked years. He is also active as a freelance clar - with Laurie Anderson, Yo-Yo Ma, Paul inetist in New York, performing with Winter, Hall and Oates, Paul Simon, and Ensemble Signal, International Contemporary others. He has also mixed many televised Ensemble, and more. As a composer, he has concert events, including NBC’s Peter been commissioned by the American Com - Pan LIVE and Pope Francis’s recent visit posers Orchestra, Bang on a Can, Doug to the National September 11 Memorial Perkins, and others, and has received awards Museum. His work with sonic environ - from ASCAP and NewMusic USA. He is a ments has led him to develop a series of Conn-Selmer/Selmer Paris and D’Addario sound art works presented at museums Woodwinds artist. His most recent CD, Rest - and galleries internationally. He was com - less (Cantaloupe Music), focuses on two missioned to create a sound art installa - major works for cello and piano. tion, Strata, which is permanently on dis - play in Lyon, France. He also founded Aaron Copp (Lighting Design) was most Little Dog Live, providing high-quality live- recently at Lincoln Center Festival in 2013 streamed broadcasts of concert events at for Sinéad O’Connor’s The Gospel LittleDogLive.com. Sessions. Other recent projects include the 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 14
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About Bang on a Can Artistic Directors Michael Gordon, David Lang, Julia Wolfe Founded in 1987 by composers Michael Executive Director Kenny Savelson Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe, Bang Development Director Tim Thomas on a Can has been creating an international Project Manager Philippa Thompson community dedicated to innovative music Production Manager Sruly Lazaros wherever it is found, and has grown from a Found Sound Nation Co-Directors one-day New York –based marathon con - Chris Marianetti, Jeremy Thal, cert to a multifaceted performing arts orga - Elena Moon Park nization with a broad range of year-round Accounts Manager Brian Petuch international activities. Current projects Sales and Licensing Manager include the annual Bang on a Can Adam Cuthbert Marathon; The People’s Commissioning Archive Content Manager Matt Evans Fund, a membership program to commis - Intern Aaron Garcia sion emerging composers; the Bang on a Publicity Jensen Artists Can All-Stars, who tour to major festivals Christina Jensen and concert venues around the world every year; recording projects; the Bang on a Can Board of Directors Summer Music Festival, a professional President Daniel Baldini development program for young com - Jeffrey Bishop, Michael Gordon, posers and performers led by today’s pio - Lynette Jaffe, Alan Kifferstein, neers of experimental music; Asphalt Michael Kushner, David Lang, Orchestra, Bang on a Can’s extreme street Raulee Marcus, Elizabeth Murrell, band that offers mobile performances re- Robert A. Skirnick, Jane Stewart, contextualizing unusual music; Found Sandra Tait, Julia Wolfe, Sound Nation, a new technology-based Adam Wolfensohn musical outreach program now partnering with the U.S. State Department to create Bang on a Can Acknowledgments OneBeat, a revolutionary, post-political res - Cloud River Mountain was commissioned idency program that uses music to bridge with generous support from Maria and the gulf between young American musi - Robert A. Skirnick and Arts Brookfield. cians and young musicians from develop - ing countries; and cross-disciplinary collab - Gong Linna Dress Design orations and projects with DJs, visual Kathrin von Rechenberg (Beijing) artists, choreographers, filmmakers, and Gong Linna Make-up and Stylist more. Each program has evolved to Zhang Li answer specific challenges faced by Bang on a Can All-Stars Stylist today’s musicians, composers, and audi - Zane Pihlström ences in order to make innovative music widely accessible and wildly received. Bang on a Can’s 2017 programs are made Bang on a Can’s inventive and aggressive possible with generous lead support from approach to programming and presentation Amphion Foundation, ASCAP and ASCAP has created a large and vibrant international Foundation, Atlantic Records, Daniel audience of all ages who are rediscovering Baldini, Robert D. Bielecki Foundation, the value of contemporary music. Bishop Fund, Stephen A. Block, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, City of 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 15
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New York Department of Cultural Affairs, the larger New York City community. The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Danish Theater is dedicated to the creation and Arts Foundation, Gladys Krieble Delmas presentation of performing arts program - Foundation, Exploring the Arts, Randy ming of all disciplines with a special focus Ezratty & Jo Ann Corkran, Howard Gilman on how the artistic imagination can shed Foundation, Jaffe Family Foundation, Alan light on the many perceptions of justice in Kifferstein & Joan Finkelstein, Michael our society. The Theater is also a member Kushner, Herb Leventer, MAP Fund, of CUNY Stages, a consortium of 16 per - Raulee Marcus, MASS MoCA, Mid Atlantic forming arts centers located on CUNY Arts Foundation, Jeremy Mindich & Amy campuses across New York City. Smith, Elizabeth Murrell & Gary Haney, National Endowment for the Arts, New The Theater has hosted events in the York State Council on the Arts (with the Lincoln Center Festival since its first sea - support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and son in 1996, as well as New York City the New York State Legislature), Fan Fox Opera, Great Performers at Lincoln Center, and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Gotham Chamber Opera, Metropolitan Matthew Sirovich & Meredith Elson, Maria Opera Guild, and Alvin Ailey American & Robert A. Skirnick, Jane & Dick Stewart, Dance Theater/Ailey II. The Theater has Sandra Tait and Hal Foster, David Tochen & also been the site of many television and Mary Beth Schiffman, Trust for Mutual film specials including A&E’s Live by Understanding, U.S. Department of State, Request , Comedy Central Presents and Williamson Foundation for Music, Adam Premium Blend , Robert Klein in Concert Wolfensohn & Jennifer Small, and and VH1’s Soundtrack Live . For more infor - Wolfensohn Family Foundation. mation, and to view a schedule of events, please visit GeraldWLynchTheater.com. John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York President Jeremy Travis and the Gerald W. Lynch Theater Senior Vice President, Office of Finance John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The and Administration Steve Titan City University of New York, an interna - Executive Director Jeffrey Brown tional leader in educating for justice, offers a rich liberal arts and professional studies GERALD W. LYNCH THEATER curriculum to upwards of 15,000 under - General Manager Joshua Redfearn graduate and graduate students from more Assistant General Manager Rubina Shafi than 135 nations. In teaching, scholarship Assistant Technical Supervisor Ian DelDuca and research, the College approaches jus - Assistant Technical Supervisor tice as an applied art and science in service Rosemarie Cruz to society and as an ongoing conversation House Electrician Stuart Burgess about fundamental human desires for fair - House Audio Engineer William Grady ness, equality and the rule of law. For more House Carpenter David Nelson information, visit jjay.cuny.edu. Stagehand Jeffrey Marsey Office Manager Nardia Drummond Since opening its doors in 1988, the Gerald House Manager Larissa Dicosmo W. Lynch Theater has been an invaluable Custodian Alyshia Burke cultural resource for John Jay College and 07-14 Cloud River.qxp_Gp 3.qxt 7/6/17 9:30 AM Page 16
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Lincoln Center Festival, now in its 22nd Center, which airs nationally on PBS, and season, has received worldwide attention Lincoln Center Education, which is celebrat - for presenting some of the broadest and ing 40 years enriching the lives of students, most original performing arts programs in educators, and lifelong learners. As manager Lincoln Center’s history. The festival has of the Lincoln Center campus, LCPA pro - presented 1,465 performances of opera, vides support and services for the Lincoln music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary Center complex and the 11 resident organi - forms by internationally acclaimed artists zations: The Chamber Music Society of from more than 50 countries. To date, the Lincoln Center, Film Society of Lincoln festival has commissioned 44 new works Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard and offered 145 world, U.S., and New York School, Lincoln Center Theater, The premieres. It places particular emphasis on Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, showcasing contemporary artistic view - New York Philharmonic, New York Public points and multidisciplinary works that Library for the Performing Arts, School of challenge the boundaries of traditional per - American Ballet, and Lincoln Center for the formance. For more information, visit Performing Arts. Lincoln Center has become LincolnCenterFestival.org. a leading force in using new media and tech - nology to reach and inspire a wider and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts global audience. Reaching audiences where (LCPA) serves three primary roles: presenter they are—physically and digitally—has of artistic programming, national leader in become a cornerstone of making the per - arts and education and community engage - forming arts more accessible to New Yorkers ment, and manager of the Lincoln Center and beyond. The re-imagination of David campus. A presenter of more than 3,000 Geffen Hall will play an important part in free and ticketed events, performances, these efforts. For more information, visit tours, and educational activities annually, LincolnCenter.org. LCPA offers 16 series, festivals, and pro - grams, including American Songbook, Avery Acknowledgments Fisher Career Grants and Artist program, The music of Michael Gordon, David Lang, David Rubenstein Atrium programming, and Julia Wolfe is published by Red Poppy Great Performers, Lincoln Center at the Music (ASCAP) and is distributed world - Movies, Lincoln Center Emerging Artist wide by G. Schirmer, Inc. Awards, Lincoln Center Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Lincoln Center Vera Lighting, Sound Equipment List Art Project, Midsummer Night Swing, Production Resource Group Mostly Mozart Festival, White Light Festival, Scenery Build RoseBrand the Emmy Award–winning Live From Lincoln Scenery Supervisor Webster Crittenden