BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF

MICHAEL MOSCHEN IN MOTION POLKA FROM THE FRINGE BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC Harvey Lichtenstein, President,and Executive Producer BAM Lepercq Space November 17-19, 1988 presentS POLKA FROM THE FRINGE . AIN'T NarHIN' BUT A POLKA BAND

Guy K1ucevsek, , vocals John King,electric , electric violin, vocals Tom Cora, cello, electric bass-guitar, vocals , drums, marimba

Special GuestS David Garland, vocals , -propelled electronics

Lighting Design SallyAnne Santos

These performances are made possible, in part, by grants from the MARY FLAGLER CARY CHARITABLE TRUST, the W. ALTON JONES FOUNDATION, INC. and MEET THE , INC.

B o 0 K YN A CAD MY o MUS C

F E s T v A L 9 8 8 S P 0 N S 0 R ~ 0 B Y PHI L I·.P M 0 R R I.SeD M PAN IE SIN C.

The 1,_NEXT WAVE Festival is...-..l by PHIUP MORRIS COMPANIES INC. The NEXT WAVE Production _ ToII'iIg Fund is.,.....ud by the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS. THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION. THE FORD FOUNDATION. THE HENRY LUCE FOUNDA­ TION. INC•• PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS. THE WlLLIAM'AND FLORA HEWLm FOUNDATION. the W. ALTON JONES FOUNDATION. INC.. the AT&TFOUIDAnoN,the NATURAL HBIITAGE TRUST. THE CUYAHOGA TRUST. the MARY FLAGLER CARY CHARITABLE TRUST. THE HOWARD GILMAN FOUNDATION. the MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY. ROBERT W. WILSON. THE HARKNESS FOUN­ DATlONS·FOR DANCE and the STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS. AddiIilIIIftiIds.tlleIEXTWAVEFesIiIraI ..pmiledbyIEETTHEImPOSER, INC., die aGIA CORPORATIOI, THE WII.I.IAI AID MARY GREVE FOUIDATIOI, Ie.. THE BEST PRODI£TS RUmATHI, THE AIIIIAID G. ERPF FlJID, the SAlUB. LIEWHOUSE FOUIDATIOI1, the BAlIEXTWAVE PRODUCERS COUICIl, die BAllIEXTWAVE ASSOCIATES .tdlefRBDS OF BAM. The NEXT WAVE Produars CoIIId IfOVides IIIIUlIIIJivate paInIIage fir BAM's NEXT WAVE Festival lDI also orglIizeslDl spooscwssenms, exIMJns, ~ iIII special evnsfordis~tIrougOOuttheyeir. The NEXT WAVE AsBiates, aIfI1IiSII ofYOlDd IJOfessionaIs, is the newest jIivate ~ grlIlqI of the NEXT WAVE Festiv& BAM wUI ike to doowIedge the HOWARD GILMAN FOlIDATION fir dIei Slp1it the D'8IDJn of the NEXT WAVE YItIJ Ardive. Prewiews of NEXT WAVE events ire made posstie by the WORLD FlANCIAI. CENTER ARTS &FiENTS PROGRAM. WNYC-FM is the offl:ial nDt station of die NEXT WAVE Festiv& The 8t'ol*Iyn Academy of Music wishes to ..its ~ to Theatre 0eveI0pment FtnIfIr its Slp1of dis seasoo. The BAM facily is ownII by the ()y of New York lDI its opniIn is IIIlIIe IJ)SSiE, it pill, with pdthnIs IIoviIII tIrollJh the Nfl YB CITY IIPARTMENT IfCULTURAL AFFAIRS with ~from Brooklyn 8orotJJh Presilent Howcrd GokIII lDIthe Brooklyn ~ of the New YlIk City Colni

Joseph V. Melillo, Director, NEXT W4VE Festival POLKA FROM THE FRINGE Performance Order To Be Announced Thomas Albert: The Devil's Polka* Robin Holcomb: The Winnemucca Polka arranged by Guy KIucevsek Rhys Chatham: The Pretty Ballerina Polka . lyrics by Leopold Zappler Phillip Johnston: Pontius Pilate Polka· arranged by Guy KIucevsek Joseph Kasinskas: Peek-A-Boo Polka Mary Ellen Childs: Oa Poa Polka* Aaron Kernis: Phantom Polka (a cinematic polka)· accordion solo solo accordion : Mejunarodni Nafin Polka John King: Solidarity-Polka Song Nicolas Collins: Devil From Milwaukee* Guy KIucevsek: Some of That Old 'Soul Polka'; Tom Cora: The Imperial Buzzard The Grass, ItIs Blue (Ain't Nothin' But A Polka) Guy De Bievre: Polka Dots And Laser Beams Mary Jane Leach: Guy De Polka arranged by Guy KIucevsek David Mahler: The Twenty-Second Street William Duckworth: PoUting Around Accordion Band arranged by Guy KIucevsek Christian Marclay: Ping Pong Polka Steve Elson: From Here To Paternity Polka accordion/tape accordion part composed by Guy KIucevsek Carl Finch: Prairie Dogs (Polka) arranged by Guy KIucevsek William Obrecht: Guy, Won't You Play Your Accordion? (Guy's Dream) : The Disinformation Polka arranged by Tom Cora and Guy KIucevsek Bobby Previte: The Nova Scotia Polka David Garland: Late Last Thursday· : Happy Chappie Polka arranged by Guy KIucevsek Peter Garland: The Club Nada Polka accordion solo Lois V Vierk: Attack Cat Polka· lyrics by Arthur Stidfole Daniel Goode: Diet Polka : (The) Who Stole The Polka Rolf Groesbeck: Polka I solo accordion ·world premiere Musical arrangements are by the unless otherwise indicated. POLKA FROM THE FRINGE Growing up as a member ofa Slovenian family in western coal-mining country in the 1950 s, I was surrounded by the polka music ofFrankie Yankovic, Kenny Bass, Johnny Vadnal and Johnny Pecon. On Sundays at noon, we used to listen to "The Happy Slovene Hour" on local radio, and in summer, we went to "Slovenian Day" at amusement parks. I'formed my ownpolka band in high scho()i~ and spent the next several years entertaining weddings, par­ ties and at clubs, playing polkas I had transcribed from records and radio and, eventually, writing my own. Polkas were my introduction to the world of composition. "Serious" composition study at the college level put an extended halt to my life as a polka musician: get~ ting the accordion (and myself) taken seriously in that environment meant avoiding music that reinforced accordion stereotypes. This avoidance ofpolkas lasted from 1965 until the early 1980s, when I discovered the Tex-Mex polkas ofFlaco Jimenez and the Cajun two-steps ofNathan Abshire. I started to realize that polka, too, had its 'fringe' elements - culturally isolated communities in which the form had developed outside ofthe main­ stream. So, in 1986, I composed: my first polka in 20 years, and began inviting my composer friends, most of whom had never written a polka, to have a goat it as well. The result is POLKA FROM THE FRINGE. Held together by the common bond ofpolkaness, this collection ofpolkas, pseudo-polkas and decimated polkas forms not only a look at the idea of'polka', but an array of musical views of our current world. Guy Klucevsek Guy Klucevsek premiered the solo version ofPOLKA FROM THE FRINGE at New Music America 'ffl in Philadel­ phia, sponsored by Relache. Premieres of 13 ensemble-versions from the collection were presented by Ain't Nothin' But A Polka Band at the Splash Festival, Jacob's Pillow, August '88.

AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A POLKA BAND GUY KLUCEVSEK (accordion, vocals), born in Zero Moving Dance Company will be performed in 1947, took-up the accordion at age live at the Joyce Theatre in January of '89 during six, after seeing one on television. As a teen-ager, the company's New York season. he became interested in original accordion music Guy Klucevsekhas released two solo recordings: commissioned by the American Accordionists' Scenes From A Mirage on Review Records and Blue Association. Studying and performing the works of Window on Zoar Cassettes. He has also recorded Alan Hovhaness, Vrrgil Thomson, Paul Creston and extensively with , David Garland, Pauline Henry Cowell, Klucevsek developed an interest in Oliveros, Bobby Previte and Relache. composing, which he has pursued since 1967. Over the last 15 years, Klucevsek has created a JOHN KING (electric guitar, electric .violin, unique solo repertoire through his own composing vocals) has performed his works and received per­ and by commissioning works from John Zorn, formances at the Kennedy Center, ISCM Festival Anthony Coleman, Lois V Vierk, and all the com­ '~, New Music America'85, Aspen Music Festival, posers represented on Polka From The Fringe. The Kitchen, Carnegie Recital Hall, TIn Pan Alley, Guy Klucevsek has been featured as a soloist at Roulette, City Center and CBGB, as well as con­ the Berlin Festival, Zurich Jazz Festival, certizing throughout Europe. His compositions' Serious Fun! at , Central Park Band­ include works for orchestra, chamber ensemble and shell, Whitney Museum at Philip Morris, three voice, as well as pieces for small ensembles in which

New Music America festivals, and on tour with the i, Mr. King acts as guitarist/conductor. Mr. King has . He has also performed his com­ also acted as leader of his own group, Electric position, "Scenes From A Mirage," on the children's World, and has performed with many improvisa­ television show, "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood." tionalensembles in the New York do~ntown music Besides having composed over 20 solo/multiple scene. He has been commissioned by choreo­ accordion works, Klucevsek has written five pieces graphers Merce Cunningham, Robert Kovich, Keith for Relache (with whQm he has served as accordi­ Young, Sue MacLennan and Carey Erickson. onist and program advisor since 1980) and dance scores'for choreographers Angela Caponigro, Karen TOM CORA (cello, electric bass-guitar, vocals) Bamottte and Helmut Gottschild. His music for was born in YanceyMills,Virginia in 1953, made [Continued] his mQsical debut as a drummer on local television's the David Thdor school of"home-made" electronic "Dandy Doodle Show," and passed his early years circuitry, and apioneer in the use ofmicrocomputers as a guitarist with country music and rhythm and in live performance, he also makes extensive use blues bands around Vrrginia and Washington, D.C. of radio, found sound material, and "backwards" In the mid-70s he suddenly abandoned the guitar musical instruments. He has performed through­ and took up the rello, studying with Casals' student, out the and Europe as a solo artist and Luis Garcia-Renart. In 1979 Tom moved to NYC and incollaboration with Peter Cusack, The Downtown soon began working the honkey-:tonk circuits of Ensemble,Bob -James, Ron Kuivila, Christian North America with Shockabilly guitarist Eugene Marclay, Robert Poss, Elliott Sharp, David Thdor Chadbourne. Between stints on the road he became and John Zorn~ Two albums ofhis music have.been a familiar face at the improvising venues and rock released by Lovely Records, a third by Trace clubs of New York alongside the likes of George Elements Records, and works have been included Cartwright, , John Zorn, etc. During on Banned, John Doe, Slowscan, Tellus cassettes. the last five years Cora's most active projects have His most recentrecording, ]00 ofthe World's Most been the rock bands Skeleton Crew and Curlew as ­ Beautiful Melodies, consists of 34, duets with ten well as solo concerts allover North America, musicians in 46 minutes, and should be available Europe and Japan. More recent activities include in early 1989. studio productions for several recording projects and SALLYANNE SANTOS (lighting designer) is film music for the National Film Board ofCanada. Assistant Production Manager at BAM. This is her BOBBY PREVITE's (drums, marimba) Bump the third NEXT WAVE Festival, and she is lighting all Renaissance, foracoustic quintet, was released in the music events of the 1988 Festival. Selected 1985 by Sound Aspects Records. Dull Bang, Gush­ credits include the Tibet House Benefit, starring ing Sound, Human Shriek is a solo recording for Suzanne Vega, , and Philip Glass; , keyboards, guitar, bass, voice, small percussion, the September 1988 Broadway Benefit at BAM and various electronics. Originally created as a hosted by Penn & Teller; the Kronos Quartet at the video soundtrack, it was released in .1988 by Dossier 1986 NEXT WAVE Festival. Records and is available through New Music Distribution Service. Pushing the Envelope, also for ­ COMPOSERS acoustic quintet, was released in 1987 and 1988 by Gramavision Records. His most recent music is THOMAS ALBERT, born in ;Lebanon, Pennsyl­ scored for nine musicians, including organ, piano, vania, currently teaches music theory and compo­ , trombone, guitar, pedal st,eel, harp, accordion, sition at Shenendoah Conservatory in Winchester, electronics, and two drummers. This music will be Virginia. His best-known composition, A Maze released by Gramavision in the fall of 1988, under (With Grace), is performed regularly by Relache the title Claude's Late Morning. and was included on the New Music America '87 festival in Philadelphia. RHYS CHATHAM is a DAVID GARLAND (vocals), singer, composer and composer from who lives and works in multi-instrumentalist, writes music and lyrics in a at Cite Internationale des Arts. Well-known style that is his own, but which is part of the for music involving ensembles ofelectric , American popular song tradition. Drawing on a he is currently touring a recently completed solo, wide variety ofaccompaniments, from entitled Manifeste, for amplified trumpet and elec­ to computers, the sound ofGarland's music reflects tronics. LEOPOLD·ZAPPLER lives in the,East a contemporary interest in using the full gamut of Viilage and doesn't really like it very much and has musical expression. Garland lives in New York and beeb Writing about the apocalypse and romantic love has performed at the important venues there, includ­ ever since·his soul was annihilated by Stephanie ing The Kitchen, UfW, The , and RileY. MARY ELLEN CmLDS cites contem­ many others, even Carnegie Hall. Garland per­ porary dance, theater and visual art as strong formed in the New Music America festivals in 1984­ influences on her musical compositions. A resident and 1986, and has toured extensively in Europe, ofSt. Paul, Minnesota, she has received commis­ having given nearly 60 concerts ofhis music in West sions from performers around the country, includ­ Germany, -, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria ing the St. Paul-Chamber Orchestra, the American and the Netherlands since 1985. He has also Dance Festival, Relache and the Kronos Quartet. received grants from the National Endowment for ANTHONY COLEMAN has performed and the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts. recorded with John Zorn, and Elliott NICOLAS COLLINS (trombone-propelled elec­ Sharp and has given concerts ofhis own music in tronics) was born in New York City in 1954. He New York, Paris and Belgrade. His music has also studied composition wit:h Alvin Lucier. An heir to been performed by Relache and the Aspen Wind Quintet. GUY DEBIEVREwas bornin Brussels, for jazzsinger NoraYork, with whomhe frequently Belgium. He works at the Logos Foundation, a performs. Hehas also composedthe soundtrackto Gent-based, artist-run new music organization. A Ann Flournoy's How To Be Louise. JOSEPH number ofhis pieces consist of'reorganizations' of KASINSKAS has composed music for films, existing music. WILLIAM DUCKWORTH's documentaries, and has written orchestral and music is published by C.F. Peters and recorded on chambermusic. Living inthe Philadelphiaarea, he Lovely Music Records. His- best-know_n work, The has worked with the ensemble Relache for many 'lime Curve Preludes, has been heard on four years. AARON KERNIS was born in Philadelphia continents including New York's Carnegie·Hall, andcurrently lives inNew York. During the 1988-89 Darmstadt, Buenos Aires, and Tiankin, China. season, he will have premieres by the American Duckworth is currently completing two books of Composers Orchestra in Carnegie Hall,Gerard interviews with American experimental composers Schwarz's Music Today Ensemble in Merkin Hall, on a grant from the NEH. Since moving to New ,andby the chambergroup Andiamo. MARYJANE York in the mid-'70s, saxophonist/composer LEACH is a composer/performer from Vermont STEVEELSONhas worked with someofthe most who now lives in New York. During the pastyear, influential musical personalities in the rock, jazz she has performed in a wide range ofinteresting and new music world including David Bowie, spaces, from a clock tower and lofts in New York Laurie Anderson, Grace Jones, the Talking Heads to cellars in Europe, a modem palace in Belgium and'Sam and Dave. He is a co-founder ofthe Bor­ to an ornate marble hall in Philadelphia, and neo Horns, the Slickaphonics, and _a member of churches onboth continents. DAVID MAHLER's 's Ensemble. CARL FINCH is the music ranges from songs and small fonn instrumen­ founder and leader ofBrave Combo, a Texas band tal works to pieces involving performer interacting that plays an unusual blend of high~energyethnic, with audio tape. Much ofhis work is concerned with traditional and commercially unfashionable dance words inrelation to music. Mahlerlives and works forms. As part ofthe new ~tem.ative polka move­ in Seattle, Washington. ClIRISTIANMARCLAY ment, Brave Combo has helped revive popular. has been composing i~nd performing with phono­ interest in the polka and the accordion. FRED graph records.and turntables since 1979. His inter­ FRITH is a multi-instrumentalist and song-writer est in records, both as objects and as bearers of based in New York. He has written extensively for sound, has expresseditselfthrough sculpture, per-, dance and theater in· Europe and the USA, and his formance, video and.music. He has performed in' compositions can be heard in the repertoire ofthe Europe, Japan, the U.S. and New York City. BILL Rova Saxophone Quartet and the Apocalypso Gui­ OBRECHTwrites music for purposes and instru­ tar Quartet among others. PETER GARLAND . ments low and high; And is, as you lmght easily studied with HaroldBudd and James Tenney at Cal guess; Ifyou h~e ever questioned Guy; So glad to Arts. Since 1972, he has been editing and publish­ hear the answer: "Yes!." Composer/multi-instru­ ing the new music journal, Soundings. A resident mentalist ELLIOTT SHARP leads the group of California, Maine, Oaxaca and Michoacan CARBON as well as participating in the coopera­ (Mexico) inthelate 70s', hehas beenliving in New tive gro~p Semantics. Recent ~ctivities include the Mexico since 1980. Composer/clarinetistDANIEL premiere of Larynx for a 13-member version of GOODE recently premiered his large-scale work, CARBON at the 1987 NEXT WAVE Festival and Tunnel Funnel, with the Downtown Ensemble, of commissions by theAmericanComposers Orches­ which he is co-founder. He performed last season tra and the Soldier String Quartet. LOISV VIERK at BAM in The Peter Zummo Orchestras. ROLF and ARTHURSTIDFOLEhavecollaborated on GROESBECK is currently doing Ph.D. research numerous projects, including nationally broadcast (NYU,·Ethnomusicology) ondrumming inKerala, radio series, articles on world music and concert Southwest·India. He has worked extensively as productions. This is their first polka collaboration. performer/composer with. Music for Homemade PETERZUMMO's Bessie Award-winning music 'Instruments andGamelan SonofLion, andhas also for Trisha Brown's Lateral Pass has been presented been Music Directorofthe Pdlindrome DanceCom­ at New Music Americaas well as intwo ofherCity pany.. ROBINHOLCOMB, composerandpianist, Center seasons. Last season he premieredRadical performs soloand leads theA.K.A. Ensembleand Filtering during BAM's NEXT WAVE Festival. the New York Composers Orchestra. A soon-to-be released album on: theSoundAspects label features performances of her compositions by Wayne CREDITS Horvitz, , Bobby Previte, Additional lighting equipment by Bash Stage and . PIDLLIPJOHNSlON is Lighting; additional sound equipment by Masque co-leader ofthe Microscopic Septet, and composes Sound and Recording Corp. ~