Saturday, March 20, 2010

Julius Eastman's Gay Guerrilla Performed at EMPAC

Julius Eastman's Gay Guerrilla is an epic half-hour work for 4 pianos that I discovered this evening via Alex Ross. The video below features Michael Century, Max Canaday, Catherine Chou, and Andre Watson last November at EMPAC in Troy, New York. Check out the sweet piano situation - three Boesendorfers and a Fazioli a Boesendorfer, Steinway, Fazioli, and Yamaha (my mistake). If you're planning on listening to the work in its entirety (which I really recommend), take a look at these biographies of Eastman. You can also follow along with the score if you're keen on deciphering Eastman's unique notational system.

7 comments:

  1. actually, piano wise it's a bosendorfer, a fazioli, a steinway, and a yamaha. :) and yes they are all equally aweseome in there very own way.

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  2. Thanks for the clarification, Shannon!

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  3. Thanks for this post! I knew nothing of Eastman, but after listening to this, and reading about his life- I dare say I'm inspired!

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  4. Andre Watson3:29 PM

    I googled my name, and this is what I get? Glad you guys enjoyed it. The piece was certainly fun to play.

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  5. Andre Watson sighting on the Collaborative Piano Blog!

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  6. You might want to check out two performances of Crazy Nigger, a 55 minute piece

    By the Ear Unit
    http://www.sonicresolution.org/id32.html

    At a Festival in Holland - with introductions and recaps in English and Dutch
    http://www.dagindebranding.nl/Web/Video/007_CrazyNigger_Intro.html

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  7. If anyone would like to see more of my playing (and powerlifting, haha), my youtube name is "frootlups." I'm having a little concert this Saturday (7/30/11) and I'll post it to youtube afterwards.

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