Clocks in Motion a very promising group

I didn't have time to write about these guys (plus one gal) when I saw them on March 24 in a concert on the campus of Baldwin Wallace University, but I wanted to post about this group before it's too late. Clocks in Motion seems very promising to me. I hope the group becomes part of the modern classical landscape the way that, say, Kronos Quartet or eighth blackbird has become.

The group, a percussion ensemble from Wisconsin , opened its BW concert with a performance of Steve Reich's "Music for Pieces of Wood." The performance consisted of five guys hitting blocks of wood with a mallet. The piece sounded like a miniature version of "Music for 18 Musicians," with individual instruments (sorry, "pieces of wood") dropping in and out.

Next, the group played "Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra" by Lou Harrison. I've been a Lou Harrison fan for years, but I didn't know that particular piece. It was unusual and fun. One musician had a row of flower pots of different sizes, suspended by ropes; the same musician also played a set of wind chimes. Another musician banged on a cello that had been set up horizontally above the stage. Excellent playing by guest violinist Evan Kleve really helped the piece go. (When I mentioned that to one of the group's members, Sean Kleve, he replied, "That's my brother!" Sean is the guy on the right in the above photo.)

The next piece was by the only featured composer I've never heard of, Herbert Brün. "At Loose Ends" had some beautiful soundscapes, and I'd love to be able to find a recording so I can hear it again. After the break, the group concluded with a rendition of Xenaxis' "Pléïades," and I plan to  hunt up a recording of it, too.

I asked Sean Kleve after the concert when the group will start issuing recordings, and he said recording sessions are scheduled this summer.

Here's a review of the group's May 25 concert at Cleveland State University; it was identical to the Baldwin Wallace show, except that the group dropped the Reich and opened instead with John Cage's "Bacchanale." Wish I could have heard that, too.

I've signed up for the group's email list and hope to hear more of the group in the future.

Iron Composer contest concert tonight

An "Iron Composer" concert, featuring a contest held along the lines of TV's Iron Chef, will be held at 8 p.m. today (Eastern time) in Berea; details here. The featured composers are David Carter, Anne Goldberg, Julie Hill, Caroline Mallonée and Mark Popeney.

WCLV will broadcast the concert for people who can't be there. The station streams its broadcasts over the Internet, so anyone can listen anywhere.

Q2 announces new shows

Q2, already the leading Internet radio station for new music, has announced a series of new and returning shows.

Among the new shows is Mixtape, airing from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Q2 explains, "What is the sound of 21st century classical music? What does it mean to be a composer in an age that’s seemingly post-everything? Every week on Mixtapes, Q2 Music asks one of today’s active and 'big A' Artists to weigh in and choose an hour of music that they find particularly compelling in today’s exciting new-music climate. Read testimonies from the artists themselves and stream past shows on-demand."

Free download of Judd Greenstein piece

The Minnesota Orchestra is offering a free download of a new four movement piece by Judd Greenstein, "Acadia." Well worth a listen. (Via Nico Muhly on Twitter).

William Duckworth has written a piano concerto

Exciting news from one of my favorite composers, William Duckworth. Pianist Bruce Brubaker  persuaded Duckworth to compose a piano concerto, and Duckworth has finished the project.

Duckworth reports that "Big Piano" has seven movements and is 24 minutes long. No word yet on performances or a recording. More here.

Some of Duckworth's best pieces are for the piano (including, obviously, the "Time Curve Preludes," which have been recorded by Brubaker, Andy Lee and Neely Bruce) so I eagerly look forward to hearing the concerto.

Andy Lee hopes you get the joke now

My wife and I were driving home silently Sunday after doing some shopping when I suddenly exclaimed, "It's an April Fool's joke!"

Earlier Sunday, I had been surprised by pianist R. Andrew Lee's Twitter announcement, "I am pleased to announce that this summer, with @Hedgehogmusic, I'll be recording all three of the Boulez sonatas!"

Wow, I thought, maybe I hadn't given Boulez his due. I always thought Andy and I liked the same stuff -- I discovered him on the Internet years ago because of his interest in William Duckworth's "The Time Curve Preludes" -- so I was startled that he was recording music I loathed Then again, people change, and I've been listening to more twelve-tone music lately (my "tutor" on this has been Boom) so maybe Andy was evolving in his tastes, too ...  Not that I've suddenly acquired a taste for Boulez, I brooded.

Then it suddenly dawned on me that Sunday was April 1.

On Monday, Mr. Lee fessed up. "Just to be clear, I've no intention of recording the Boulez Sonatas. Sorry if I got anyone's hopes up. #AprilFools"

The decidedly minimalist and postminimalist Lee now says, " I realized shortly after that tweet that you'd have to know what I do for that to be funny ... My wife always gets on me for my sarcasm being too subtle. I suppose that goes for all my humor. :)"

I Care If You Listen releases new sampler album

The I Care If You Listen blog/web site has released "Spring 2012 Mixtape," a free album of sample pieces from various albums. "Some wonderful artists agreed to be featured: Crash Ensemble, Brooklyn Rider, Loney Dear, Thad Anderson, Lawton Hall, Young Magic, Ben Russell, and David Crowell," Thomas Deneuville writes.

I downloaded it and gave it a listen. For some of the poppier items, one listen seemed enough, but I liked several pieces, particularly Crash Ensemble's "Streetwalker," written by composer Donnacha Dennehy.

The title of the Web site obviously is a reference to the famous (or infamous) Milton Babbitt essay. Deneuville explains, "The title of this blog is not directed at Mr. Babbitt, but more at the creative forces out there that tend to look down on their audience… "