Density 2036 Part ii
2014
About
DENSITY 2036: Part ii, 2014
Premier: The Kitchen, New York City
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Flutist: Claire Chase
Live performance directed by: David Michalek
Sound engineering: Levy Lorenzo
Light Sculpture: David Michalek
Grid lighting: Nicolas Houfek
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DENSITY 2036 is a 24-year project begun by Claire Chase in 2013 to commission a new body of repertory for solo flute each year until the 100th anniversary of Edgard Varese’s groundbreaking 1936 flute solo, Density 21.5. Chase will commission and premier a new program of flute music every year until 2036. Each piece in the project will expand the boundaries of the instrument.
For this second iteration of Density 2036, Claire and I continued to look for ways to breathe new life into the recital form and for filling a volume of space with not only with music and sounds, but also her bodily presence, choreographed movement, props, costumes and sculptural lighting design, as well as her relationship as a performing musician to the audience, both in terms of orientation and intimacy.
The light sculpture for this second iteration of Density is in the shape of an “X” created by eight individual tubes, which could be individually manipulated and turn ON or OFF. This allowed for a number of other sub-shapes to emerge such as the shape of a “V” for example.
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DENSITY 2036: Part ii, 2014
Works performed:
Edgard Varese, “Density 21.5” for flute alone (1936)
Felipe Lara, “Meditation and Calligrapy” for bass flute (2014)
George Lewis, “Emergent” for flute and electronics (2014)
Matthias Pincher, “Beyond (A System of Passing)” (2013-2014)
Du Yun, “And Empty Garlic” for bass flute and electronics (2014)