In addition to performing Biped with CNDC and his ensemble, Gavin will also perfom Cage's "score" for the Cunnigham dance How to Pass, Kick,.Fall and Run. This work involves the accompanying musicians - here Gavin and James Woodrow - reading a sequence of stories and anecdotes by Cage...
As part of a fundraising event for Resonance FM at Cafe Oto, Gavin wil play about 30 minutes solo piano music - he will be one of four perfomers for that evening. Gavin has a strong relationship with Cafe Oto where he has played with his ensemble several times over the last few years - and one of his recent CD releases was recorded there - and has also contributed to a number of broadcasts for the independent radio station Resonance FM
The first complete performance of A Native Hill, setting texts by Wendell Berry: five of the twelve movements were performed in Philadelphia in December 2018. This continues the long-standing association and collaboration between Gavin and The Crossing, one of America's finest choirs.
The performance is at 5PM, with a pre-concert talk by Gavin and Donald Nally at 4PM
As part of the celebration lof the 20th anniversary of the creation of the chapel at Ceretto by artists David Tremlett and Sol Lewitt, Gavin Bryars will perform a thirty minute programme, with Nick Barr, viola
The North Shore, viola and piano
Ramble on Cortona, solo piano
Epilogue from Wonderlawn, viola and piano
It also coincides with the release of a vynil recording, to which Gavin has contributed a piece Cage du Grand Escalier, from his installation in the Chateau d'Oiron, France
The Uk premiere of Marilyn Forever will be given by the Oxford Contemporary Opera Society, directed by Zerlina Vulliamy in May 2019. This is a brand new production of a work that has had highly successful performances in Victoria BC, Adelaide, Long Beach California and the Volksoper Vienna.
The premiere on May 22nd will have a preconcert talk by Gavin and librettist Marilyn Bowering.
The photograph is from the first performance in Victoria BC, with Eivør Palsdottir as Marilyn, and Gavin Bryars as bassist in the on-stage jazz trio.
Following his very successful time at CAMP In April 2018, Gavin will return tio Aulus-les-Bains in May 2019 to lead a five-day masterclass in composition at CAMP, a residential arts facility in the high French Pyrenees.
As last year, this course will take Gavin's work as a starting point to examine compositional forms and strategies, working closely with the group's existing practice and methods, with the aim of each student developing a finished work for performance at the end of the session. Students may bring along a work in progress on which they woudl like to work, or may prefer to work alone or with others on somethign new - related perhps to this unique environment. Students from all musical backgrounds are welcome, whether classically trained, improvisors, sound artists, installation artists, conceptual artists or favouring any other approach. The session will include:
> Individual tuition sessions, examining and developing each student's existing work and practice
> Group sessions examining different types of musical material, including vocal music (both solo and ensemble), string music, opera, music for dance, composing in relation to music from the past, and arranging the music of others
> Evening events showing Gavin's work in opera and film
> Development of each student's work for final performance by the group at the end of the course
The sessions will be accompanied by optional outdoors activities led by CAMP crew, including guided mountaineering, visits to local beauty points, and downtime to hang out, relax, enjoy the local food and wine, and learn informally from Gavin, the CAMP crew, and your fellow students. Following the course, further support of the work developed will come in the form of performance and releasing opportunities via Fuse Art Space and our range of in-house record labels.
A concert of jazz-related works by the Gavin Bryars Ensemble including After the Requiem (solo guitar, James Woodrow) and By the Vaar, written for Charlie Haden and performed here in a special new arrangement for the ensemble (Gavin, solo bass). Dancing with Pannonica (solo piano, Alexandra-Maria Tchernakova) is a homage to Thelonious Monk
Dancing with Pannonica
After the Requiem
Ramble on Cortona
By The Vaar
Jesus' Blood
Performers: Nick Barr, Katie Wilkinson, violas; Nick Cooper, cello; James Woodrow, electric guitar; Alexandra-Maria Tchernakova, piano; Gavin Bryars, bass
(Photograph: James Woodrow and Gavin Bryars at TestBed, London)
Gavin Bryars is working with the orchestra of Academy of St Martin in the Fields to develop an all night performance of Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet in the Boiler Room at Tate Modern. It will be done in partnership with various homelessness organisations such as The Museum fo Homelssness and Streetwise Opera and will also include the Gavin Bryars Ensemble and other groups.
This is in the planning stage at the moment but the date is a firm one.