The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players’ new artistic director, Steven Schick, may have sewn more confusion than enlightenment with his imaginative subtitles, never more so than with the coming concert, “In which discussing a plan leads to some confusion.” But the emphasis is right, intuitively: process, audience input and reaction, and exploration.
That’s what new music is all about. You put on your explorer hat, experience something that you may not be fully prepared for, and have a reaction. The composer and musicians may still be developing the piece. It may change in response to audience reaction. There’s no definite endpoint. There will certainly be confusion somewhere along the line.
Given the plethora of new music and new music groups in the Bay Area, it’s clear that there are a good number of intrepid adventurers in the audience for live music here. But it’s good to know that SFCMP never leaves you on your own to face the music. You can attend the Insights presentation on Sunday, where Edmund Campion, composer of the world premiere on this program (Small Wonder – The Butterfly Effect ) will present the piece, talk you through some of it, and answer questions.
Who knows? Clarity may result.