Dane Rudhyar (1895–1985) was a unique figure in 20th-century American culture: a composer, thinker, painter, poet, novelist, and the pre-eminent figure in astrology. Rudhyar was American modernism's proto-multiculturalist. He connected dissonance to his studies in comparative religion, theosophy, and metaphysics, was a leader and mentor to fellow composers Henry Cowell, Ruth Crawford Seeger and Carl Ruggles, and later influenced a new generation including John Cage, Lou Harrison, James Tenney, and Kyle Gann.
Now, 25 years after Rudhyar's death (September 13, 1985 in San Francisco), Other Minds presents a celebration of the work of this "seed man" of the avant-garde, with performers David Abel and Julie Steinberg (violin and piano), Sarah Cahill (piano), and the Ives Quartet. The September 27 program will also include a pre-concert panel discussion with the composer's widow Leyla Rudhyar Hill, and biographer Deniz Ertan (University of Nottingham), moderated by Other Minds Artistic Director Charles Amirkhanian. A special exhibition of Rudhyar's paintings, manuscripts, and correspondence will be displayed at both concerts.
Concert Program (same for both dates):
Poem for Violin and Piano (1920)
Works for solo piano:
Transmutation, tone sequence in seven movements (1976)
Stars from Pentagram No. 3 (1925)
Granites (1929)
Crisis & Overcoming (String Quartet No. 2) (1979)
PERFORMERS
David Abel & Julie Steinberg (violin and piano)
Sarah Cahill (piano)
Ives String Quartet (Bettina Mussumeli, Susan Freier, Jodi Levitz, Stephen Harrison)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27: at Swedenborgian Church, San Francisco. 6:30pm Reception, 7pm Panel Discussion, 8pm Concert.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29: at Valley Presbyterian Church, Portola Valley. 7:30pm Concert, Reception to follow.
Rudhyar in Retrospect is presented in association with Leyla Rudhyar Hill and the Estate of Dane Rudhyar, and has been made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius.
- Venue: Valley Presbyterian Church
- Date: Wed September 29, 2010 7:30pm
- City: Portola Valley
- Price Range: $15-20
- Tickets: (415) 934-8134
Mon September 27, 2010 8:00pm
Swedenborgian Church
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Program
Dane Rudhyar
Poem for Violin and Piano (1920)
Dane Rudhyar
Transmutation, tone sequence in seven movements (1976)
Dane Rudhyar
Stars from Pentagram No. 3 (1925)
Dane Rudhyar
Granites (1929)
Dane Rudhyar
Crisis & Overcoming (String Quartet No. 2) (1979)
Performers
David Abel & Julie Steinberg
Violin and Piano
Sarah Cahill
Solo Piano
Ives Quartet
String Quartet
More About This Event
SFCV Previews
September 22, 2010
Other Minds and Sarah Cahill are curating this festival to a man who was the inspiration and example for many other American “maverick” composers, including Henry Cowell, Carl Ruggles, John Cage, and Lou Harrison. Dane Rhudyar is definitely an original, someone whose music will open your ears — and not in a trivial way.
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