While Kyle Gann's recent unearthing of Dennis Johnson's November is now perhaps the oldest piece of recorded minimalism, In C by Terry Riley remains one of the school's most performed early works.
To wit, this Saturday, July 20, the String Orchestra of Brooklyn and Fort Greene Park Conservancy will present a free performance of Riley's warhorse at 6 p.m. at the park's Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument.
Yes, this memorial to more than 11,500 American POWs who died in captivity aboard sixteen British prison ships during the Revolutionary War will soon be alive with the sounds of Terry Riley's 53 cells.
Even better? String Orchestra of Brooklyn cellist Marguerite Iskenderian tells Classicalite that our readers are more than welcome--encouraged, even--to join their music making.
If you would like to participate in the performance, on any instrument, all you have to do is send a quick email to incinfortgreenepark@gmail.com just to let them know you're coming.
Founded in 2007 by artistic director Eli Spindel, the String Orchestra of Brooklyn (SOB) has quickly become an integral part of Brooklyn's vibrant and diverse musical landscape, providing an enriching creative outlet to hundreds of musicians, and accessible, adventurous programming to thousands of concert goers and community members. Embracing an inclusive approach to the making of music, the SOB seeks to democratize both the production and reception of concert music.
And as Portishead guitarist Adrian Utley is sure to discover, that's precisely the approach every ensemble should take to a piece like In C.
Here, then, is Riley's original recording.
