In 1982, when the Orchestra Residencies program was developed, a funding phenomena at Meet The Composer began. Since then, the last twenty-one years have seen Meet The Composer fund composers from Adams to Zorn, resulting in a sum of over 700 commissions, at last count. This grand tally provided MTC the ammunition for last summer's (2002) marathon concert, appropriately titled, The Works, in Minnesota.

The Southern Theater Photo: Mike Barich

The noon to midnight event not only turned the spotlight on what has been the mission of MTC since its inception, supporting the creators of new music, but the broad and diverse program also served another purpose: to keep music alive by contributing it to the world's repertoire. To those who enjoyed The Works from morning to night at Minneapolis' Southern Theater, and there were many, the event was a treat for the ears; 12 hours of the best MTC has to offer.

Ernest Dawkins (conducting) and his Live The Spirit Band Photo: Mike Barich

June 8th 2002: NOON

The concert kicked off at brunch by New Residencies composer Ernest Dawkins' The Eagles and the Castle: A Vision of Englewood, Mr. Dawkins' recent paean to his native community of Englewood, on Chicago's South Side. The piece was performed by his Live the Spirit Band, a 15-piece ensemble made up of student musicians from the Englewood area. Of the piece, Mr. Dawkins says: "It's a tribute to the enduring courage, sacrifice, and triumph that has characterized the community of Englewood and those countless youths and residents who had to battle to claim a space in which to survive."

Maya Beiser (cello) and Steven Schick (percussion) Photo: Mike Barich

The duo of cellist Maya Beiser and percussionist Steven Schick followed Eagles with Osvaldo Golijov's Mariel (commissioned by MTC's Commissioning Music/USA in 1997), his portrait of a departed friend. "Mariel was the beautiful wife of my childhood friend Dario," says Mr. Golijov. "She died in a car accident in January 2001. I wrote this short memorial for her, with melodies resembling the coast of Brazil that she and Dario loved so much."

CONCEPT TO REALITY

The idea for The Works was born from MTC's annual New Residencies conferences, which aimed to inform the program while introducing the current crop of New Residencies awardees to those from previous rounds. What better way is there for a composer to introduce him or herself then by giving a musical performance?

Jin Hi Kim (electric komungo) Photo: Mike Barich

Four years ago, MTC decided to inject the New Residencies gatherings with a taste of live music. It became a New Residencies staple, and set the stage for the future: a live presentation of selected MTC commissions. Inspired by the Bang on a Can marathon festivals, the sheer volume of MTC commissions would make it an easy decision, although a daunting selection process, to mount a whirlwind day of musical stylings.

"The intense schedule or marathon format was chosen for a couple of reasons," says Meet The Composer President Heather Hitchens. "First, we wanted to attract producers and presenters from around the country. A single-day event made it easier for them to be there. Second, there is something very exciting and alive about a marathon, and this, of course, is a great fit with the repertoire we are presenting."

4PM

Mary Ellen Childs' Crash ensemble Photo: Mike Barich

New Residencies Composer Mary Ellen Childs' Shiva and Click, written for her ensemble CRASH, are what have been called "visual percussion" pieces that embody the concept of music in motion. The meditative Shiva is an excerpt from an evening-length work for crash cymbal players on various rolling means of transportation; and Click, a fast-paced, game-like work for three stick-wielding performers. Of The Works performance, the Minneapolis Star Tribune called Ms. Childs' pieces "nimble and exacting," and commented that her percussion/movement group CRASH, "achieved whimsical and powerful theatrical feats."

Kathleen Supové Photo: Mike Barich

California composer Terry Riley launched what is now known as the Minimalist movement with his revolutionary classic IN C in 1964. In 1993 Mr. Riley created The Heaven Ladder: Book 7, written for Kathleen Supové (1993 Commissioning Music/USA), from which Ms. Supové performed various excerpts in the afternoon portion of the marathon. Andante said that the excerpt, Simone's Lullaby, "conjured a deep, meditative silence with its simple, achingly beautiful melody."

IN MINNEAPOLIS

Despite the concentration of new music activity in New York and Los Angeles, MTC chose to host the weekend event in Minneapolis. "Minneapolis has a rich musical history and we have long supported Minneapolis-based composers and cultural organizations," says Ms. Hitchens.

Meet The Composer engaged a number of local Minnesota ensembles to perform in the concert, including Zeitgeist and Artaria String Quartet, as well as San Francisco based Rova Saxophone Quartet, and some of the original commissioned parties such as the aforementioned Maya Beiser and Steven Schick, and solo pianist Kathleen Supové.

Composer Carolyn Yarnell and Frank Oteri, the MC Photo: Mike Barich

The Works was MC'd by the American Music Center's Frank Oteri, who introduced the pieces and chatted between sets with some of the composers present. (The concert was later webcast in its entirety on AMC's New Music Box this past winter).

EVENING

Commissioned in 1997 (Commissioning Music/USA) by Ensemble 21 for pianist Marilyn Nonken, Milton Babbit's Allegro Penseroso was performed by pianist John Jensen. Of the performance, Andante said: "Milton Babbitt … provided a welcome injection of rhythmic vitality with his Allegro Penseroso. .. pianist John Jensen ably found the fleeting poetry and lyricism of Babbitt's knotty work."

Rova Saxophone Quartet Photo: Mike Barich

Fred Frith's suite-like composition Freedom in Fragments was performed, and written for the Rova Saxophone Quartet (1994 Commissioning Music/USA). It also closed the marathon just before bedtime. Says Mr. Frith on his collaboration with Rova: "The determining factor was the understanding that Rova wanted material which they could transform through improvisation. The work consists of 23 separate compositions which can be played in any order and in any configuration. The common thread is exploring: the history of the saxophone, the dynamics of a quartet, ways to incorporate improvising into tightly written material, ways in which micro- and macro-structures might inter-relate."

POST-MARATHON

After recovering from the epic concert, June 9th was dedicated to, as Mr. Frith said, exploring. Challenges & Opportunities in Creating and Presenting New Work, a Sunday afternoon of discourse co-hosted by MTC and Minneapolis/St. Paul's American Composers Forum, invited local and national artists and administrators to explore many of the issues they face during the creation and presentation process. And, as was learned from The Works and those who inspired it, there was plenty to talk about.

Says Ms. Hitchens: "Composers are a fundamental force in American society. Their musical works will be our lasting legacy, inspiring generations to come, and giving them a vivid picture of our humanity. It is for these reasons that Meet The Composer has maintained a passionate commitment to commissioning new music for 20 years."

WORKS: SIGHTS (photo gallery)
WORKS: SOUNDS (MP3 Sound clips)