John Cage Residency at UNH

On Tuesday September 22, I had the immense pleasure of spending a day with the University of New Hampshire Music Department at the invitation of Professor Rob Haskins to share, discuss, and perform the music of John Cage.

For Professor Haskins class on John Cage, I shared my arrangements, a bit of Toru Takemitsu, and my own arrangements, while demonstrating the qualities of the guitar that make it so magical. The students, non-guitarists, asked wonderful questions and came with open ears.

Later in the day, I worked with students of jazz guitarist Nick Grondin, discussing the many levels of improvisation, things I learned from Cage, and classical guitar techniques for creating sound, exploring color, and improving right hand abilities.

Massive thanks to the University of New Hampshire Music Department for hosting me for a full and fun day of music events yesterday.

That evening, in Bratton Hall, I was joined by Rob, Mary Gallant and Adam Gallant for a fascinating performance of the gem ‘Four6’ by Cage. Written in 1992, it is one of Cage’s final works and falls into one of his Number Pieces. The 30min composition asks each performer to create 12 distinct sounds and gives us a map only bracketed times and which number (sound) we should play. The result was astonishing! 

The concert also saw New Hampshire premieres of ‘Bill of Rights, Amended’, and Douglas Knehans’ ‘Cloud Lacrymae’ for guitar and fixed electronics. The latter will be recorded in Cincinnati in mid-October.

A full and fascinating day, which I was told, opened many years and blew a few minds!

AND, AND I sold CDs and scores…to students!