New York Minimalism at Wylam Brewery
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- What you'll hear
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Visionary. Tantalising. Avant-garde.
Who’s on stage
Royal Northern Sinfonia, in the majestic Great Hall at Wylam Brewery.
What they’re playing
They’ll bring to life the minimalist underground of the Big Apple in the 1970s and 80s, shining a light on the music of queer African American composer Julius Eastman and legendary composer Philip Glass.
Need to know
Price: £25
Running time: 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval.
Seated or Standing: Both. Unallocated seats – get in early to pick your spot.
Accessible tickets: Subject to availability. Email boxoffice@theglasshouseicm.org for more info.
What you'll hear
Julius Eastman Femenine
Philip Glass Music in Similar Motion
Who's playing it
Royal Northern Sinfonia
What's happening in the music?
Earworm melodies. Slowly shifting chords. Waves of sound that wash over you like the tide coming in on the beach. Julius Eastman’s brand of minimalism has all the hallmarks of the genre, with an extra jazzy, bluesy, funky edge that gives it a proper wow factor. His 1974 composition Femenine (pronounced feh-meh-NEEN) is a stunning 67-minute minimalist groove for wind, percussion, piano, and bass.
About Julius Eastman
As fascinating to read about as he is to listen to, Julius Eastman was born in Manhattan in the 1940s. He was a critically acclaimed composer and pianist and collaborated with leading musicians of the time, including Pierre Boulez and Zubin Mehta. His music is challenging, mischievous, ecstatic. Proud to be black and gay, he was a real visionary. His insistence on adding racial slurs into titles scandalously ruffled feathers.
Why haven’t I heard of him before?
In the 1980s Eastman fell into a downward spiral of addiction and unpredictable behaviour. He alienated lovers and collaborators, went from success to homelessness, acclaim to anonymity, before dying alone from Aids at only 49. His music and scores were scattered to the winds. Luckily, his brilliance has now been recognised once more.
Take a listen
This 1974 performance of Femenine is a marvel of open form minimalism, a rare recording that shows the talents of this avant-garde artist at his best.
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