MADE IN CALIFORNIA
The passionate pianist Juris Žvikovs is keen on exploring new gems in contemporary music, and in his new concert programme, he invites the audience to experience the exciting taste of freedom in the music from the West Coast of the USA. California is where new ideas and revolutionary discoveries meet, inspired by the godfather of American experimental music Henry Cowell. In his imagination, the black and white keys of a piano become dark whirlpools in river rapids, while the strings of the piano exult with the peaks of the Aeolian Harp. Cowell’s pupil John Cage takes it a step further still - in his “prepared” piano each part has its own place in the music. Meanwhile, on the other side of the USA, echoes of Cowell’s work can be heard in George Crumb’s visions of the Zodiac. Through their ardent rebellion against the canonical practices of the academic music of their time, they opened a door to a new world, the contrarian vibrations of which can still be heard today: it is no coincidence that John Cage’s 4’33” became one of the most surprising events and non-events in the history of music.
Programme
John Cage, John Adams, Henry Cowell, George Crumb, Philip Glass, Lou Harrison
Participants
Juris Žvikovs, piano