Cage Hop

September 5, 2012 marks the centennial of late experimental composer John Cage. This visionary, controversial, and revolutionary figure changed the face of contemporary classical music,  and the NYC-based ARETÉ Ensemble has organized Cage Hop, a month long celebration of his work to honor him.

Cage Hop features exceptionally talented and inspired musicians, dancers, and artists from around NYC and Philadelphia. Acclaimed pianist Emily Manzo has been called "a dynamite young pianist" by Kyle Gann, and The New York Times has found her "attention to detail exceptional"; violinist Jennifer Choi, who the Boston Globe calls "a leading New York new-music violinist who play(s)... with fiery authority" and who Time Out NY named "one of New York's most reliably adventurous performers"; Soprano Sarah Davis who has been hailed by the New York Times as having "a voice with considerable warmth," and by the Boston Globe as being "elusive, delicate, silvery and persuasive"; and "modern music evangelist" (Time Out NY) pianist Adam Tendler. ARETÉ will also be joined by non-NYC native groups such as the San Diego-based Aurora Borealis Duo (soprano Tiffany DuMouchelle and percussionist Steven Solook), the Philadelphia-based Fidget organization (composer Peter Price and choreographer Megan Bridge), as well as the Vervet Dance Company. Past ARETÉ Ensemble concerts have received a Critic's Pick in Time Out NY.

Performances will be held in traditional venues, outdoors, and broadcast streaming on the internet. This festival is unique in that most of the concerts allow for some audience participation, there are opportunities for online compositional collaboration via the festival website, and there are outdoor flash-mob style performances.

9/1-9/2
All day, both days.
Forty Nine Waltzes for the Five Boroughs
Various locations throughout NYC

9/8
4-6 p.m.
The complete Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano, Emily Manzo, pianist
Spectrum
121 Ludlow Street, 2nd floor
New York, NY
http://newspectrum.org
Subway: Delancey/Essex, F, J, M and Z trains

9/10
7 p.m.
Works for percussion ensemble and dance: Guests Vervet Dance Company
The Secret Theatre
4402 23rd Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 392-0722
secrettheatre.com

9/13
7 p.m.
Small works for voice, violin and piano
South Oxford Space
138 S. Oxford Street
(between Hanson Place & Atlantic Commons)
Brooklyn, NY 11217

9/22
4 p.m.
Works for prepared piano, electronics, percussion, guest lecturers and Fidget founders Megan Bridge and Peter Price, Lecture on Nothing- David Hughes
Spectrum
121 Ludlow Street, 2nd floor
New York, NY
http://newspectrum.org
Subway: Delancey/Essex, F, J, M and Z trains

9/23
7-9 p.m.
Works for voice, piano, toy piano, and lectures, Litany for the Whale
South Oxford Space
138 S. Oxford Street
(between Hanson Place & Atlantic Commons)
Brooklyn, NY 11217

9/29
3 p.m.
Apartment House 1776, The City Wears a Slouch Hat, Living Room Music, Ornamentation for dance (set to Mysterious Adventure), Cheap Imitation (with choreography), Cartridge Music
The Secret Theatre
4402 23rd Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 392-0722
secrettheatre.com

9/30
6 p.m.
Closing Party, Forty-Nine Waltzes for the Five Boroughs film compilation
Spectrum
121 Ludlow Street, 2nd floor
New York, NY
http://newspectrum.org
Subway: Delancey/Essex, F, J, M and Z trains