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The composers and performers for Other Minds 12 started arriving at the Djerassi artists retreat in Woodside from all around the world this weekend. The festival is next weekend (Dec 8-10) in San Francisco, but the best part is the composer's residency at Djerassi. And one of the benefits of being on the board of OM is to be able to sit in on these sessions.
This year, composers and performers came from as close as Emeryville, and as far as Australia, with Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, and Boston in between. In this picture, Peter Sculthorpe explained how aboriginal themes are used in his music.
This was followed by a demonstration of the didjeridu by Stephen Kent, our local didjeridu virtuoso, who will be accompanying the Del Sol Quartet in Sculthorpe's 16th String Quartet.
The Del Sol will also perform Danish composer Per Nørgård's 10th Quartet, seen here in rehersal with the composer. I've been interested in Nørgård's music ever since I first heard his Voyage to the Golden Screen in the 1970's.
His unique approach to harmonic color and sound spectra set him apart from most of the composers of his generation, who were deep into their Schoenbergian roots, like Boulez and others. Nørgård explained that he was more interested in how and what we perceive as sound. Much of his music of that period utilized his "infinity series", which he described as a way to derive the harmonic elements of a pieces out of a small cell of notes.
Being able to spend a couple of days with Per and the other composers and performers was really a unique experience. The Djerassi ranch, in the hills above Woodside, some 30 miles south of San Francisco, is an extraordinary place and the weather was surprisingly springlike, which was unusual. By the way, applications are open for the 2008 session at the Djerassi Artists Residency Program.
This year's group of composers and performers is quite remarkable. There is a wonderful spread in ages, from 33-year-old Maja Ratkje from Norway, to 77-year-old Peter Sculthorpe, Tomorrow everyone heads for San Francisco for rehearsals at Kanbar Hall. And need I remind that tickets are still available. Go here. I'll be there at all three events, so I hope to meet everyone reading this.
NEWS FLASH! Josh Kosman has an article in today's S.F. Chron
I'm there, in the back on the right. It's a good article. It's here.
