David Rosenboom: Zones of Influence

Floor Three, Susan and John Hess Family Theater

Written over 30 years ago Zones of Influence (1984–85) is a landmark concert-length work for percussion soloist, live computer-generated electronics, and auxiliary keyboard and glissando instruments. At the time a breakthrough in linking virtuoso electroacoustic performance with interactive compositional algorithms, Zones is now fully realized—thanks to new a software instrument called the Touché II that allows the dynamic dimensionality of the music to take full mind-bending, cosmological shape. David Rosenboom wrote the five-part epic expressly for superstar percussionist William Winant, who will perform on five live-processed percussion setups. He is joined by Rosenboom on the Touché II, piano and violin, while Jinku Kim provides an immersive video environment. Rosenboom describes Zones of Influence as a propositional cosmology activated in music. It is a prime example of what he calls, propositional music, a point of view about composing in which composers might build proposed models of worlds, universes, evolution, brains, consciousness or whole domains of thought and life, and then proceed to make dynamical musical embodiments of these models, inviting us to experience them in spontaneously emerging sonic forms. The compositional model for Zones of Influence is embodied in the form of an instrument; and thus, the model can be played. Winant and Rosenboom master this extended instrument with extraordinary dynamism.

Thanks to Leon Schneiderman for building and providing the Pink Butt metalophone instrument featured in Zones of Influence.

Propositional Music is presented by ISSUE Project Room in collaboration with the Whitney Museum of American Art; organized by Tommy McCutchon and Lawrence Kumpf with Jay Sanders, Curator of Performance at the Whitney.

Event tickets are required: $22; $18 members. Please note: This event has reached ticketing capacity.