132 composers. 8 performers. Celebrating the life and music of John Cage with 840 variations on Erik Satie's Vexations!
The Generous Ensemble will celebrate John Cageʼs 100th Birthday in a manner unlike any other Cage centennial concert this year.
In July, Scott Comanzo, the artistic director of the Generous Ensemble, put out a call for 16-second long contributions (or shorter!) to a 40-minute collage piece based on Erik Satieʼs Vexations. 133 composers, ages 16 to 74, from all over the world (including Australia, Japan, Lithuania, Great Britain, and Canada) have responded and written these tiny vignettes to be performed as one piece on September 5th.
Cage is credited for being the first and foremost Satie champion in the United States among his many innovations that have changed the face of art, society, and the course of history.
One of Cageʼs innovations was the use of “chance operations” in music composition. The Generous Ensemble employed chance operations to determine the order of performance for the contributions, which will be played consecutively as if one large piece. This collage style also draws inspiration from two additional Cage innovations: the “Exquisite Corpse” style of music composition collaboration and the “Musicircus.”
The Generous Ensemble will open the concert with a performance of Variations I by Cage, accompanied by a projection of the piece's non-traditional graphic score to be viewed by audience and performers alike.
All funds raised toward our goal go into paying the eight performers who have contributed their time, energy, and enthusiasm to make this project a reality. Money above the goal will be split between production costs (including travel, food, photography, and videography), paying the musicians more competitively, and keeping the Generous Ensemble alive!
FAQ
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26
Backers
$1,420
pledged of $900 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Aug 27, 2012 -
Sep 15, 2012
- First created · 2 backed
- Scott Comanzo 458 friends
- Website: generousensemble.org
Pledge $1 or more
2 backers
Our heartfelt thanks, as expressed with Artistic Director Scott's patented overlong email or voicemail! EVERY DONATOR will get a mention on our website, future programs and any other place we can fit it in!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $9 or more
3 backers
An official concert poster or official concert program
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $28 or more
2 backers
A fancy CD of the concert, produced and designed by our fearless artistic director, Scott!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $37 or more
2 backers
Reward #2 and #3 combined!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $44 or more
1 backer
A DVD of the performance, in the same fancy packaging as the CD!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $53 or more
4 backers
Reward #2 and #5 combined!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $111 or more
6 backers
The grand package! The CD, DVD, official poster and program and your choice of above item autographed by the Ensemble
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $333 or more
0 backers Limited (4 of 4 left)
The Absolute Package! Everything that's included in the Grand Package PLUS a commemorative score of the Vexations project - a 2 inch volume containing every 16-seconds-or-less work in order of this, the premiere performance.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $999 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
A Generous Ensemble recording of a new original composition written by Scott Comanzo (or possibly your favorite composer in the GE family pending negotiations with said composer) to your specifications! (except for duration, which will be subject to good faith negotiation)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013
