This is a happening, not a concert.
Devised in collaboration with the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK - Credo in USA was first presented in December 2019 and featured students from the RNCM, Junior RNCM and Chetham’s School of Music.
The Joby Burgess Percussion Collective presents Credo in USA a non-stop soundtrack of 20th century classics and new work from the East and West coasts of the United States – New York (John Cage / Linda Buckley) and California (Eric Whitacre / Terry Riley).
Marimba Quartets is a unique recording for Signum using the warm, earthy sound of the marimba in a spectacular setting, featuring Burgess’ own arrangments of some of Eric Whitacre’s ever-popular choral works. John Cage's satirical Credo in Us pits prepared piano - performing cowboy songs and boogie-woogie - against classical gramophone recordings and live radio. Composed in 1942 and using found objects (tin cans and electric buzzer) the piece's title is perhaps a call for unity in the wake of Pearl Habour.
The etheral Canna Sonora - a nine-foot tall Aluminium Harp - is the focal point of Linda Buckley’s 2018 Barbican commission Discordia. The pure sounds of this Capone era friction instrument are set within an evocative soundscape of lost voices and dark synths, to create an electronically enhanced fusion that speaks right here, right now. Local students join the Joby Burgess Percussion Collective for Terry Riley’s revolutionary In C. Composed in 1964 on America’s west coast, it marks the beginning of the minimalist movement in music, fusing ideas from rock ‘n’ roll and Indian raga with classical performance.
The music doesn’t stop - you’ll enter the performance space to the other-worldly sounds of Pauline Oliveros’ Sonic Meditations, then in between this evenings two sets, grab a drink, whilst you catch Steve Reich’s classic tape piece Come Out.
“Joby Burgess, the insanely talented British percussionist” (Chicago Classical Music) is best known for his virtuosic performances, daring collaborations, extensive education work and regularly appears throughout Europe, the USA and beyond. Both in the studio and on the road Joby Burgess works with artists including Peter Gabriel, Will Gregory, Nicole Lizée, Gabriel Prokofiev, Max Richter and Pete Tong.
PROGRAMME
Sonic Meditations Pauline Oliveros
Marimba Quartets Eric Whitacre
First Construction (in Metal) / Credo in Us John Cage
Come Out Steve Reich
Discordia Linda Buckley
In C Terry Riley
PRESS QUOTES
“… a prominent figure in the alt-classical scene… Joby Burgess, the soloist coaxed all manner of sounds from the oxlike instrument, often wielding multiple sticks in each hand… the words athleticism and stamina come to mind.” New York Times