Wordless Disappointment

View from under tarp
Originally uploaded by subatomicfilms.

We've been an avid supporter of the Wordless Music Series , a mostly instrumental music series of concerts over the past couple of years. Usually, modern composers are billed with instrumental indie-rock or experimental acts.

Last Friday, the series moved to Lincoln Center for an outdoor concert, featuring vocal compositions by 13th Century composer Perotin, the first live performance of Manuel Gottsching's "E2-E4" from 1984. There was also scheduled to be the unveiling of Rhys Chatham's "A Crimson Grail, for 200 Electric Guitars (Outdoor Version)". 200 guitarists were going to line the sides of the audience and play this symphonic piece.

Unfortunately, it rained. A lot. The organizers shuffled the order of music and we heard E2-E4, which was absolutely amazing. The rains stopped during this performance, but everywhere was still wet and soggy.

Clearly, you can't have hundreds of people plugging into exposed amplifiers right after a torrential storm, so they canceled the performance.

It was a massive disappointment, as I think a lot of people came out to hear 200 guitars, but safety always comes first. Let's hope it gets rescheduled soon.