Clockwise from left: musicians of the Oregon Symphony and composers Reena Esmail, Julius Eastman, Meredith Monk, and Sam Adams. Photo courtesy of Oregon Symphony.
In Tuesday’s (10/3) Portland Tribune, Joseph Gallivan writes, “Those who think of Steve Reich and John Cage when they think of Minimalism in music … will get a pleasant surprise at the Reser Center this Friday, Oct. 6. A concert promises to ‘juxtapose Minimalist figureheads with a quintet of dynamic new voices’… ‘Stay On It: Minimalism Past, Present & Future’ is named for the piece ‘Stay On It’ by [the late] Julius Eastman, which will be played at the climax of the show…. As creative chair at the Oregon Symphony, [Gabriel] Kahane puts together the symphony’s Open Music series about how a symphony orchestra can tackle living composers…. Of Eastman, Kahane said, ‘His music was as Maximalist as it was Minimalist. This concert is really built around his music, and it’s the first time that the Oregon Symphony is performing any of his music.’… The Symphony’s Open Music series has been expanded to five concerts per year… Kahane said, ‘Cool, living composers will be celebrated at Oregon Symphony’s Open Music concert this Friday.’ ” Composers on the concert include Eastman, Steve Reich, Shelley Washington, Reena Esmail, Sam Adams, Andy Akiho, Julia Wolfe, and Meredith Monk; Kahane’s “For Meredith” will be given its world premiere.
