“Tod Machover, the prolific composer of electronic works and the inventor of several hyperinstruments–hybrids in which standard instruments are enhanced with computer and synthesizer technology–has been appointed composer in residence for 2015 at the Lucerne Festival,” reports Allan Kozinn in Wednesday’s (8/20) New York Times. “His main project will be ‘Symphony for Lucerne,’ a work meant to capture the spirit and culture of the city, and an installment in a series of city works that already includes ‘A Toronto Symphony: Concerto for Composer and City’ (2013), ‘Festival City,’ for Edinburgh (2013) and ‘Between the Desert and the Deep Blue Sea: A Symphony for Perth (2014). Mr. Machover has described these works as collaborative symphonies. He invites the public in each city to submit recordings of sounds they consider special to their location, however mundane: the sounds can be anything from birds chirping to conversations in cafes, children playing in parks, factory whistles or the movement of the water in lakes and rivers. … The work is scheduled to have its world premiere in Lucerne on Sept. 5, 2015, with the composer Matthias Pintscher conducting. The appointment also includes commissions for other works, to be announced later.”
Posted August 22, 2014
