Contacts:
Leslie Weddell
(719) 389-6038
Leslie.Weddell@ColoradoCollege.edu
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Feb. 20, 2009 – Pianist and electronic musician Bob Gluck will combine the piano and computer in his premiere performance of “Faith,” a newly commissioned work by noted composer Neil Rolnick. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 5 in Packard Hall, 5 W. Cache La Poudre St., on the Colorado College campus.
The featured composition is an eclectic romp through an amalgam of styles, from lyrical to abstract to barrel house, and provides a dizzy interplay between acoustic piano, digital processing and pre-recorded material. “Faith” is a tour de force for Gluck, a music professor at the University of Albany, who has championed works for piano and live-electronic performance systems.
The concert is part of Gluck’s continuing exploration of interactive performance using traditional acoustic instruments. The performance software he designs and works with draws upon digital technologies to extend the resources of instruments, at times providing the pianist additional virtual “hands” with which to perform. Gluck’s project explores the interplay between human-machine dialog and musical creativity, improvisation and a balance between tradition and change.
Also on the program is a unique work for two computer-assisted pianos by Richard Teitelbaum, “Seq Transit Parammers” (1998). Gluck also has an adaptation of a Herbie Hancock instrumental suite, “Waking the Sleeping Giant” (1971/2008), re-visioned for piano and computer. In addition, there will be a structured improvisation “What is it today?” (2008), for piano and computer interface, along with a work for acoustic piano, Alireza Mashayekhi's “Short Stories,” opus 106 (1993).
Gluck has studied piano at the Julliard, Manhattan and Crane schools of Music and SUNY Albany (B.A. 1977) and completed a degree in electronic arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (MFA, 2001). He has given recitals of works for piano, computer-assisted piano and electronics in Ottawa, Prague, New York City, Middlebury College, San Diego, Irvine, Albany, and Keele (UK). His recording of music for piano and electronics, “Electric Brew” (2007) features his own work and works by Benjamin Broening, Shlomo Dubnov, Tzvi Avni and Ofer Ben-Amots, a composer and music professor at Colorado College. Gluck’s 2008 recording “Sideways” on the British jazz label, FMR, features bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Dean Sharp.
Rolnick is a composer living in New York City and professor of music at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he has been founding chair of the Integrated Electronic Arts (iEar) program. His music has been commissioned by the string quartet Ethel, violinist Todd Reynolds, singer Joan La Barbara, the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, baritone Thomas Buckner, Paul Dresher’s Electro-Acoustic Band, the American Composers Orchestra and the Albany Symphony.
For information, directions or disability accommodation at the event, members of the public may call (719) 389-6607.
About Colorado College
Colorado College is a nationally prominent, four-year liberal arts college that was founded in Colorado Springs in 1874. The college operates on the innovative Block Plan, in which its 1,985 undergraduate students study one course at a time in intensive 3½-week blocks. The college also offers a master of arts in teaching degree. For more information, visit www.ColoradoCollege.edu