Read Jeff Simon's preview of tonight's "In C" performance in today's Buffalo News. Click here for the full article.
‘In C’ redux: Minimalist piece on Burchfield stage is a family affair
By Jeff Simon, Arts Editor
The date was Dec. 19, 1967. It is worth remembering.
That’s when then-Buffalo Philharmonic music director Lukas Foss conducted members of the Creative Associates in Carnegie Hall for the New York City debut of what would become one of the most influential pieces of the past 60 years of music — Terry Riley’s “In C.” Its influence on minimalist music — not to mention The Who’s “Baba O’Riley”—was immense.
Foss encouraged listeners to walk around during the piece and hear it from all over the hall.
When they got around to recording it shortly afterward, the great Buffalo resident percussionist and composer Jan Williams said, “It changed me forever.”
Lest anyone think that the days of novelty for Riley’s immensely influential piece of American music are long over, consider what’s going to happen from 9 to 11 this evening at the Burchfield Penney Arts Center.
Williams will once again perform “In C” with Buffalo resident musicians and a pianist who, though no longer a resident, couldn’t possibly have stronger Buffalo ties — his daughter Amy, one of the great duo pianists of the day with performing partner Helena Bugallo. What they’re going to do to experiment with the always-experimental “In C” this time is play the work while video artists, courtesy of Squeaky Wheel, contribute video to the proceedings.
Other musicians performing at the free event are violinist Michael Miskuly, percussionists John Bacon and Jonathan Hepfer, guitarist Don Metz, cellist Bryan Eckenrode, flutist Alice Teyssier and bass flutist Michael Colquhoun.•