19–20 February 2018
The great contemporary music ensemble, Apartment House, present two evenings of works by the late American composer, Julius Eastman, who has undergone a long overdue and much deserved popular and critical reapparaisal nearly three decades after his premature death in 1990.
MONDAY 19th FEBRUARY
- Discussion on Eastman's life and work with Christopher Fox
- Buddha (15')
- Stay On It (25’)
TUESDAY 20th FEBRUARY
- Femenine (67')
“A composer of visionary power, a singer with a cavernous bass voice, a collaborator with the diverse likes of Meredith Monk and Pierre Boulez, Eastman had long been a fixture of the New York music scene... Contemporary music has hardly been without significant black and queer artists. But the story of Minimalism, in particular, has been dominated by straight white men — La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Philip Glass — and Eastman is a vital addition to their company, even if his take on the style was idiosyncratic and perhaps ahead of its time.” – New York Times
Julius Eastman (October 27, 1940 – May 28, 1990) was an African-American composer, pianist, vocalist, and dancer. He was among the first musicians to combine minimalist processes with elements of pop music. He often gave his pieces titles with provocative political intent, such as Evil Nigger and Gay Guerrilla. Eastman died alone at the age of 49 in Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, New York. No public notice was given to his death until an obituary by Kyle Gann appeared in the Village Voice, it was dated January 22, 1991, eight months after Eastman died.
The group, created by cellist Anton Lukoszevieze has been captivating audiences for nearly 30 years, with performances of avant-garde and experimental music from all over the World.
The ensemble has been a firm fixture on the British concert scene, with regular performances at Café Oto and as an associate ensemble of the Wigmore Hall.
Apartment House has released over 40 albums, many on the UK label Another Timbre. Current releases include Pauline Oliveros - Sound Pieces, Magnus Granberg - Evening Star, Vesper Bell and Morton Feldman’s epic and mesmerising Violin and String Quartet.
