News

In Memory of Jim Preiss:

James Preiss passed away on January 21st after fighting a long illness. There are too many things to say about the influence Jim had on me. I first met Jim while I was still in high school. I remember going to his house in Astoria, Queens for some lessons – he helped me prepare for college auditions. His studio was a glorious mess of instruments and everything you would not expect to find in a practice studio. I then studied with Jim for four years at the Manhattan School of Music. I recorded every lesson I had with him, wanting to capture all of the knowledge he offered, which was bountiful, endless. I never heard a negative word come from Jim. He was always supportive of everything I wanted to do. He introduced me to Bang on a Can and much more. He had a mysterious coffee thermos that never seemed to run empty. Even today I think of things that Jim said to me years ago in his mid-western zen-like way. He was my mentor and he will be missed greatly. A true gentleman.

– David Cossin, Bang on a Can All-Stars

On February 1, the Bang on a Can All-Stars bring their dynamic genre-crossing style to Carnegie Hall’s Family Concert series in a program complementing David Lang’s season-long curation as the holder of the 2013–2014 Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall. On the bill are works by Don Byron, Tan Dun, and David Lang. 

More information and tickets here.

Asphalt Orchestra brings its latest radical performance Asphalt Orchestra Plays the Pixies: Surfer Rosa (honoring the groundbreaking album’s 25th anniversary) to the Pixies’ tour itself! We hit the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY on January 19 (watch a video of the fun here) and will arrive at NJPAC in Newark, NJ on January 28 for popup sets before the Pixies take the stage. 

The Pixies released Surfer Rosa – the band’s first full-length record – in 1988. A cult hit then, the album’s influence has grown to mammoth proportions over the years; it is now considered one of the most important recordings of its time. Asphalt Orchestra takes the originals both literally and inspirationally, discovering a new direction for exhilarating acoustic music by paying tribute to a modern monument.

Read the Brooklyn Vegan feature on the collaboration here. More information and tickets here. 

Asphalt Orchestra returns to (le) poisson rouge on January 12 with its latest radical project ASPHALT ORCHESTRA PLAYS THE PIXIES: SURFER ROSA, honoring the ground breaking album’s 25th anniversary.

The Pixies released Surfer Rosa – the band’s first full-length record – in 1988. A cult hit then, the album’s influence has grown to mammoth proportions over the years; it is now considered one of the most important recordings of its time. Asphalt Orchestra takes the originals both literally and inspirationally, discovering a new direction for exhilarating acoustic music by paying tribute to a modern monument.

Doors 9:30pm; Show Time 10:00pm. More information and tickets here. 

2013 was an extraordinary year for Bang on a Can, celebrating our 26th Year of curating, commissioning, presenting, recording, and performing experimental music wherever we could find it. Take a look at some highlights from this year in photos, videos, sound, and more.

Here’s to another 12 months of adventurous music making in 2014!

Bang on a Can feels like a great big we these days. Since the very beginning, we’ve counted on you to help us make it all happen. We’re blown away to think about how we got here – together. This is very much our story, and our new year campaign was no exception: thanks to your generosity, we raised beyond our goal for our 2014 programming! 

Your support is invaluable in helping us break new ground and discover new musical worlds. Thank you!

This holiday season, we have you covered! There’s something memorable for everyone on your list: shop online for all your musically-minded gift needs, and don’t miss the newest exclusives from Cantaloupe Music and Bang on a Can. 

You can pre-order Michael Gordon’s Rushes, own David Lang’s death speaks on vinyl, download So Percussion‘s complete digital discography, and much more today! 

Applications for the 2014 Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival at MASS MoCA are online now, due January 15!

From July 14 – August 3, 2014 we will head to the Berkshire mountains of MA for a three-week utopian residency for innovative composers and performers of contemporary music at one of the foremost US contemporary art museums, MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art).

Learn more and apply here. See features of the festival on PBS Newshour here and NewMusic Box here.

On November 29 & 30 the Bang on a Can All-Stars make their South American debut, bringing their latest multi-media project Field Recordings to the San Martin Theatre in Buenos Aires, Argentina featuring music by Julia Wolfe, Florent Ghys, Christian Marclay, Todd Reynolds, Jóhann Jóhannson, Bryce Dessner, Michael Gordon, David Lang, Anna Clyne, Steve Reich, Tyondai Braxton, and Nick Zammuto. 

Also featured are hit Bang on a Can classics by Michael Gordon, David Lang, Julia Wolfe, Louis Andriessen, and Brian Eno. 

More information and tickets here.

This month the Bang on a Can All-Stars return to Europe! On November 6, the band gives the world premiere of a new piece by Erdem Helvacioglu in Istanbul, Turkey alongside Bang on a Can classics by Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe, and from November 7-10 they join forces with renowned guitarist Lee Ranaldo on a three-city tour to Eindhoven, Amsterdam, and Antwerp performing Field Recordings and music by Bryce Dessner, Thurston Moore, Fred Frith, David Longstreth, Steve Reich, Michael Gordon, Julia Wolfe, Brian Eno, and Lee Ranaldo himself.

More information here.