DESCRIPTION:
The music performed in this video was composed from 1966 to 69, while the composer, Burr Van Nostrand (b. 1945) was a student at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. During this time period, witnesses recall that there were riots, incessant protests (of the Vietnam War), Harvard Square was burning, and wherever you were, you could not escape the noise and the smoke...

This performance in April, 2012 is the first performance of the piece since the 1970s, and was willed into existence by current NEC student, composer Jason Belcher. Jason consulted with many of the original performers from the 1969 premiere, and recruited young players from the conservatory to undertake a re-creation of Van Nostrand's music.
*Note: A new recording of this work was professionally made in October 2012 in historic Jordan Hall, and is now available on CD at
http://www.newworldrecords.org/album.cgi?rm=view&album_id=91613


The piece creates a sonic world that is dependent not only on the capability of the performers, but also their interaction with each other. The poem is Voyages I by Hart Crane.

It is about 25 minutes long, and is scored for male speaker, amplified violin, cello, alto sax, alto flute, sitar, autoharp, drums, guitar, piano, and string orchestra. Original performers at the premiere included Paul Severtson, violin, Humphrey Evans, voice, Stephen "Lucky" Mosko, drums, Robert Dick, flute, Marty Mosko, sitar, and Bruce Hanson, autoharp.

Performers in the 2012 performance shared here, include: Lautaro Mantilla, speaker, Diamanda La Berge Dramm, amplified violin, Valerie Thompson, amplified cello, Derek Beckvold, alto saxophone, Lisa Husseini, alto flute/flute, Sonny Lalchandani, sitar, Jason Belcher, autoharp, Andrew Clinkman, guitar, Andy Fordyce, drums and percussion, Evan Allen, piano, and strings: Tara Mueller, Rachel Panitch, Abigail Reisman, violins; Alexandra Simpson, Clare Twohy, Ben Wu, viola; Marza Meraphi Wilks, cello; Dorsey Bass, Nash Tomey, Moe Winograd, double basses; and Anthony Coleman, conductor. April 22, 2012. www.composers.com
ISWC T9182556189