Tim Rutherford-Johnson's Blog, page 3

Bastard Assignments 1: Profile for Neue Zeitschrift für Musik

The following text is the original English version of an article I wrote at the end of last year, and which will be published soon in German in Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (3/2020; purchase here). Except for the addition of some links, the text is unchanged from my original. I will be writing more here … Continue reading Bastard Assignments 1: Profile for Neue Zeitschrift für Musik →

Chaya Czernowin: Infinite Now

In 2017 I was fortunate enough to attend the world premiere of Chaya Czernowin’s third opera, Infinite Now, at Opera Vlaanderen in Ghent, Belgium. It was a remarkable experience. The opera’s libretto is based on and amalgamates two stories: the novel Homecoming by the Chinese avant-garde writer Can Xue (born 1953), and the play FRONT … Continue reading Chaya Czernowin: Infinite Now →

Some recent writings

Last autumn, I was fortunate to be asked – separately, but serendipitously – to write essays on five of my favourite artists: Apartment House, Chaya Czernowin, Evan Johnson, Liza Lim and Timothy McCormack,. Although I enjoy most writing, it’s rare to be able to take such pleasure from it, and over such a sustained period … Continue reading Some recent writings →

Playlists for the Long Distancing 6

I’ve been meaning to put this one together for a long time, and now the time felt unavoidable. This weekend’s listening is an ordered collection of Anthony Braxton’s numbered compositions as far as I can find them on Spotify, from 1 to 377 (and counting). I know close to nothing about Braxton’s music, and its … Continue reading Playlists for the Long Distancing 6 →

Restarting, tentatively

Slowly, live music, in front of live audiences, is beginning to return. In Denmark, critic Andrew Mellor jubilantly announced two weeks ago his first post-lockdown concert, and last night he watched the Royal Danish Opera give its first concert with orchestra, chorus and audience in three months. Perhaps inevitably, given the stakes, the event itself … Continue reading Restarting, tentatively →

Black Lives Matter

A playlist of listening for this weekend – and any weekend.

John McGuire’s dynamic stases

In light of my post some days ago on altered times and altered spaces, it feels appropriate to be listening to the music of John McGuire right now. I’m doing so in a work context, but the dynamic stasis that McGuire creates in, for example, his Pulse Music III seems to speak, obliquely, to our current … Continue reading John McGuire’s dynamic stases →

Alinéa Ensemble – festival launch and trailer

Last week I spoke to the members of Alinéa Ensemble (Tyler Bouque, Robbie Bui, Emma Burge, Alex Garde and Matthew Henson) as part of their forthcoming online festival, Everything But the Kitchen Sink, which will be running throughout summer. We chatted about lockdown, listening, composer interviews and general new music stuff. It was great fun, … Continue reading Alinéa Ensemble – festival launch and trailer →

One new horizon

This afternoon I had my first post-hospital virtual clinic. Normally this would have happened on the ward, a few weeks after discharge. But Covid-19 temporarily shuttered the CF clinic at my hospital, the Royal Brompton and Harefield, and all but the most essential contacts were put on hold as the Brompton became one of the … Continue reading One new horizon →

Music We’d Like to Hear + Another Timbre 150 + Apartment House at 25

Last month, the music series Music We’d Like to Hear was due to hold a concert in celebration of two other great institutions of the UK experimental music scene: the ensemble Apartment House, celebrating its 25th anniversary, and record label Another Timbre, celebrating its 150th release. Of course, that concert couldn’t take place. But in … Continue reading Music We’d Like to Hear + Another Timbre 150 + Apartment House at 25 →