by Marvin J. Ward

Deerfield, MA, 2 August & Ashburnham, MA, 13 September 2009. The reason for combining these performances into a single review is that I knew at the earlier she would be repeating 1 of the major works at the later, so thought a combined review would be in order rather than 2 separate ones.  She has also recorded that work on a modern piano, but I will review that media product separately.  One other offering was repeated in the 2 concerts while the remaining works were different, dramatically so in 1 case.

by Marvin J. Ward

No. Adams, MA, 1 August 2009. Bang on a Can always ends its 3-week Summer Institute at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art with a 6-hour (without intermission other than the time for changing the stage setups) marathon of music.  This year’s iteration contained some modern music classics, a couple of repeats from earlier recitals [Read our Feature item about the Festival elsewhere in these pages.], and some cutting edge premières or almost premières, with some interludes of traditional music from the countries of its non-English-speaking fellows, either authentic or arranged for Western instruments, the whole creating an enormous variety of sounds and experiences.

by Marvin J. Ward

No. Adams, MA, 25 July 2009. Unlike most museums, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, which occupies an interconnected 27-building former 19th-century mill complex on 13 acres in downtown No. Adams, has no permanent collection.  Last November, it unveiled a major exhibition that occupies an entire building (# 7), “Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective,” that will remain for a total of 25 years (Most exhibits remain for 10 months to 2 years).

by Marvin J. Ward

Charlemont, MA, 11 July 2009. This was the title of the 3rd concert in this, the 40th season of the Mohawk Trails Concerts summer festival series, whose motto is: “Informal Concerts of Music Old and New with Artists from Near and Far.”