Bennington College Announces Its Fall Music Performances

Bennington College invites the public to its fall music performances. All performances are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Monday, October 2, 2006, 8:00 pm, Greenwall Music Auditorium, VAPA
Vasen
The trio Vasen—Olov Johansson on nyckelharpa (Swedish keyed fiddle), Mikael Marin on a five-stringed viola, and Roger Tallroth on 12-string guitar—has toured extensively throughout the United States and Japan beginning in 2001. Offering a sound both traditional and innovative that draws on the ancient music of Sweden, Vasen approaches music with a modern attitude and rhythm. They have received extensive reviews, including accolades from the Washington Post, National Public Radio, and Global Rhythm among others.

Friday, October 6, 2006, 8:00 pm, Greenwall Music Auditorium, VAPA
The Williams-Bugallo Piano Duo
The Williams-Bugallo Piano Duo has presented innovative programs of contemporary music throughout North America and Europe since 1995. Helena Bugallo and Amy Williams '90 perform cutting-edge new works and masterpieces of the twentieth century for piano four-hands and two pianos, including works by Cage, Debussy, Feldman, Kagel, Kurtág, Ligeti, Nancarrow, Sciarrino, Stockhausen, Stravinsky and Wolpe. The innovative piano duo plays virtuoso pieces by Ligeti and Sciarrino in addition to the two-piano version of Stravinsky's riotous "Rite of Spring." Wire writes, “These performances are much more conventionally pianistic, which perhaps makes them more immediately listenable and…opens up their complex language.”

Joanna Newsom, 11:00 pm (For ticketing information contact Student Life at 440-4330)
A special performance by the acclaimed folk singer and harpist Joanna Newsom. Newsom, described by some as one of the most prominent members of the modern psych folk movement, fuses elements of indie pop, Appalachian music, avant-garde modernism, and African harp rhythms. Her unusual voice, combined with a unique brand of harpsichord playing has earned both critical acclaim and immense popularity with international audiences. Sean Glennon of The Boston Globe writes "Newsom coaxes her instrument into conforming to a songwriting style that combines the simplicity and comfort of Appalachian traditional music with elements of Donovan-esque psychedelic pop folk. In conjunction with her poetic, well-crafted lyrics, that sound has made Newsom the current darling of the indie music scene."

Saturday, October 7, 2006, 10:00 pm, Commons Lounge
The Dirty Projectors
David Longstreth and company perform their signature beautiful and unconventional musical musings.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006, 9:00 pm & 10:00 pm, Greenwall Music Auditorium, VAPA
Blum/Brotzmann/Bennink Jazz
John Blum '07 MFA has performed with some of the most recognized and respected players in his field. He has played piano in several orchestras and has performed regularly as both a leader and a sideman. "What sets John apart is a unique vision that seamlessly weaves diverse sounds into a coherent whole without surrendering to crude pastiche. The music is unmistakably his own," says Stanley Zappa. Two mavericks of European avant-garde jazz, Peter Brötzmann on sax and Han Bennink on drums, join Blum to perform two sets of improvisational music.

Sunday, October 15, 2006, 3:00 pm, Greenwall Music Auditorium, VAPA
Javanese Gamelan
The Javanese gamelan, an orchestra of 20-some bronze gongs, xylophones, and drums, plays through the sparkling karawitan repertoire of Central Java. Gamelan master Pak I.M. Harjito leads an ensemble assisted by Chris Miller, music faculty member Nick Brooke, and the College’s Musics of Asia class.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006, 9:00 pm, Greenwall Music Auditorium, VAPA
Robert Osborne and Richard Gordon
Osborne and Gordon offer an evening of transgressive and subversive song. A cabaret devoted to popular music from the period of the Weimar Republic, the concert features works by great German popular songwriters and their French and American counterparts. The duo will offer songs by such artists as Kurt Weill, Hans Eisler, Mischa Spoliansky, Theo Mackeben, Friedrich Hollaender (who wrote for Marlene Dietrich), Arnold Schoenberg, Oscar Straus, Dana Suesse, William Bolcom, Francis Poulenc, and Jean Wiener.

Saturday, November 4, 2006, 10:00 pm, The Student Center (For ticketing information contact Student Life at 440-4330)
Land of Talk
Land of Talk—a new Montreal rock band with an album titled “Applause Cheer Boo Hiss”—will perform. The music of Land of Talk has been described by the Montreal Gazette as "jagged and deliberate…a sound which is in every way its own.”

Friday, November 17, 2006, 9:00 pm, The Student Center (For ticketing information contact Student Life at 440-4330)
Adam Rudolph & 7 Players
Composer and percussionist Adam Rudolph has appeared for the past three decades at festivals and concerts throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Japan. He has recorded 14 albums with Dr. Yusef Lateef, including their large ensemble collaborations "The World at Peace" (1995), "Beyond the Sky" (2000) and 2003's "In The Garden" with Rudolph conducting his Go: Organic Orchestra. The New York Times cites him as “a pioneer in world music.”

Saturday, November 18, 2006, 10:00 pm, The Student Center (For ticketing information contact Student Life at 440-4330)
Beirut
Beirut, a 10-piece band lead by talented young Zach Condon, performs unique, orchestral pop. "Beirut's old-world sound is delivered with youthful execution and shows off their talent and diversity," says Spin magazine.