 Graphs & Time by Edgard Varese Realized by Johnny Reinhard October 10, 1992 New York University Theatre Edgard Varèse’s Graphs And Time, drawn from a sketch originally envisioned for a jazz band. Evidently frustrated by the technical abilities of classical instrumentalists to effect glissandi similar to a siren, Varèse sketched out a piece that Teo Macero titled, based on the graphic nature of the manuscript. There are eight parts, one of which must be a percussionist. The graphically notated score is comprised of linear graph/melodies placed within the parameters of a compound 4/4 measures, beat of a second each. There are a total of 16 measures in the score and the choices of instrumentation, combinations, and repetitions were conceived by Johnny Reinhard, who presents each performance of the work with a different instrumentation. Varèse wrote on one version of the sketch: "Dear Mr. Macero, here is the first sketch of an experiment" and left it undated. Although Varèse did conduct an ensemble in preparation for the work, which included percussionist Paul Motion, it was never again performed until 1987, by the AFMM in Merkin Hall, NYC. It has been performed since then in Paris, France at the Centre Pompidou, in Moscow, Russia for the Alternativa Festival, and by regular performance in NYC by the AFMM. |