Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra and Contemporary Music Ensemble: Zappa and Varèse

Sunday, May 28, 6:30 p.m.
Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, free
Alan Pierson, Ben Bolter, and Taichi Fukumura, conductors
Composer Edgard Varèse’s emphasis on timbre, rhythm, and emerging technologies inspired a multitude of musicians who came of age during the 1960s and ’70s, among them guitarist and composer Frank Zappa. The Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra and Contemporary Music Ensemble celebrate the spirit of experimentation that united the two composers with a program featuring Zappa as a “virtual emcee” in recordings discussing his Varèse experiences. The Northwestern University Percussion Ensemble is featured in Varèse’s Ionisation.
Frank Zappa, Dog Breath Variations/Uncle Meat and Pedro’s Dowry: yes, that’s right
Edgard Varèse, Ionisation, Intégrales, and Amériques