Neil Rolnick vs. Matt Marks at Galapagos
A fun—if not exactly combative—approach to the composers showcase last night at Galapagos, presenting the work of two like-minded composers from different generations. Neil Rolnick (b. 1947), an early pioneer in the use of computers in live performance, played extended electronic mashups of Robert Johnson and the Everly Brothers using a laptop and keyboard, and duetted with Todd Reynolds on Fiddle Faddle, a sort of 21st-century violin sonata. (Reynolds also performed a more traditional sonata, Hammer & Hair, with pianist Vicky Chow.)
Matt Marks (b. 1980), best known for his searing, twisted takes on musical theater, mixed acoustic and electronic elements in variations on Disney-movie musicals and pop tunes from the '60s, along with solo pieces for alto flute and muted trumpet. Marks sang some solo music from his prolific songbook, and Courtney Orlando sang pop songs in an otherworldy monotone during Mixtape for the Summer of 1963.
The show ended with everyone performing Rolnick's improvisatory collaboration, Hush—a quiet corollary to the rain-soaked cobblestone streets outside. More pics on the photo page.