John Zorn returns to the Guggenheim for special program inspired by Agnes Martin
Who: John Zorn
What: Music for Agnes Martin
Where: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave. at 89th St., 212-423-3587
When: Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2, 7:00
Why: In 1995, avant-garde legend John Zorn released Redbird, a pair of compositions inspired by Canadian-American abstract painter Agnes Martin. The album consisted of the nine-minute “Dark River” and the forty-one-minute title opus, featuring harp, cello, and percussion. On December 1 and 2, Zorn, who last month played and discussed his “Commedia dell’arte” suite as part of the Guggenheim’s “Works & Process” series, will perform in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum rotunda in conjunction with the current exhibition, “Agnes Martin,” which continues through January 11. The evening comprises four Zorn compositions: “Dark River,” with William Winant and Ches Smith on bass drums; 1977’s “Curling” (yes, based on the Olympic sport), performed by Dither (guitarists James Moore, Gyan Riley, Taylor Levine, and Josh Lopez); and the premiere of two new Martin-inspired works, “Praise,” with Carol Emanuel on harp, Ikue Mori on electronics, and Winant and Zorn on vibraphone and percussion, and “Blue Stratagem, performed by the American Brass Quintet (Kevin Cobb and Louis Hanzlik on trumpet, Eric Reed on horn, Michael Powell on trombone, and John Rojak on bass trombone). Advance tickets are sold out, but standby tickets will be available starting at 6:50 each night; after the performance, attendees are invited to view the exhibition.