Pittsburgh New Music Net

Entelechron trio will perform the music of John Cage on Saturday, March 5^th at 8 p.m. at the Andy Warhol Museum. Pianist Robert Frankenberry, cellist David Russell, and violinist/composer Roger Zahab formed entelechron in Akron, Ohio in 1994 when they convened to premiere Zahab’s Illegible Streets. As members of Ohio entelechron, which Zahab describes as “an imaginative utility providing continuous service in all dimensions,” their repertoire encompasses more than seven hundred years of music often involving consultants and guest artists. Frankenberry, Russell, and Zahab are also well known to Pittsburgh new music audiences for their performances with The Music on the Edge Chamber Orchestra (which Zahab directs), IonSound Project, and the Music on the Edge Ensemble.

Entlechron has chosen to beat the rush of Cage performances we can expect to see next year, as 2012 will mark 100 years since the composer’s birth on September 5^th, 1912. During his lifetime, Cage became one of the most recognized avante-garde composers of the 20^th century. He pioneered chance music, electronic music, and non-standard uses of musical instruments such as the prepared piano. Cage loved all types of sound and often included unconventional props in his pieces to create new sound combinations. Water Walk, for example, featured prepared piano, five radios, goose call, rubber ducky, a steaming kettle, a vase of flowers, and a bathtub. Child of Tree (which will be performed on the March 5^th program by guest percussionist Bill Sallak) makes uses of certain plants, such as the cactus, as percussion instruments. Other selections on the upcoming program will include Cage’s Harmonies from Apartment House 1776, Etudes Boreales, Freeman Etudes, Etudes Australes, Music for … (four in this case), and Water Music.

Tickets in advance through ProArtsTickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Call 412-394-3353 or visit www.proartstickets.org. Ticket at the door are $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors.

Keep your eyes peeled for an interview with Roger Zahab on entelechon and John Cage.

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