Pittsburgh New Music Net

This Saturday, March 13, marks the last occasion to see the very unique HiTEC, an ensemble of Pittsburgh musicians and performers utilizing instruction pieces, chance, improvisation, theatrics, and a giant spinning Wheel-of-Fortune. Intrigued? Well, you should be and you probably come to this event, because it is literally your last chance to see the act. Extensive detail below…

HiTEC (Histrionic Thought Experiment Cooperative),
the experimental orchestra founded by
tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE
will present its last ‘UNCERT’ (Uncertainty Concert), Saturday, March 13, 2010,
8PM (doors open 7:30PM), at the Kresge Recital Hall
in the CFA (Center for Fine Arts) at CMU (Carnegie Mellon University)
- $6.00 suggested donation, free to CMU students. (more…)

Pitsburgh Visionary Arts Festival

Schenley Plaza

HiTEC, the management systems-based improvisation group led by tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE, will be perform nightly at the Pittsburgh Visonary Arts Festival. The festival itself takes place from 12–9 p.m. on August 7–9. HiTEC will be performing at 8 p.m. each night, so check it out.

The first Pittsburgh Visionary Arts Festival will take place next weekend on August 7, 8, and 9 at Schenley Plaza from 12–9 p.m. each day. Of particular interest to new music lovers will be nightly performances by HiTEC, the managements systems-based improvisation group instigated by tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE. Here’s a taste of what to expect from the VAF Web site.

“If you are looking to decorate the inside of your house, do not come to this event. If, by contrast, you are hoping to decorate the inside of your Self, do not miss The Pittsburgh Visionary Arts Festival. The work here presented is not eye candy. It does not have a hook to grab you. As a viewer you are encouraged instead to open your mind and actively engage in pursuing the deeper creative intent of the work.”

But will there be funnel cake?

As part of The End of Television (http://theendoftelevision.blogspot.com), The Nerve will host a majestic night of jazz and improvised music from the following groups:

HiTEC (Histrionic Thought Experiment Cooperative)
the 22 member experimental orchestra – founded by tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE

Fred Lonberg-Holm’s Valentine Trio
The Chicago master anti-cellist brings his jazz trio to Pittsburgh to run through original tunes, Fred Katz material, and possibly the odd Sun Ra, Wilco, or Syd Barret tune. Jason Roebke on bass, Frank Rosaly on drums.

Ben Opie’s Sound/Unsound Trio
One of Ben’s newer projects, surely to fall somewhere inbetween the Sun Ra-inspired big band strut of OPEK and the modal jams of Thoth Trio.

at The Nerve: an art and performance venue
500 Dargan Street (at Minerva St. next to the Bloomfield Bridge)
Friday, June 12, 2009
Doors at 7PM, $6

Current HiTEC Lineup:
tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE: piano, electronics, percussion
Tony Balko: camcorder
Ben Opie: reeds, electronics
Kenny Haney: clarinets
Spat Cannon: upright acoustic bass
Dani Simmonds: banjo-uke
Roger Dannenberg: trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet, software design
Missi St Pierre: toy piano w/ effects
Julian Krishnamurti: electric bass
Johan Nystrom [auxiliary member in Philly]: extended percussion
Ben Harris: violin
Jonathan Borofsky: monome with mabalhabla software
Mike Tamburo: hammered dulcimer
Unfinished Symphonies: electronic keyboard
Joy: electric guitar w/ nylon strings
William Wedler: Experiment 1
James Gyre: drums
Hyla Willis: erhu
David Bernabo: acoustic guitar
Josh Beyer: cello
Mike Kasunic: digital synth, electronics
Bob Jungkunz: drums

Below are some links to movies of HiTEC:

For Tony Balko’s 16mm footage of HiTEC
(Histrionic Thought Experiment Cooperative) ‘s beginning
of our 21st rehearsal on September 14, 2008EV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0thj_1lWlA

For the beginning of my documentary of HiTEC’s premier gig:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMpa9VMyWmU

A soft focus high-definition wide-angle shot of a short excerpt
from the 1/9/9 premier of HiTEC at the New Hazlett Theater:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo2apKl_CCY

Fred Lonberg-Holm:

Flyer: