Chinati Presents: Unset

The Chinati Foundation is pleased to host the premiere of Unset, a site-specific sound work created by composer Andrew May, on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at 8:00 pm. The piece will be performed among Donald Judd’s 15 untitled works in concrete, inviting listeners to engage with the resonant interiors of the works.

Unset features a combination of live instrumentation, electronic manipulation of sound (with portable computer music systems,) and audience participation. Performed at sunset, the hour-long piece will create a stream of shifting harmonies accompanied by the waning evening light and shadows.

Composer Andrew May wrote, “I first visited Chinati on a windy December day in 2006, and immediately imagined a work of music that would extend awareness of this aspect of Judd’s creations. Owing to the size of the installation and the remote and wild location, there is no practical way to get A/C power and sound systems out to these sculptures, so I designed and built portable, independent systems to make interactive computer music possible within this rugged environment; I call them the ESCAPE units (Electronic Self Contained Algorithmic Performing Entities.) On August 1, 2015, the ruggedly set concrete will vibrate with a flowing stream of sound and light that is perpetually Unset.”

Ft. Worth’s Sounds Modern, musicians from the University of North Texas, and players from the Big Bend region will perform the acoustic component of the piece.

Members are invited to a reception with Andrew May and the musicians immediately following the performance in the Chinati Arena. Not a member? Join today or at the door. For more information on Chinati membership visit https://chinati.org/join/ or contact Sara Childress, Development Coordinator, at schildress@chinati.org.

Chinati Presents is generously supported by Big Bend Brewing Co., Big Bend Sentinel, the City of Marfa, Marfa Hardware Company, and Naluna.