Free Soundscapes Event at Caramoor

Free Soundscapes Event at Caramoor

Caramoor, the popular cultural arts destination located on a 80-acres of land along with Italianate architecture and stunning gardens, recently announced news about their free Soundscapes event.

Held on June 4th from 12:00pm-4:00pm, Soundscapes features a day of live performances and the Sonic Innovations sound art exhibition along with various sound artists where families can enjoy a day of art, nature, and fascinating sounds at this stunning location.

Live performances during Soundscapes includes percussionist Jonny Allen – a member of Sandbox Percussion – who will perform Iannis Xenakis’s multi-percussion piece Rebonds as well as excerpts from Tom Johnson’s Nine Bells. Pianist Conor Hanick will “prepare” a grand piano by inserting bolts, screws, bits of rubber, and other items between the strings for a performance of John Cage’s complete Sonatas and Interludes. Thereminist Dorit Chrysler will perform and give workshops on the world’s oldest electronic instrument, in recognition of Caramoor co-founder Lucie Bigelow Rosen, an important patron and one of the earliest practitioners of the theremin.

The Soundscapes event is also the opening of Caramoor’s Sonic Innovations sound art installation, with nine sound art pieces including a new piece, ‘Dyning in the Dovecote’ by Liz Phillips, and returning works by Mendi and Keith Obadike, Trimpin, Annea Lockwood and
Bob Bielecki (with a second returning piece by Lockwood alone), Ranjit Bhatnagar, Taylor Deupree, and Walter Kitundu.

Curated by Chicago-based sound artist Stephan Moore, Sonic Innovations expands Caramoor’s programming with an annual exhibition of sound art from artists working with sonic materials outside the traditions of concert music.

Through the sound art exhibit, artists can draw inspiration from their chosen location and its unique characteristics – acoustic, historic,
architectural, or natural – that has been a part of their programming since 2014.

Families can bring their own blankets/chairs as the event takes place in various venues, and many do not have seating.

Soundscapes Schedule

12:15pm: Welcome (Friends Field)

12:20pm: Dorit Chrysler: Theremin Demonstration & Performance (Friends Field)

12:30–1:30 pm: Meet the sound artists!

1:00pm: John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (Part 1) Performed by pianist Conor Hanick (Spanish Courtyard)

1:30pm–3:30pm: Theremin Workshop. Learn to draw out the mysterious and haunting sounds of the oldest electric instrument in existence. Bring only your hands and the music will follow. (Garden Courtyard)

1:45pm: Iannis Xenakis: Rebonds A
Performed by Percussionist Jonny Allen (Friends Field)

2:00pm: John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (Part 2) Performed by pianist Conor Hanick
(Spanish Courtyard)

2:20pm: Tom Johnson: First Bell Performed by Percussionist Jonny Allen (Near in”C”)

2:30pm: Theremin Performance by Dorit Chrysler (Friends Field)

2:30–3:30 pm: Meet the sound artists!

3:00pm: John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (Part 3)
Performed by pianist Conor Hanick
(Spanish Courtyard)

3:15pm: Tom Johnson: Second Bell Performed by Percussionist Jonny Allen (Near in”C”)

3:30pm: John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (Part 4) Performed by pianist Conor Hanick
(Spanish Courtyard)

3:45pm: Iannis Xenakis: Rebonds B Performed by Percussionist Jonny Allen (Friends Field)

Caramoor Details:

June 4th
12:00pm-4:00pm
149 Girdle Ridge Road
PO Box 816
Katonah, NY 10536