Raven Chacon
American Ledger (No. 1), 2018
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Collection of the artist
Around the corner from the Belkin Gallery, Raven Chacon’s score American Ledger (No. 1) hangs on the exterior of the Music Building at 6361 Memorial Road, UBC. The conceptual graphic score is to be performed by “many players with sustaining and percussive instruments, voices, coins, axe and wood, a police whistle and the striking of a match.” Chacon invites any number of musicians with any number of non-musicians to perform the piece; instructions for performers can be found on the exterior of the Music Building as well as below and all are encouraged to perform the score.
For many players with sustaining and percussive instruments, voices, coins, axe and wood, a police whistle, and a match.
For at least 13 minutes.
For any number of musicians with any number of non-musicians.
Each line is a minute or longer.
Line 1 is for both percussive and bendable tones.
Line 2 begins with a warbly long tone crossfading into waves of harmonic or dynamic increases. X = chop wood.
Line 3 is for police whistle(s). Other instruments may join.
Line 4 is for coins to be thrown. Two instruments may accompany.
Line 5 is a line.
Line 6 is a grand decelerando ending with the striking of a match.
Line 7 is for acknowledging groupings of 5’s and 4’s. Chop wood. End with everyone and everything.
On Thursday, 8 October 2020 at 4 pm, UBC School of Music’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble performs Chacon’s score outside the Music Building, in front of Gerhard Class’s 1968 Tuning Fork sculpture. Led by Robert Taylor, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble is comprised of the wind and percussion students in the School of Music and is dedicated to the performance of the finest wind repertoire, regardless of the period or size of ensemble and is distinguished by its high-level of performance, creative thematic programming and commitment to contemporary music through commissions, premieres and composer residencies.
Online from Friday 20 November 2020, the Chan Centre in collaboration with the UBC School of Music and the Belkin presents The Music of Raven Chacon as part of their Dot Com Series. This virtual concert includes digital recordings of three of Chacon’s compositions: American Ledger performed by the UBC Symphonic Wind Ensemble led by Robert Taylor; La’ts’aadah performed by violist Marina Thibeault; and Horse Notations performed by Paolo Bortolussi (flute), Jasper Wood and David Gillham (violins), Marina Thibeault (viola), Eric Wilson (cello) and Russell Wallace (drum).
Raven Chacon’s work is part of Soundings: An Exhibition in Five Parts at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery (September 8-December 6, 2020).
Photos: Rachel Topham Photography
Video: Aya Garcia
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