The Tang celebrates David Lang with art, music, and dance

The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery and Skidmore’s Office of Special Programs will present events on Oct. 16, 17, and 18 featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang, the College’s 2014–15 McCormack Endowed Visiting Artist-Scholar. Lang and Tang Director Ian Berry are co-curators of the exhibition I was a double, on view at the Tang through Jan. 4.

The events begin on Thursday, Oct. 16, when Lang collaborates with the pioneering group So Percussion and Debra Fernandez, chair of the Skidmore Dance Department, for a world premiere of original music and choreography inspired by I was a double. So Percussion will also perform Lang’s the so-called laws of nature—part 3 (2002) and Bryce Dessner’s Music for Wood and Strings (2013). The performance is at 6 p.m. within the I was double exhibition in the Tang’s Wachenheim Gallery. The event is free but seating is limited, and reservations are required. Call 518-580-8080 for seats.

So Percussion has produced 16 albums and has toured widely. The group’s website states, “So Percussion has redefined the modern percussion ensemble as a flexible, omnivorous entity, pushing its voice to the forefront of American musical culture. Praised by the New Yorker for their ‘exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam,’ So’s adventurous spirit is written into the DNA passed down from composers like John Cage and Steve Reich, as well as from pioneering ensembles like the Kronos Quartet and Nexus Percussion.” 

The performance will be streamed live online on the Tang’s website at http://tang.skidmore.edu. In addition, a video of the event will be available for viewing after the performance.

On Friday, Oct. 17, Lang will give a talk at 7 p.m. at the Arthur Zankel Music Center prior to the 8 p.m. concert by Ensemble ACJW. The ensemble of young professional musicians is a joint program of Carnegie Hall, the Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. The concert will feature Mozart’s Quartet for Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello in D Major, K. 285; David Lang’s these broken wings; and Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat Major, Op. 20.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, the Tang will hold a reception at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate its current exhibitions. In addition to I was a double, the shows include Opener 26: Jeff Sonhouse: Slow Motion; Opener 27: Beverly Semmes: FRP; Opener 28: Erika Verzutti: Mineral; Elevator Music 27: Kamau Amu Patton. The reception is free and open to the public.