I’ve been working closely with both Serge Verstockt, the creator of this project and Teun de Lange, the programmer and am extremely excited to be the musical director for its launch.

Here is the press release:

Press Release

Launch: October 11th, 2014, Concertgebouw Brugge, as a part of the festival ‘Iedereen Klassiek’ (in collaboration with Klara)

www.incapp.net

On the 4th of November, 1964 Terry Riley’s In C debuted in San Francisco. This piece would rapidly become known as one of the key pieces of American minimalist music and would go on to influence composers on a global scale. Now, exactly 50 years later, ChampdAction in collaboration with Jazzperiments and Concertgebouw Brugge is proud to present its In C App.  This application makes it possible for anyone, anywhere and at anytime to perform this piece online with other players from all over the world.

The application will make its debut performance at the festival ‘Iedereen Klassiek’ on the 11th of October, 2014. In C is made up of 53 short melodic patterns that are to be performed in a specifically prescribed order. However, each pattern may be repeated as frequently as the performer so desires. The specific instrumentation is also left open to the players. The musicians may even choose a register and which patterns they would like to play. The combination of the simple musical score with the required spontaneity of musicians is what makes this piece so unique. Each player is a composer of sorts and yet the music is not quite compete until at least a secondary player/composer adds his or her interpretation of the written phrases.  This piece was of course heavily influenced by the zeitgeist found in the San Francisco of the 1960s,  as evidenced by the social aspect and egalitarian nature of the piece.

ChampdAction in collaboration with Jazzpermints has added another dimension to Riley’s democracy of musical notes. As only seems fit in this digital and globalized world, by simply clicking on ‘Join’, anyone, anywhere can contribute to a world wide performance of this piece. Collectively composing, internationally via this app, requires an attentive ear and clear communication. This had been made simple by the essential addition of a chat-box. The first live performance of the In C App will take place on the 11th of October during the festival ‘Iedereen Klassiek.’ ChampdAction will perform the piece with app players from the audience and musicians from all over the world.  Directly following the debut, you can start playing the app and piece on every smartphone, tablet, or computer. Join whenever! Each piece starts anew on the hour every hour.