The ATLAS Summer Experimental Music Week, supported by the College of Music, is August 4-7.
The next big thing for music will be playing out next week at the ATLAS Institute on the CU-Boulder campus. The Summer Experimental Music Week program, supported by the College of Music, kicks off on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The event marks the culmination of music technology pioneer Miller Puckette’s summer stint at the university through the FIRST (Faculty-In-Residence Summer Term) program. It brings together three leaders of avant-garde music for four days of demonstrations and discussions: Puckette developed software that responds to music and creates the synchronized visualizations you see at many concerts. Philippe Manoury is the composer he’s worked with most often to bring his software to life. And Juliana Snapper is one of opera’s most inventive singers.
Associate Professor of Composition Michael Theodore directs the Center for Media, Arts and Performance (CMAP) at the ATLAS Institute. “Together, these artists have been at the forefront of developing this interactive branch of music technology that is vital to the field,” he says. “It’s great to have this world-class talent here.”
Theodore, who worked with Puckette while completing his Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego, helped organize the event. Now Theodore’s students have a chance to learn from his mentor; three composition students will premiere pieces during a master class next week.
ATLAS is particularly excited about showcasing the work of Puckette and his colleages, says Communications Director Nick Sutcliffe. “Pure Data, the graphical programming language that Puckette developed, is enormously powerful. In addition to its musical applications, it’s used to program robots, control interactive art exhibits or even close greenhouse windows when the sun goes down — it makes it easy to kick out an electronic response to an electronic input."
The roots, however, are musical. “To have Puckette here with Manoury and Snapper is a great concentration of talent, and we’re happy to bring that to the community,” says Sutcliffe.
All the events throughout the week are free and open to the public. Tuesday’s Lunch and Learn will feature original pieces by College of Music composition students. Wednesday evening, the public will have the opportunity to meet the artists at a reception in the ATLAS building (RSVP required). Thursday, Puckett and Snapper will present an electronic music demonstration at the Fiske Planetarium, and a final performance on Friday will be held in the Black Box Experimental Studio, featuring Boulder pianist Eric Lindemann.
Other events throughout the week are listed below. For more information on the Summer Experimental Music Week, visit the ATLAS website at atlas.colorado.edu/events
Summer Experimental Music Week Events
Visiting Artist Lunch and Learn
Tuesday, Aug. 4
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Black Box Experimental Studio
Experimental Music Symposium
Wednesday, Aug. 5
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
ATLAS Room 229
“Toasting the Future” Reception
Wednesday, Aug. 5
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Black Box Experimental Studio
RSVP required
Class Demos
Thursday, Aug. 6
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
ATLAS lobby
Electronic Music Demo
Thursday, Aug. 6
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Fiske Planetarium
Final Performance
Friday, Aug. 7
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Black Box Experimental Studio
