Between the Notes, Open Space Piano Series

Artists: Tzanka Dianova (Victoria), Gust Burns (Seattle), Lubomyr Melnyk (Winnipeg/ Stockholm)

Date: February 25 to March 6, 2010

Between the Notes featured three innovative piano specialists dedicated to pushing the boundaries that have historically and conventionally defined the instrument.  From Dianova’s performance of the acutely sparse and serene, for Bunita Marcus in contrast to Melnyk’s record-breaking ‘continuous music’ technique, to Burns’ dissection and reconstruction of an upright piano into new instruments, Open Space presented listeners with the opportunity to experience the diverse and complex harmonic language that is uniquely manifested in this popular instrument.
 

Tzenka Dianova
For Bunita Marcus

Concert: Thursday, February 25, 7:30 p.m.
Alix Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Avenue
Tickets: $15 for general public / $12 for members, students

Tzenka is considered to be one of the world's finest exponents of new music for the pianodistinguished composers. Dianova has regularly performed as a soloist and orchestra member with the Pleven Philharmonia, Sofia State Academy Philharmonia, the Victoria Symphony and the Auckland Philharmonia and is currently associated with the Victoria Symphony and Vancouver Island Symphony.  In this solo piano performance, Tzenka gave a rare performance of For Bunita Marcus by American composer Morton Feldman (1926 — 1987).

Website: http://www.tzenkadianova.com

Lubomyr Melnyk
Continuous Music

Concert: Saturday, February 27, 8 p.m.
Alix Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Avenue
Tickets: $15 for general public / $12 for members, students

Lubomyr Melnyk is truly a great innovator and explorer of the piano and has been regarded as the fastest pianist in the world, setting two world records for his playing.  His original “continuous music” approach to piano playing and composition —described in his book Open Time: The Art of Continuous Music (Toronto, 1981)— is based on the principle of a “continuous” and unbroken line of sound from the piano, created by generating a constant flow of rapid notes, usually with the pedal sustained. The notes can be either in the form of patterns or as broken chords that are spread over the keyboard, creating a unique sound where overtones blend or clash according to the changes in harmony. To accomplish this requires a special technique, one that has taken Lubomyr many years to master.

Lubomyr’s piano performance included his original solo works as well as the World Premiere of Windmills, for multiple taped and live pianos. 

While in Victoria, Lubomyr also offerd a Master class and discussion to students at the University of Victoria on Thursday, February 25th, 1:00 — 2:30 p.m..

Website:  http://www.lubomyr.com/

Listen:  http://www.lubomyr.com/listen.html

Watch:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm8LJSfIJJs&feature=related

Gust Burns
Piano De/Re-Constructed,  Open Space Residency

Concert: Monday, March 1, 7:30 p.m., $5
Workshop: Saturday, March 6, 1-2:30 p.m., $5
Concert: Saturday, March 6, 8 p.m., $10/12
Open Space. 510 Fort St.

Gust Burns is a pianist, composer and foremost an improviser, based in Seattle, Washington.  He continues to develop new routes into improvisation on the piano, working with diverse areas of music including silence, density, structure and form, extending traditional piano technique and developing new techniques for inside the piano.

During his residency at Open Space, Gust deconstructed an abandoned piano, piece-by-piece and reassembled some parts into a unique instrument organizing other parts into a gallery installation.  Gust will launch his residency with a performance on the piano, prior to its deconstruction, on Monday, March 1.  The community was encouraged to visit Open Space throughout the week to observe Gust’s unique approach to physical and musical material as he disassembled the piano and re-arranged its parts.  He held a demonstration and improvisation workshop on Saturday, March 6 followed by an evening performance using the newly created instruments.

Gust Burns with Central Middle School Class, 2010.

Website: http://www.gustburns.blogspot.com/

Project site: http://pianoreconstructed.wordpress.com/

Listen:  http://www.rasbliutto.net/artists/gustburns.html

Publication:  http://www.openspace.ca/publications