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Why Roscoe Mitchell is Important: JOSEPH KUBERA
Hailed by Village Voice critic Kyle Gann as one of “new music’s most valued performers,” JOSEPH KUBERA has been recognized as a leading interpreter of contemporary music for the past 30 years. Mr. Kubera has had a long and committed relationship to John Cage and his music since the early 1970s. One of the few pianists performing the difficult chance-based, post-1950 works, he has recorded the complete Music of Changes and the Concert for Piano and Orchestra, and has toured with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company at Cage’s invitation. Composers who have written for Mr. Kubera include Larry Austin, Anthony Coleman, David First, Alvin Lucier, Roscoe Mitchell, Howard Riley, and “Blue” Gene Tyranny, among others.
I can’t exactly recall the first time I heard Roscoe Mitchell’s music. I was introduced to him by our mutual longtime friend and collaborator, Thomas Buckner.
Roscoe’s music-making was astonishing to hear the first time, and it has amazed me every time since. It is not simply a matter of his astounding virtuosity, but of his sense of space, poise, and then the genesis, development and transformation of materials as they present themselves in performance, both in solo and ensemble contexts. Often I get the impression that it’s Roscoe’s instrument itself that is offering ideas, in real time.
Then, beyond his musicianship and creativity, there was the pleasure of getting to know this kind and generous soul on a personal level and as a collaborating performer. For a number of years, I was honored to be part of his New Chamber Ensemble, and particularly honored that Roscoe wrote a piano piece (8-8-88) for me.
A profound insight that I learned through working with Roscoe was a sense, new to me at the time, of allowing new musical ideas to take their own space within an improvising ensemble, and introducing them at the right time.
Roscoe has been a real inspiration to me, and I treasure our longtime friendship.
– Joseph Kubera
Table & Chairs Presents: Roscoe Mitchell Performs Nonaah on June 7th, 2013 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.
