As this month’s music curator, I would like to present the monthly theme ‘on performing’: investigating ideas surrounding and focusing on events, situations, objects-whatever anyone would or could call performing. 

As a pianist I am curious about how other musical performers, including electronic and laptop artists ‘see’ themselves performing. Do you think that the reception for these events are different based on the nature of the performance? (Acoustic vs Electro-Acoustic vs DJ eg) What kind of expectations do you think audiences have when they hear ‘there is going to be a performance of x…’?

As composers, the sound event of our work consists of a type of performance whose success depends on: the perceived likeability of our work/the successful transmission of our ideas from page to instrument and the success, ultimately, of our technical ability in the craft of composition. The composed work, its performance by musicians, and its reception can in its entirety be seen as a type of performance. Do you agree? 

But this isn’t just about music: how do dancers or fashion models or visual artists or filmmakers ‘see’ themselves performing? If the object can include not just musical or dance events, but the catwalk, canvas or screen, can we still investigate, and address these events as performances?  How do we then talk about them?  What kind of language should we use?

Anyway, on the lighter side- feel free to add your thoughts: you can talk about your favourite performers, or upcoming performances-or maybe even performances you would like to see happen (but will probably never happen)-or even that special performance that you always wanted to catch-but just missed.

1: John Cage: 4’33”.

2: Chris Watson - Le Crone