Tune-in Music Festival
“eighth blackbird is so good it’s dangerous.” – Boston Globe
“[Paul Haas is a] visionary.” – Time Out
“[John Luther Adams is]… one of the most original musical thinkers of the 21st century” – The New Yorker
Grammy Award-winning eighth blackbird curates and performs at the Armory’s five-day music festival, bringing together some of today’s leading new music groups, including red fish blue fish, Argento Chamber Ensemble, Sympho, and Newspeak. Within the vast Wade Thompson Drill Hall, the audience becomes part of the musical experience. Works by Steve Reich, Frederic Rzewski, John Cage, Louis Andriessen, Kurt Schwitters, David T. Little, Stefan Weisman, and Matt Marks will be performed. Closing the festival is the New York—and indoor—premiere of John Luther Adams’ percussion-only Inuksuit, which features 72 performers moving throughout the expansive hall during the performance. The festival also includes the world premiere of ARCO, a new work commissioned by the Armory, co-composed by Paul Haas, Paul Fowler, and Bora Yoon, and performed by Sympho.
eighth blackbird’s program is inspired by Stravinsky’s provocative statement, “Music is, by its very nature, essentially powerless to express anything at all.” At the heart of the festival are two concerts that challenge Stravinsky’s statement by taking radical positions: for the negative (powerFUL), and for the affirmative (powerLESS). The concluding event (Inuksuit) provides musical (or spiritual) balm after the fray.
Download the Tune-In Festival Program
Each concert is preceded by an Artist Talk with Armory Consulting Artistic Director Kristy Edmunds and the artists and key creative forces behind the evening’s concert. Talks are free for concert ticket-holders. All others $10 (cash only). Pre-registration required.
Festival Schedule
Tune-In Music Festival is now closed. Please return to Arts at the Armory for upcoming programs.
ARCO
Wednesday February 16 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $25
The world premiere of ARCO, the Armory-commissioned orchestral work co-composed by Paul Haas, Paul Fowler and Bora Yoon and performed by Sympho.
powerFUL
Thursday, February 17 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $30
powerFUL confronts listeners with edgy politically-charged music performed by eighth blackbird, red fish blue fish, Newspeak, and guest artists.
powerLESS
Friday, February 18 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $30
powerLESS celebrates the rich and multifaceted world of “absolute music” that seeks no meaning beyond its notes. Performed by eighth blackbird, Argento Chamber Ensemble, Steve Schick, and guest artists.
INUKSUIT
Sunday, February 20 at 4:00pm
Tickets: $30
The New York—and indoor—premiere of John Luther Adams’ Inuksuit, which features more than 70 percussionists moving throughout the Armory’s expansive drill hall during the performance.
Programs and artists are subject to change.
$95 Festival Pass: The Festival Pass includes tickets to all four concerts.
$20 Rush Tickets: Available at the door on the day of the performance, subject to availability.
This program is supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, The Reed Foundation, and the Amphion Foundation, Inc.
Photo: Stacy Schwartz