Redcat Presents Multimedia Program of Five Works by Steve Horowitz and the Code Ensemble, 1/29-1/30

REDCAT presents a multimedia program of five works performed by Steve Horowitz and the Code Ensemble. This special event includes Horowitz's own acclaimed re-imagined score for the film The Re-Taking of Pelham One Two Three. As part of REDCAT's Herb Alpert Creative Music Series, the performances take place on January 29 and January 30, 2010 at 8:30 pm.

Steve Horowitz and the 14-member Code Ensemble bring together everything from strings and horns to laptop samplers for a high-energy brew of classical, jazz, funk and rock as they perform an exciting and imaginative contemporary rethink of David Shire's score for the 1974 N.Y.C. subway caper movie The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. Horowitz's thirty minute re-imagined version of the classic crime-jazz score is performed to a provocative projection meditating on the underground reverberations of 9/11 created by Jane Bill.

Horowitz's ambitious deconstruction has even the film's celebrated composer David Shire applauding, "If I were hired to score the picture today, I would hope that my score would come out sounding the way that Steve's does." Shire will appear in person alongside Jane Brill, Zig Gron, and Steve Horowitz for a discussion preceding the Saturday night concert, at 7:00 pm.

The program continues with The Code mashing up musical tropes from science fiction films in Invasion from the Chicken Planet, a theatrical presentation with live scene readings and projected video and graphics by Zig Gron. Also on the bill are Horowitz's 2nd String Quartet and a set of works by Randy Hostetler.

The performances are funded in part with generous support from the American Music Center, Meet the Composer's Metlife Creative Connections program, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA), JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ), George Mason and Pamela Wilson, and the Randy Hostetler Living Room Music Fund.

For additional information about the performance at REDCAT, images, media and interviews, please contact Diana Wyenn at 213-237-2873 or dwyenn@calarts.edu.

ABOUT STEVE HOROWITZ

Steve Horowitz's 25-year career integrates his experiences as a band leader with his explorations as a multi faceted composer. Horowitz can be found working and touring with his group The Code Ensemble, a 14-piece electro-acoustic chamber ensemble, and has released 15 compact discs to date. Horowitz has a large catalog of music for traditional and unusual ensembles such as: string quartet, woodwind quartet, orchestra, piano, solo contrabass flute (or tuba), and large electro-acoustic chamber ensemble. Additionally, he has written music for film, TV and games. Horowitz studied at the California Institute of the Arts with Mel Powell, Morton Subotnick and Stephen "Lucky" Mosko. He lectures at various schools including New York University, California Institute of the Arts, and Berklee College of Music in Boston and has received performance underwriting as well as commissions from: Meet the Composer Fund (1992 at the Lab SF, & 2005 at the Kitchen NYC); Amsterdam Fund for the Arts NL (2000 for ensemble tour); Fund for the Interactive Sound Arts Netherlands (1997, Graphic scores Mousetrap Quartet); Gravy Train Dance Company (1984 Choreographer Jo Ann Nerenberg); The Alternate Currents Ensemble (1994 Ribbon of Extremes); Music at the Anthology (MATA, executive producer Phillip Glass 2003 "Vertical Field Horizontal Field" for String Orchestra and Piano performed by SONYC, featuring soloist Joel Wizansky on piano); and The Astoria Symphony (Mix Re-Mix, World Premire).

Touring projects in the US and the Netherlands have helped to form Horowitz's unique perspective and voice. Horowitz and his music have appeared at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, The Bimhuis in Amsterdam, and The Miller Theater and The Kitchen in NYC. He frequently collaborates with other artists - joining forces with an eclectic variety of musicians such as electric guitar wizards Elliott Sharp and Henry Kaiser, jazz saxophone greats Lenny Pickett and Michael Moore, The Clubfoot Orchestra, Glen Spearman, acoustic bassist Tatsu Aoki, and the Balkan music ensemble Zhaba. A duo CD with downtown drummer Michael Evans was released in September of 2007. Highlights of 2006-2007 include Tonk performed by Ned McGowan on contrabass flute at the Karnatic Lab series, Amsterdam NL, and a premiere recording of Pa Kua for string quartet performed by The Flux Quartet.

A culmination of years of investigation, The Code Ensemble explores Horowitz's persistent musical themes: the intertwining of electric and acoustic instruments, new forms, extended techniques, interactivity, music for picture, theater and live performance. Drawing on a finely honed sense of humor, Horowitz looks deeply into the sociological filter and re-examines pop culture's presentation of "truth" as entertainment. Founded in 1992, The Code has developed a cutting-edge repertory with instrumentation that combines traditional acoustic and contemporary electronic instruments. The Code's blend of electric and acoustic instruments is helping to re-define contemporary chamber music.

In addition to his work in chamber and concert music, Horowitz writes music for dance, film, television, cartoons, and interactive media (video games). Steve wrote the score to the award winning film Super Size Me and served as music supervisor and lead composer for the television show I Bet You Will (MTV). Horowitz's audio expertise was honored in 1996 with a Grammy award for his engineering work on the compact disc "True Life Blues, the Songs of Bill Monroe", winner of the best Bluegrass album 1996, and in 2003 with a Webby for his work with Nick Online (www.nick.com). Horowitz has been featured in Bass Player magazine (May, 2007) and books The Art of Digital Music and The Guerilla Guide to the Music Business.

THE CODE ENSEMBLE

Steve Horowitz's Code Ensemble plays contemporary American music with energy and passion. Founded in 1993, The Code has developed a cutting-edge repertory with instrumentation that combines traditional acoustic and contemporary electronic instruments. Mr. Horowitz and the Code have released fifteen CDs over the years, and the ensemble has included many well-known musicians. The Code's unique blend of electric and acoustic instruments is helping to re-define contemporary chamber music.

ABOUT REDCAT

Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT)
Opened by CalArts in 2003, REDCAT introduces diverse audiences, students and artists to the most influential developments in the arts from around the world, and gives artists in this region the creative support they need to achieve national and international stature. REDCAT is the newest partner in an international network of adventurous art and performance centers, which together are playing a vital role in the evolution of contemporary culture. REDCAT is a center for experimentation, discovery and lively civic discourse.

For more information, visit www.redcat.org.

 

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