Norwich University carillonneur George Matthew Jr. will perform a free recital of American composer John Cage’s compositions for the carillon on the Upper Parade Ground on Saturday, June 22, at 1 p.m.
Cage, one of the most influential American composers of the 20th century, was a leading figure of the post-war avant-garde.
Matthew has been carillonneur for Middlebury College and Norwich
University since 1985. Norwich’s carillon comprises 47 bells ranging in size from 10 to 3,500 pounds, all housed in a bell tower and played from a keyboard.
The program begins with “The Carillon Works of John Cage: Deconstruction, Revolution or Innovation?” which includes “Music for Carillon #5.” The 1967 piece stipulates only timing and leaves the choice of which bells to sound up to the carillonneur. Matthew said that each musician interprets the composition, which was written on plywood, uniquely.
“Cage is famous for his [seemingly random] elements, yet in many of his works he demands precise timing and structure. The results are sometimes quite beautiful,” said Matthew. “I feel that I’ve made a consistent extension of his work.”
Matthew has made 33 carillon concert tours of the US and 12 of Europe, performing in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, England, Ireland, Scotland and Russia. In August 2005, he played two concerts on the new carillon of St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia. Matthew is the first American to play carillon in Russia.
In June 2004, he was named Artist of the Year by the Vermont Chapter American Guild of Organists.
The program will conclude with “The Legacy of John Cage: Reconstruction, Assimilation or Synthesis? The Works of Four Contemporary Women Composers,” with works from Emma Lou Diemer, Chin-Chin Chen, Kathryn Mischell and Sister Joyce Evans.
