Erik Lindgren
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Erik Lindgren News 2006–2007

In early 2007, Erik will be performing out with the Frankenstein Consort so stay tuned for live dates and tours. Come out and support the release of his new CD Classical-a-go-go (SFZ-004) which is being distributed by Allegro/Nail.

Erik’s other ensemble Birdsongs of the Mesozoic released their 10th CD Extreme Spirituals in collaboration with bass baritone Oral Moses. Recent Fall 2006 performances to support this new CD included Real Artways in Hartford, Forsyth Chapel in Boston’s Forest Hills Cemetery, and a residency/concert at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta. The Birds with Oral perform again in Boston at the Berklee Performance Center on Tuesday, February 27 as part of Black History Month. For more information log onto http://www.birdsongsofthemesozoic.org.

On August 2, 2006, Erik had a premier of “Le Rivage,” which was commissioned by the South Shore Conservatory Flute Orchestra conducted by Donald Zook. This work was originally composed in 1981 for a promotional video by The Architects Collaborative which he recently expanded into a six-minute piece for eight flutes, alto flute, bass flute, piano, double bass, and two percussionists (cymbals/wind chimes and glockenspiel/chimes). A live recording of the concert was produced.

Also in 2006, Erik added a 4th movement to his String Quartet #2 (2004). This new section pays homage to Argentinean composer Alberto Ginastera and incorporates elements of the composer’s Finale Furioso movement of his Music for Strings (Opus 33). This movement was completed while Erik was in his third residency at the Banff Centre last January.

This spring, Erik also arranged Ginastera’s solo piano work “Suite de Danzas Criollas” for violin, viola, cello, and synthesizer. The last movement of the Ginastera’s “Piano Concerto #1” was covered in 1971 by prog rock group Emerson Lake and Palmer (on their Brain Salad Surgery release) and the composer was smitten by Keith Emerson’s rendition which featured synthesizer. In keeping with his fascination with technology, I wanted to expand the sound palate which led to my synthesized keyboard choice on “Danzas Criollas.”

Erik also added a third “spam” art song entitled “The Little Wine Makes Sound Or Maybe Mine Slopy” for soprano, flute, and piano that was also conceived in Banff. These three songs use actual spam that Erik received and the effect is pretty darn surreal.
Erik Lindgren’s 50th Birthday
Concert & Retrospective
Erik Lindgren’s 50th Birthday Concert & Retrospective will take place at 8pm on Saturday, June 4 at Pickman Hall, Longy School of Music, One Follen Street in Cambridge, Ma. Admission is free and open to the public.

This special evening will feature original works by Erik Lindgren that span his eclectic 30+ year career as a composer, performer, and producer. His musical group of 25 years Birdsongs of the Mesozoic will play highlights from their eight cds. The Boston Globe has described the quartet as “the world’s hardest rocking chamber music ensemble.” Atlanta bass baritone Oral Moses will perform three of Lindgren’s arrangements of “Extreme Spirituals” with Birdsongs.

His other performing ensemble, Erik Lindgren & the Sonare Wind Trio, will play original works scored for piano, flute, clarinet, and bassoon along with Lindgren’s arrangements of Erik Satie’s “Reverie,” Raymond Scott’s “Powerhouse,” plus the Edgar Winter Band’s “Frankenstein.”

Longy alumnus Eva Kendrick will sing two recent art songs by Lindgren for soprano, piano, flute, and percussion that employ spam as the text.

Cambridge choreographer Rozann Kraus will present a dance to one of Lindgren’s compositions “Slo Boy,” In addition, Lindgren will play excerpts from his long career as a commercial composer that include soundtracks and jingles for the Christmas Tree Shops, Jordan Marsh, and Waltham Camera and Stereo. Videos will also be shown of vintage Birdsongs, Moving Parts (his 1978 art rock band that spawned both Mission of Burma and Birdsongs), plus his 1995 chamber work “Scenes From The Nemasket River.”

“Erik Lindgren scores consummate musicianship from the spatially abstract to a defining American vernacular. Erik Lindgren is American music.” —Van Dyke Parks

“Erik Lindgren is a model of musical schizophrenia; the type who’ll play Stravinsky and Louie Louie’ back-to-back, with one foot in the conservatory and the other in the garage. —Brett Milano, The Boston Globe
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