Annea Lockwood and Friends at Vassar College, April 6

Annea Lockwood and Friends, a musical tribute to Lockwood's teaching career at Vassar College, is scheduled on Friday, April 6, at 8 p.m. in the Skinner Recital Hall, Vassar College. The concert, sponsored by the Music Department, is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature Lockwood's "Ear-Walking Woman" a piece written for "prepared piano," a piano into which various sound-altering tools have been placed. They include two round rocks, a round-bottomed temple (bowl-shaped) gong, bubble wrap, cedar mothballs, a rubber ball, and mallets made with Superballs. The technique "keeps the pianist busy and the sounds that result can range from whale-song to a wonderful deep rumble and rustle," according to Lockwood. "Ear-Walking Woman" was commissioned by Lois Svard, who will perform it at Vassar.

Lockwood, who is retiring from Vassar in May, has collaborated extensively with choreographers and sound-poets and has explored everything from environmental sound and eletroacoustic music to instrumental and vocal works which include non-Western instruments. Her music has been presented at festivals in Germany, Scandinavia, Austria, Italy, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. and recorded on various labels. A member of the Vassar faculty since 1982, Lockwood often teaches at other institutions as a guest composer.

Also on the program is "Spotted Jasper" (2001) by Alexandra Gardner, performed by J.D. Parran on bass clarinet and Frank Cassara on marimba. Following a short intermission, Jonathan Elliot will perform his piano and tape composition "A History of Sensation" followed by Lockwood's "Red Mesa."

Cassara has performed around the world with the New Music Consort/PULSE, Steve Reich and Musicians, and the Philip Glass Ensemble. He is a member of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and Riverside Symphony, and is a principal of the Connecticut Grand Opera.

Elliot received his early training at the Settlement Music School and graduated from Vassar College in 1984 where he studied with Lockwood. He has written over 60 works in a wide range of media and has been commissioned by some of today's leading performers, venues, and ensembles. He has taught at Vassar College, Bard College, NYU, and the University of Chicago.

Gardner, a graduate of Vassar's class of 1990, is a composer and sound artist making music for performance and concert settings, dance, video, installations and radio. She works with acoustic instruments, electronics, environmental sounds and found objects to create aural landscapes of evolving sonic textures. Her compositions have been presented internationally at festivals and performance spaces including the Aspen Music Festival and The Smithsonian Institution.

For additional information, call the Music Department at (845) 437-7319. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Cathy Jennings at (845) 437-5370, as far in advance as possible to request appropriate and reasonable accommodations.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Friday, April 6th, 2001.