June 4, 2008 200 Guitarists Needed to Perform with Rhys Chatham

In 2005, the New York composer Rhys Chatham was commissioned by the city of Paris to write a piece of music. The result was A Crimson Grail, a work for 400 electric guitars, which premiered at the basilica of Sacré-Coeur for La Nuit Blanche, an all-night arts festival. For its first U.S. performance, the work has been extensively revised by the composer for an outdoor performance at Lincoln Center's (see photo) Damrosch Park, to suit the dynamics of the park's outdoor acoustic.

A Crimson Grail will call on the talents of 200 guitarists (including 16 electric bassists), who will be selected from an applicant pool drawing on the many talents of musicians in New York City and beyond. Requirements for performing in A Crimson Grail: 1. It is necessary to be a competent guitarist with at least a rudimentary comprehension of standard musical notation. All musicians participating will be assigned to one of four sections, each of which will have their parts provided in simple written notation and textual instructions, and explained by section leaders. 2. You must be able to commit to attending all three rehearsals, and all 12 hours of rehearsal time. Rehearsals are tentatively scheduled for 6 to 10 pm on each of the following days: August 12 (Tuesday); August 13 (Wednesday); and August 14 (Thursday). 3. You must be able to commit to attending a day-long rehearsal/sound check and the performance on Friday, August 15. The approximate performance time for A Crimson Grail is 8 pm. The performance is part of “Wordless Music: 800 Years of Minimalism,” a free concert at 7 pm in Damrosch Park. The concert is part of Lincoln Center Out of Doors, the free, summer performance series which runs from August 7 through August 24, 2008. 4. Each guitarist must bring his or her own equipment for all rehearsals and performance. At the composer's request, you will need to re-string your guitar, guitar strings provided by D'Addario. Please note the following restrictions: No acoustic guitars. No hollow body electrics. No vibrato or whammy bars. 5. Professional and semi-professional musicians will be given preference over amateurs. 6. This is an all-volunteer event. Due to the size and scale of the event, there are no fees or expense reimbursements for participating guitarists. The experience of being part of a once-in-a-lifetime performance…priceless. Deadline to apply: All applications must be received electronically no later than June 15, 2008. Rhys Chatham is an American composer, guitarist, and trumpet player, primarily active in avant-garde and minimalist music. He is best known for his "guitar orchestra" compositions. He has lived in France since 1987. Event: Wordless Music: 800 Years of Minimalism Date: August 15 (Friday), 2008 Location: Damrosch Park New York, NY USA

SOURCE: Wordless Music: 800 Years of Minimalism

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