The Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Eighth Blackbird

The Brooklyn Youth Chorus perform alongside Bryce Dessner, Richard Reed Parry, Caroline Shaw and Ning Yu in this multi-arts project about the influential Black Mountain College.

Poetry influenced by the work of Black Mountain professor, Charles Olson is put to music composed by Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly, Caroline Shaw, Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire), Tim Hecker, John King and Aleksandra Vrebalov alongside projections and dance, to create an expansive choral and visual work that celebrates and rekindles Black Mountain’s utopian spirit.

Black Mountain College was a cross-arts college founded by former faculty members of Rollins College, all of whom were dismissed after refusing to make a loyalty pledge. Although only active between 1933 and 1957, the liberal arts college remains a major influence on the American arts scene. Its allumni include musician John Cage and dancer Merce Cunningham.

This session will also include a performance – in Terry Riley’s 80th birthday year – of his legendary and pioneering In C, led by led by eighth blackbird and featuring performers Bryce Dessner, Richard Reed Parry, Nico Muhly and more from across the Mountains and Waves weekend.