Bowerbird is pleased to present a two night residency featuring pianist Adam Tendler. On the second evening Adam Tendler will be performing “Sonatas and Interludes”, John Cage’s groundbreaking cycle for prepared piano. 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the the work composed shortly after Cage’s introduction to Indian philosophy and the teachings of art historian Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, both of which became major influences on the composer’s later work. Significantly more complex than his other works for prepared piano, Sonatas and Interludes is generally recognized as one of Cage’s most important compositions. The cycle consists of sixteen sonatas (thirteen of which are cast in binary form, the remaining three in ternary form) and four more freely structured interludes.

PROGRAM

John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes 

ABOUT THE ARTIST
A recipient of the Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, “currently the hottest pianist on the American contemporary classical scene” (Minneapolis Star Tribune), a “remarkable and insightful musician” (LA Times), and “relentlessly adventurous pianist” (Washington Post) “joyfully rocking out at his keyboard” (New York Times), Adam Tendler is an internationally recognized interpreter of living, modern and classical composers. A pioneer of DIY culture in concert music who has commissioned and premiered major works by Christian Wolff and Devonté Hynes alike, at age 23 Tendler performed solo recitals in all fifty United States as part of a grassroots tour he called America 88×50, which became the subject of his memoir, 88×50, a Kirkus Indie Book of the Month and Lambda Literary Award nominee. He has gone on to become one of classical and contemporary music’s most recognized and celebrated artists, active as a soloist, recording artist, composer, speaker and educator. He has curated and performed series for the Broad Museum and Little Island, and in 2022 alone, appeared as soloist at BAM and Carnegie Hall, and with the LA Philharmonic. Tendler recently released an album of Liszt’s Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses on the Steinway Label, Robert Palmer: Piano Music on New World Records, and published his second book, tidepools. In 2022 he will premiere 16 newly commissioned works by composers including Laurie Anderson, Nico Muhly, Missy Mazzoli, Christopher Cerrone, Timo Andres and Pamela Z as part of a project called Inheritances. Adam Tendler is a Yamaha Artist.