New Performance Group

New Performance Group

In the fall of 1979 a group of musicians from the San Francisco Bay area, members of the Port-Costa Players, moved to Seattle to begin teaching at the Cornish Institute. They subsequently formed the New Performance Group and in the following years a few other musicians were added. Still affiliated with the Cornish Institute, where it presents its regular series, the group now consists of a core of eight members, often augmented by guest artists. Although performing music from a wide range of twentieth century styles the group tends to focus on the work of living composers from the United States.

One of the most satisfying activities has been the presentation of works in collaboration with the composers themselves including projects with Paul Dresher, Janice Giteck, Malcolm Goldstein, Lou Harrison, Bern Herbolsheimer, Bun-Ching Lam, Pauline Oliveros, Neil Rolnick, and, of course, John Cage. Out of these collaborations, three recordings have emerged, one of the music of Paul Dresher on New Albion Records, one of the music of Janice Giteck, soon to be released (as mode 14), and this live recording of Atlas Eclipticalis with Winter Music (mode 3/6).

The group’s current activities include the commissioning and performance of a new work by Seattle composer Bern Herbolsheimer, made possible by a grant from Chamber Music America, a residency by, and performance of, the works of Lou Harrison, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the performance of a new work by John Cage, commissioned through another grant from the N.E.A.
– from the original liner notes of Atlas Eclipticalis with Winter Music.