For Cornelius / Alvin Curran (1981-94)
 

    "For Cornelius was written in December 1981 just after my hearing the news of the accidental and tragic death of the English composer Cornelius Cardew. Cornelius was a visionary and his humane, prophetic powers affected everyone around him. Since my first meeting with him in Rome in 1965 and later through the many collaborations of MEV (Musica Elettronica Viva) and Cardew’s AMM group, his subtle influence has remained with me. For Cornelius is structured simply in three sections—a song, a thundering study on slowly changing harmonies, and a chorale. Though not intentionally made so, this piece may be seen as a tribute to Cardew’s own utopian dreams of making “elitist” music popular."
    - Alvin Curran

 
   Alvin Curran, a persistent innovator in today’s new music world, brings the whole environment into unpredictable focus through his sonic fireworks, sharp wit and timeless lyricism. A co-founder of the legendary group MEV (Musica Elettronica Viva) his solo performances, radio concerts simultaneously linking several nations, and large-scale sound installations have been part of new music events around the world for over twenty-five years. A close collaborator with the Trisha Brown Dance Company, Curran is the Darius Milhaud Professor of Composition at Mills College and has recently released recordings on BMG, CRI, Tzadik, New Albion and Mode. Recent projects include concerts and installations for Donaueschingen, The Finale to Erat Verbum (a six-year project) for the Studio Akustische Kunst WDR (Köln), and for the Klangturm in St. Poelten; orchestral music for Achim Freyer’s In Hora Mortis, a violin concerto for David Abel and the Paul Dresher Ensemble, and a double trio (Fromm Foundation Grant) for the SF Contemporary Music Players (1999 season); and dance theater works for Yoshiko Chuma’s School of Hard Knocks (New York) and Cloud Chamber (Amsterdam). Among recent projects is the ongoing piano music - Inner Cities - and a computer-generated sonic mutual fund: United Sound Bankx, a concert for and with anyone anywhere.