1964
On February 18, 1964, Max Neuhaus performed Karlheinz Stockhausen's
Zyklus and Kontakte at the University Museum in Philadelphia. The concert was part of a major tour of the United States and Canada that Neuhaus undertook with Stockhausen in 1963 and 1964
About the performance
- Venue: The University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Works performed:
- Zyklus: Stockhausen's 1959 piece for solo percussionist, which became one of the most frequently performed solo percussion works in the avant-garde repertoire. Neuhaus was a noted interpreter of this work.
- Kontakte: Composed in 1959–1960, this was Stockhausen's first major work combining electronics with acoustic instruments. The live performance is for piano and percussion, played along with a four-channel electronic tape. At the Philadelphia concert, the percussion part was played by Neuhaus.
Context of the tour
- Neuhaus toured extensively with Stockhausen during this period, performing in major cities across North America.
- This tour was crucial in bringing new European avant-garde music to American audiences.
- Neuhaus was a key part of the tour, showcasing his skill as a specialist in experimental and contemporary percussion music.
- The tour helped solidify Neuhaus's reputation as a leading virtuoso in the avant-garde music scene before he transitioned into sound installation art in the late 1960s.