1961
On May 11, 1961, the Manhattan School of Music Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Paul Price, performed a concert as part of its Tenth Workshop. This concert, which featured several world, U.S., and New York City premieres, was likely held at the school's Hubbard Auditorium
. Max Neuhaus, then a student at MSM, was a member of the ensemble.
The performers and venue
- The Manhattan School of Music Percussion Ensemble: Under the guidance of Paul Price, this ensemble was highly regarded for performing and premiering contemporary and experimental works for percussion.
- Paul Price: A highly influential percussionist and educator, Price cultivated a performing environment at MSM that attracted talented students like Neuhaus and stimulated interest in composing for percussion.
- Max Neuhaus: A key member of Price's ensembles, Neuhaus participated in these workshops and concerts during his studies at MSM from 1957 to 1961. This experience was a crucial part of his early career as an interpreter of avant-garde music.
- Hubbard Auditorium: The concert was held at the school's Hubbard Auditorium, a central venue for new music in the mid-20th century.
The program
While a precise program for this specific date is not readily available in the search results, it was common for these workshops to feature a mix of premieres and established contemporary works. The concert likely included some of the following pieces, based on previous performances by the ensemble in early 1961:
- Keisuke Ajiro: Sextet No. 1 (Premiere performance)
- Michael Rosenberg: Two Moods for Percussion Quartet (Premiere performance)
- Walter Anslinger: Suite for Percussion (NYC Premiere performance)
- Jose Ardevol: Suite (NYC Premiere performance)
Significance of the event
- Percussion Ensemble, reflecting the ensemble's position at the forefront of contemporary music.
- For Max Neuhaus, performing in these workshops was a critical part of his musical training, providing him with experience in performing complex, avant-garde music. This experience would later inform his groundbreaking sound art installations.
- The event highlights the vibrant network of percussionists, composers, and educators that revolved around Paul Price at the Manhattan School of Music in the late 1950s and early 1960s.