Darius Milhaud Concert — Mills Music Now

Presented by Mills College at Northeastern University and Mills Performing Arts

Program:

Lou Harrison - Homage to Milhaud (1948)
Darius Milhaud - Le printemps, Vol. 1, Op. 25 (1920)
I. Modéré
II. Souple
III. Doucement
Steed Cowart - Blackberry Winter (2007)
Sidney Corbett - From the Garden (2023)
-Intermission-
Lou Harrison - New York Waltzes (1944)
I. Waltz in C
II. Hesitation Waltz
III. Waltz in A
Darius Milhaud - Le printemps, Vol. 2, Op. 66 (1921)
I. Doucement
II. Vivement
III. Calme
Zeena Parkins - LACE (2020)
Erik Satie - Embryons desséchés (1913)
I. d'Holothurie
II. d'Edriophthalma
III. de Podophthalma

Brett Carson is a composer, pianist, improviser, poet, and theater artist based in Oakland CA. His compositional work, which has been described as "fascinatingly intense" (Stephen Smoliar, SF Classical Voice), explores the juxtaposition of a gleefully chaotic plurality of musical approaches. This is combined with a penchant for surreal world-building and an exploration of the bizarre and uncanny, along with a commitment to writing for the voice and the stage.

Notable projects include the song cycle Mysterious Descent (2017) which was partially written in an invented language "Kôktimo", Just Visiting (X-Ray Vision) (2018), a post-apocalyptic chamber opera, and The Killing Jar (2021) a dystopian meditation on the COVID-19 pandemic. His recent project, The Secret Life of the Paramecium, is a theatrical song cycle navigating a series of 22 microbiological vignettes based on the Major Arcana of the Tarot. It premiered as part of the Dresher Ensemble Artist Residency to sold out audiences in September, 2022.

In addition to his compositional work, he enjoys a career as a pianist, keyboardist, and synthesist, having performed internationally in the realms of free improvisation, contemporary classical music, jazz, and rock. Performing venues and festivals include the Chicago Jazz Festival, Sons d'hiver, Roulette, the Barbican, the Kennedy Center, the Broad (LA), and SESC Pompeia (Brazil). He has worked with a wide variety of composers/performers including Bill Baird, Brian Baumbusch, Nicolas Collins, Sidney Corbett, Vinny Golia, George Lewis, Nicole Mitchell, Roscoe Mitchell, Bill Noertker, Zeena Parkins, Rent Romus, and William Winant. From 2019-20, he performed as the pianist for the legendary jazz unit the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

www.brettcarsonmusic.com

The Darius Milhaud Concert is funded by the Mills College Class of 1945 Darius Milhaud Performance Endowment. Established in 1995 by the Mills College Class of 1945 at its 50th Reunion, the endowment has supported annual concerts featuring the music of Darius Milhaud. The Class of 1945 was among the first to graduate during Milhaud’s tenure at Mills College. Their vision and generosity is a fitting tribute to his inspirational teaching and artistry. Mills College at Northeastern University is grateful to the Mills College Class of 1945 for ensuring that Milhaud’s music will continue to exert a strong influence in the years to come.

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