Newband News
Current activities of Newband, curators of (and performers on) the original Harry Partch instruments.
Maintained by Jon Szanto -- Updated: August 11, 1999
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Many things going on these days with Dean Drummond and Newband: they've moved (see this article on the move, from the Times), they are doing a number of concerts, and they are set to record again in the fall. Here is a rundown of what's going on, with particular attention to upcoming concerts (yahoo!)...

Sunday, September 12, 1999 -- 8:00 pm
Newband's first public exposure in their new place of residence, Montclair State University, is a mini-concert:

Recital Hall, McEachern Music Building
Montclair State University
New Jersey

Program to include:

  • Music Instrument Demonstration
  • Harry Partch: Ring Around the Moon
  • Dean Drummond: Dance of the Seven Veils and Congressional Record

Thursday, September 23, 1999 -- 8:00 pm
Of great importance to people on the West Coast! Including me, and other former Partch performers!

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
701 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
$15/$13 Members, seniors, students
For ticket and 24-hour information call (415) 978-ARTS (2787)
(Take this link for online ticket info...)

Program to include:

  • Harry Partch: San Francisco, Daphne of the Dunes, and Ring Around the Moon
  • Dean Drummond: Dance of the Seven Veils and Congressional Record
This is the first performance of on the West coast of Ring Around the Moon since it's premiere at the International House in Berkeley back in November of 1953, with Partch and his ensemble. Partch's own description of the piece is that it is an outrageous "satire on singers and singing, on concerts and concert audiences, on music in forty-three tones to the octave, on grand flourishes that lead to nothing."

This concert will also mark the West Coast premiere of the two Drummond pieces (you can find more detailed background information on all of the pieces on the concert, on Newband's site, right here). Dean was good enough to surprise me with a recording of Congressional Record made at the premiere in June, so here's a surprise for you: if you've got your RealPlayer running, click here to listen to a short selection taken from the opening of the piece.

(Performers include: Stefani Starin, John Whitfield, Phillip Bush, Michael Lipsey, Dominic Donato, William Ruyle, Tom Kolor, Frank Cassara, Peter Stewart - baritone, Dean Drummond - conductor)

1982 was the last time we played Harry's stuff in the Bay area, so this concert damn well better sell out. You've been warned.

Sunday, December 5, 1999 -- 8pm
Sonic Boom Festival
Cooper Union
New York City

  • Harry Partch: The Wayward: Barstow, San Francisco, The Letter, U.S. Highball
  • Dean Drummond: Congressional Record and The Day the Sun Stood Still
It is my understanding that following or concurrent with this concert Newband will be making a new recording of the Wayward cycle (the four pieces listed).

So there you have it, with their move and all. I'm going to keep online the page that last chronicled their activities, including being stupidly kicked out of Purchase College, in case you want a bit of historical perspective (I'll take out any links). You can find it at Old Newband News. As always, be sure to visit the official Newband site for their latest offerings.

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