IcarUS At thE caBARet VoLtairE

Complete Work Title:

IcarUS At thE caBARet VoLtairE: parT I (tHe RENdeZVOus)

Performance Medium:

two guitarists

Duration:

6:30

Date Composed:

August – September, 1985

Dedication:

to Peter Yates and Matthew Elgart

Additional Information:

  • The work incorporates theatrical elements and spoken text, as well as a variety of extended techniques for the guitar.
  • Recipient of a 1987 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award.
  • Recipient of an Honorable Mention in the 1988 Gaudeamus Prize competition (Amsterdam, NL).
  • Included on the album Improbable Encounters (innova 873, 2014).

Recording:

Matthew Elgart and Peter Yates, guitarists. Recorded 26 October 2008 at the University of North Texas Recital Hall (Denton, TX).

Score:

Program Note:

IcarUS At thE caBARet VoLtairE: parT I (tHe RENdeZVOus) was composed in the summer of 1985 for the Los Angeles-based guitar duo of Matthew Elgart and Peter Yates. The work was premiered on 18 December 1985 by the Elgart/Yates Duo at the University of Leuven, Belgium, and has since been performed over fifty times throughout the United States and Europe. Much of the work is based on a process of growth/metamorphosis/decay, though these processes are often obscured by the density of their unfolding. Texts from four different languages (German, French, Italian, and English) are arbitrarily juxtaposed, their placement derived from Morse Code and organized according to pre-compositional decisions determined by a deck of playing cards. The result is a self-reflexive caricature of the inherently theatrical nature of musical performance itself, combining exaggerated physical gestures, extended performance techniques, and absurd spoken passages.

IcarUS At thE caBARet VoLtairE is the recipient of a 1987 ASCAP Morton Gould Award and an honorable mention in the 1988 Gaudeamus Prize Competition. The work is included on the album Improbable Encounters (innova 873, 2014).

Performance/Broadcast History:

DateVenueLocationPerformer(s)
6 December 2008California State Polytechnic University, PomonaPomona, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
5 December 2008University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
1 December 2008University of RedlandsRedlands, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
27 October 2008University of North TexasDenton, TXThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
25 October 2008Fort Worth Guitar Guild programFort Worth, TXThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
23 October 2008Tarrant County College, South CampusArlington, TXThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
22 October 2008Collin County Community CollegePlano, TXThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
20 May 2004Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
19 May 2004California State Polytechnic University, PomonaPomona, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
26 March 2003University of North Texas LibraryDenton, TXOscar Villanueva and Camilo Salazar, guitarists
6 March 2003Schoenberg Hall, University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo.
14 November 2002University of North TexasDenton, TXOscar Villanueva and Camilo Salazar, guitarists
7 June 1996The X-Space—Living Arts of Tulsa New Genre FestivalTulsa, OKTed Forbes and Darin Au, guitarists
4 May 1996California State University, Los Angeles—Pacific Contemporary Music Festival (2 performances)Los Angeles, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
13 November 1993Santa Monica Unitarian ChurchSanta Monica, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
19 October 1993Claremont CollegeClaremont, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
1 May 1993St. Augustine By-The-Sea—Pacific International Guitar FestivalSanta Monica, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
14 August 1992Estate Chitarristica sul Lago MaggioreLago Maggiore, ItalyThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
13 March 1992California State Polytechnic University, PomonaPomona, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
12 March 1992Palomar CollegePalomar, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
4 March 1992Claremont CollegeClaremont, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
31 January 1991Monroe CollegeRochester, NYThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
30 January 1991Kingsborough CollegeQueens, NYThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
9 January 1991New York City, NYThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
20 May 1990Newport Beach, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
12 November 1989California State University, SacramentoSacramento, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
23 May 1989Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
20 May 1989Old City Hall Performing Arts CenterRedding, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
6 December 1988Indiana UniversityBloomington, INJohn Lowrie and Feliu Gasull i Altisent, guitars
11 November 1988All Saints ChurchBeverly Hills, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
5 October 1988University of California, RiversideRiverside, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
11 September 1988DeIjsbreker—Gaudeamus MusicWeekAmsterdam, NetherlandsThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
11 May 1988University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
8 November 1987Centre culturel suisseParis, FranceThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
4 November 1987University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, DenmarkThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
29 October 1987Dachau, West GermanyThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
8 February 1987Brentwood, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
30 January 1987California State Polytechnic University, PomonaPomona, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
23 January 1987University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
8 November 1986Venice, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
7 November 1986live broadcast on "Soundboard" with John Schneider, KPFK-FMLos Angeles, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
3 November 1986Santa Monica, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo.
15 August 1986Lübeck, West GermanyThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo.
13 August 1986Aalborg, DenmarkThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo.
14 July 1986University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo.
23 May 1986University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
15 May 1986California State Polytechnic University, PomonaPomona, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
20 April 1986University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
19 April 1986University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
18 April 1986Cerritos, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
13 April 1986University of California, Santa Barbara—1985 University of California Composers ConferenceSanta Barbara, CAThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo
18 December 1985University of LeuvenLeuven, BelgiumThe Elgart/Yates Classical Guitar Duo