Unfolding the past
A five-part series describing the history of music making at the S.E.M. Ensemble. The first two installments, "Part I. Introduction," and "Part II. The 1970's" are up now.
Part I. Introduction: https://youtu.be/Ppin7gNkzGM
Part II. The 1970's: https://youtu.be/_M5RMvMpEOg
Part III. The 1980's: Coming Soon
Part IV. The 1990's: Coming Soon
Part V. Ostrava Days / Looking Forward: Coming Soon
Unlike a standard music ensemble, SEM has always been a “composer’s group.” Under the directorship of founder Petr Kotik, scores of composers and musicians have been associated with SEM over the years. To name a few: Julius Eastman, John Cage, Alvin Lucier, George Lewis, Garrett List, Laurie Spiegel, Christian Wolff, Richard Teitelbaum, Ben Neill, Jon Gibson, Amina Claudine Meyers, Christian Marclay, Morton Feldman, Muhal Richard Abrams, Earle Brown, Roscoe Mitchell, Pauline Oliveros, David Tudor and many others.
In the introductory segment, Petr Kotik recalls the background environment from which SEM emerged, shortly after his arrival from Europe in 1969. Each segment is narrated by Kotik, and is supplemented by excerpts of recordings – some live recordings of SEM go back to 1972 – plus photos and videos.
All of the music used in the series is available in full on our YouTube channel – just check the description under the videos. Please stay tuned over the coming months as we release the remaining installments of the series.
SEM at 50
This video has been uploaded to make up for the postponement of the "50 Years of the S.E.M. Ensemble" event, which was due to take place on April 1st, at the Czech Center in the Czech National Building in Manhattan. For more information on the Czech Center and this project, follow the link here.
We look forward to rescheduling this concert once conditions allow.
PROGRAM:
Christian Wolff Small Orchestra Piece (2019) (World premiere)
Ostravská banda, Petr Kotik, conductor
August 26, 2019 at Ostrava Days Festival
Robert Ashley The Mystery of the River (1991)
Thomas Buckner, baritone; Tom Hamilton, electronics
September 11, 2014 at Roulette Intermedium
Miya Masaoka States of Being, States of Becoming (2018) (World premiere)
S.E.M. Ensemble, Petr Kotik, conductor
December 19, 2018 at Paula Cooper Gallery
Julius Eastman Joy Boy (1972)
S.E.M. Ensemble
September 26, 2017 at Studio 1 of Czech Radio Ostrava
Petr Kotik Wednesdays at RW on Spring St (2019-20) (World premiere, first version)
Ostravská banda, Hana Kotkova, violin; Petr Kotik, conductor
August 30, 2019 at Ostrava Days 2019 Festival
This project and video were made in collaboration with the Czech Center New York.
Emerging Composers Workshop 2020
Emerging Composers
Reading Workshop Concert 2020
February 14, 2020
- at -
Willow Place Auditorium
26 Willow Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Program:
James Ilgenfritz - Ennui Morricone
Leo Chang - Ssanai
Laura Cetilia - tender infliction
Jordan Dykstra - A Zone of Twilight
James Falzone - Method X – Plain Bob Minimus
Sean Kiley - kyi
The S.E.M. Ensemble
Petr Kotik, director
Roberta Michel, flute
Bohdan Hilash, clarinet
Chris Foss, bassoon
Chris Nappi, percussion
Lynn Bechtold, violin
Mioi Takeda, violin
Liuh-Wen Ting, viola
Caleb van der Swaagh, cello
James Ilgenfritz, contrabass
Music as Situation
The S.E.M. Ensemble
presents
Music as Situation
December 18, 2019
- at -
Paula Cooper Gallery
524 W 26 St, New York, NY
Brooklyn Preview Concert
December 16, 2019
- at -
Paula Cooper Gallery
524 W 26 St, New York, NY
Program:
Ian Davis - Three Movements for Ensemble (2019) (World premiere)
Petr Kotik - Tubamirum (2019) (World premiere)
Judith Berkson - Partial Memories Part III (2019) (U.S. premiere)
John Cage - Cheap Imitation (1969/1982)
Sean Kiley - ancient cascades (2019) (U.S. premiere)
Petr Kotik - Torso (String Quartet No. 2) (2012)
The S.E.M. Ensemble
Petr Kotik, director
Judith Berkson, voice
Petr Kotik, flute & conductor
John Altieri, tuba
Lucie Vítkova, accordion
Ian Davis, piano
Chris Nappi, percussion
Leah Asher, violin
Mioi Takeda, violin
Liuh-Wen Ting, viola
Meaghan Burke, cello
Essential Xenakis
Petr Kotik conducted the Ostrava New Orchestra at the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague on November 5th.
Program:
Ostrava New Orchestra / ONO
William Lang, trombone
Holger Falk, baritone
Tamás Schlanger, percussion
Petr Kotík, conductor
Ata – for orchestra (1987)
Commissioned by SWR Baden-Baden orchestra and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Lisboa). Dedicated to Josef Häusler and Luis Pereira Leal.
Premiere: May 3, 1988 in Donaueschingen with Michael Gielen (conductor).
Troorkh – from trombone and orchestra (1991)
Commissioned by Music Department of Swedish Radio and Swedish Concert Institute. Dedicated to Christian Lindberg.
Premiere: March 26, 1993 in Stockholm with Christian Lindberg (trombone) and Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor).
Aïs (aïdos) – double concert for amplified baritone, percussion and large orchestra (1980)
Commissioned by Bavarian Radio in Munich.
Premiere: February 13, 1981 in Munich with Spyros Sakkas (baritone), Sylvio Gualda (percussion) and Michel Tabachnik (conductor).