.bio

Theresa Sauer is a musicologist, author, composer, curator, and lecturer based in New York.
Recently, her book, Notations 21, published by Mark Batty Publisher (2009) has garnered much attention worldwide for its innovative approach to the presentation of experimental and visual notation. The book was inspired by John Cage’s book Notations (1969) Something Else Press. Ms. Sauer hopes to continue the work of John Cage in the 21st Century. She is planning to write a Notations 21 part 2 and has already collected over 300 scores from around the world.

She is traveling to Amsterdam this April for a range of manifestations inspired by her book Notations 21: a concert/exhibition/lecture/book presentation featuring works from Notations 21 at Kulter. [15.04.2011], a concert/exhibition featuring a premiere work by Keren Rosenbaum at Orgelpark [17.04.2011], a lecture sponsored by Mr. Motley Magazine* at The Royal Academy of Art at The Hague on Notations Systems [21.04.2011] and a premiere of “The Circle Series” visual scores by Theresa Sauer at Glazenhuis [27.04.2011] are some of the highlights.

While in Amsterdam, she will also be researching Dutch contemporary composers and their use of experimental notation for an upcoming book to be presented in future lectures/exhibitions, in collaboration with MCN.

A Notations 21 documentary is now out of the development phase and has started filming with the support of the School of the Visual Arts, featuring interviews of some of the composers within the pages of the book. It will be used to enhance the educational value of Notations 21, the book.

.on NOTATIONS21

Thousands of new composers are creating scores, the likes of which Cage could have never anticipated, that are graphic in nature, liberated from the traditional staff, and rival the best visual art in their aesthetic value. The modern music world did not cease its innovations in the 1960's. The book profiles the work of 165 composers from around the world, each one using a unique or graphical notation style.

   …

Notations 21 has received great praise from the media since its release in May 2009 including such publications as Creative Review Magazine that compared the book to “The Art of Noise” by Alex Ross. The book was presented at the International Society for Improvised Music in December 2009 and 2010.

“The often evasive, oblique images and scores displayed in the book may…offer an open place for performer, in particular, to interpret and engage afresh with a score. Those featured here present possibilities, potentials, a conduit towards provocative performances in the present and future.”

The Wire Magazine 2009

“Which seems all the more reason to mention the long-awaited Notations sequel just released: Notations 21, brought together by Theresa Sauer. You can feast, gawk and marvel at snippets of the highest, subtlest, strangest and most elegant musical and extra-musical explorations of the last 50 years.”

Steve Layton, of Sequenza 21, (November 2009)

. The Circle Series [2011]

These four works entitled “The Circle Series” (2011) are inspired by Tychonian maps published by Tycho Brahe in the late 16th century. At its most basic foundation, the Earth is the center of the universe and the sun rotates around the Earth once a day. Tychonian beliefs are still held by at least 18% of Americans today. Extant geocentrism otherwise known as the Tychonic System rejects observations of modern astronomy and cosmology.

The four compositions in “The Circle Series” are based on shape, color and texture and symbol to guide the performer(s) in performance.  Instruments, duration and performer number is open to choice. Please consider the concept of the work in all choices.

Suggested order for performance:

“Red Circle”

“Blue Circles”

“Gold Circles”

“Black Circle”

The colors of the circles suggest the intensity of the composition to be interpreted by the performer.

The shape of the large circle is to suggest improvisational circular motives. Begin somewhere, travel around and then return home again but never exactly the same…as we do in life.

The small spheres suggest episodes of differing intensity and events along the path of the journey. The duration may be suggested by the size of the sphere or ignored.

If there is an interest in texture as each sphere is highly textured, there may be moments of musical reaction to particular places in the sphere. This may be discussed between two or more players and a collaboration may begin.

The symbols are incorporated in the compositions to suggest a language unknown. Performers may choose to see the unknown or reject it and interpret it only if they wish.

The tychonian theory helps us to see the development of thought. It influenced many other astronomers to continue the process of discovery. This composition series is written as an homage to the process of musical discovery.

Theresa Sauer