4. To The Fullest
Donald Macleod attempts to unravel the enigmatic, remarkable story of Julius Eastman and his music. Today, he discovers how identity politics permeated Eastman's work.
Donald Macleod discovers how identity politics permeated Eastman’s work
When this week’s composer died homeless and alone in 1990, almost no one knew, not even his friends, and his work threatened to disappear with him. Julius Eastman had lit up America’s contemporary music scene as a spellbinding performer and a visionary composer whose music is difficult to pigeonhole. A gay, black man in the predominantly white world of new music, Eastman was often misunderstood. His musical voice fused minimalism with pop and the avant-garde, and was inextricable from his identity politics - a sound that was provocative then and remains so today. He collaborated with luminaries such as Pierre Boulez, Peter Maxwell Davies and Meredith Monk but also faced many struggles, leading to his premature and tragic decline. This week, Donald Macleod shares his long-overdue story, with insights from American baritone Davone Tines, a performer and champion of Eastman’s music.
Today, Donald invites us into Eastman’s New York, and explores the impact he made there. From the disco to the Downtown experimental music scene, Eastman was a musical chameleon who embraced all the activity and collaboration on offer. But he was also someone who refused to compromise or give up on his principles – and his music, which defiantly affirmed his identity as a black, gay man, found contention because of it. Donald and Davone discuss Eastman’s most notorious run-in with censorship, and we hear about the tragic moment on a Brooklyn kerbside that would be his point of no return.
Dinosaur L: No, Thank You!
Femenine (Part 1 – Prime)
Wild Up
Christopher Rountree, conductor
Evil N
Julius Eastman, Frank Ferko, Janet Kattas, Patricia Martin, pianos
Touch Him When
HOCKET Ensemble, pianos
Produced in Cardiff by Amelia Parker
Last on
Music Played
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Dinosaur L
No, Thank You!
Ensemble: Dinorsaur L.- SLEEPING BAG RECORDS.
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Julius Eastman
Femenine (Part 1 - Prime)
Performer: Wild Up. Conductor: Christopher Roundtree.- NEW AMSTERDAM RECORDS : NWAM154.
- NEW AMSTERDAM RECORDS.
- 10.
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Julius Eastman
Evil N
Composer: Frank Ferko. Performer: Julius Eastman. Performer: Janet Kattas. Performer: Patricia Martin.- NEW WORLD RECORDS : 80638-2.
- NEW WORLD RECORDS.
- 3.
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Julius Eastman
Touch Him When
Ensemble: HOCKET.
Broadcast
- Thu 7 Oct 2021 12:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
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