Profile: Bang on a Can All-Stars perform Steve Reich work at EIF 2013

• Claire Sawers
• 21 August 2013

This article is from 2013.

The contemporary music collective count Terry Riley, Michael Nyman and Ryuichi Sakamoto among their collaborators

Who are they?
Bang on a Can are a music collective based in Brooklyn. It was set up 26 years ago by three composers who were, and still are, dedicated to championing experimental classical music. Their vision was to create an international community of people passionate about innovative music. The San Francisco Chronicle gushed recently that they are ‘the country’s most important vehicle for contemporary music’. The ‘All Stars’ are their live touring performers.

What kind of stuff do they play?
Depends. In the past Bang on a Can have commissioned works from jazz / classical / experimental musical heroes including Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Michael Nyman, Dan Deacon, Bryce Dessner (The National) and Ryuichi Sakamoto. They’ve also put on performances by Philip Glass, Meredith Monk (who have both performed at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival), Thurston Moore, Tortoise and others.

What will they be doing in Edinburgh?
They’re bringing their Field Recordings project. Expect a hectic but enjoyable visual and aural assault, as they piece together video clips with wonky, genre-straddling music composed by (among others) Steve Reich, Tyondai Braxton (Battles), and all three of Bang on a Can’s founding composers.

In conversation, The Hub, 23 Aug, 1pm, £6; Usher Hall, 23 Aug, 8pm, £12–£34.