On, Of, For, With Benjamin Patterson

Benjamin Patterson's early work, as exemplified by his legendary 1961 piece “Variations for Double-Bass”, both embodies and challenges the notion of "lifelike art" theorized by Happening inventor Allan Kaprow. Although the legacy of that notion has had a rough time recently, Patterson's work has not lost its significance. Through his performative experience with “Variations”, Christopher Williams will explore why that is so, and argue that an understanding of the blurring of life and art – updated with Patterson's help – might be more relevant to current problems in contemporary music than it is obvious.

Complemented by an inquiry and a conversation between Dr. Daniele G. Daude of the String Archestra and George Lewis on why Patterson needs to be performed, re/staged and relayed today. Focussing on the US and German music history, Daude and Lewis share thoughts on how to empower musicians of color in the classical music field and rewrite history by recognizing composers who have been overlooked in music history because of their ethnicity.

Thinking Together is the discourse format of MaerzMusik – Festival for Time Issues. Dedicated to the materiality of thought – the bodies, minds and senses that share this space –, the format provides time to connect to stories and through questions that lay at the heart of the festival.

Consisting of lectures, workshops, public talks, reading groups and experimental settings, Thinking Together invites artists, participants, guests and hosts to reflect present time related issues through the lenses of sound and vice versa.