The project and course title was inspired by video footage of Leonard Bernstein rehearsing The Rite of Spring in 1987, where he instructs the timpanist to play the part like “prehistoric jazz.” Originally a quintet project led by Eric Hofbauer, it resulted in four albums of quintet arrangements that celebrate the common ground between modern jazz and the works of Stravinsky, Messiaen, Ives, and Ellington by using the shared rhythmic and harmonic concepts of the 20th century modernists as a bridge to postmodern jazz improvisation. This method of synthesis and reinterpretation has been a part of the jazz tradition from its inception through the work of Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and even Gunther Schuller’s Third Stream movement. This method of deconstruction and re-imaging scores as vehicles for improvisation became the central concept for this project based collaborative course. The class first analyzes and experiments with various transformational techniques and then works together to craft brand new arrangements specific to the class instrumentation.
Second Stage Series
Be part of the excitement as Longy’s developing artists share their ideas, test their creativity, and invite you into their artistic journey. You’ll witness the energy and originality that emerge when musicians explore new possibilities and take bold steps in their growth. Every performance gives you a front-row seat to the making of tomorrow’s artists.
