In Memoriam of Lou Cohen: John Cage in The Park

In Memoriam of Lou Cohen: John Cage in The Park
In Memoriam of Lou Cohen: John Cage in The Park

OpenSound closed its 2017 concert series with a performance of John Cage’s “Variations III” in Seven Hills Park, in Davis Square.

Since 2005, OpenSound has been a home for Boston-based improvisers, sound artists, dancers, and creative thinkers, as well as for regional, national, and international touring artists. For many years its final concert was a performance of John Cage’s Variations III, curated by the series co-director, Lou Cohen, a student and colleague of Cage and Christian Wolff.

When Lou passed away in 2013, OpenSound organized several events in his memory, including an important concert and memorial including 100 musicians performing Variations III at the Somerville Armory. This event was powerful in bringing together members of Boston’s family, many of whom had since spread throughout the United States, and a wonderful expression of remembrance, support, and creativity.

By Kinan Faham

"the Silent Camera" was conceived in 2009 and was inspired by the music of Arvo Part especially his piece "Silentium". I perceive the modern world as oscillating between two extremes that are analogous to two of Arvo Part's pieces: "Perpetuum Mobile" represents the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the sea of people surrounding you, the noise in the streets, the deadlines, the challenges and the lessons to learn, the new technologies and risks facing our civilization, the musical pieces you learn [or fail to master],.. etc. "Silentium" represents the resolution of every musical note, every spoken word and every movement of your day. It is the moment that you are most likely to remember after the day's noise has settled and its turbulence has subsided. It is the moment that we all crave and the moment that will allow us to persist to the next day when the Perpetuum Mobile cycle starts again.

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