{"id":27040,"date":"2025-09-02T10:02:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T10:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/?post_type=events&#038;p=27040"},"modified":"2025-09-02T11:46:47","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T11:46:47","slug":"context-composition-improvisation-the-works-of-john-mccowen","status":"publish","type":"events","link":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/vidburdur\/samhengi-composition-improvisation-the-works-of-john-mccowen\/","title":{"rendered":"Context: Composition &amp; Improvisation: the works of John McCowen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section style=\"--overlay-opacity: 0%; --overlay-bg: #000000;\" class=\"hero-section h1-lg  \" >\n\t<div class=\"container animation-child-elements\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<figure class=\"bg-visual\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Samhengi-John-McCowen-2-1800x1273.png\" class=\"lazyload\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\t<section class=\"meta-info-section \"  >\n\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"meta-info animation-child-elements\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Dagsetning<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>5.September 2025<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>T\u00edmi<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>12:15-13:00<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Sta\u00f0setning<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dynjandi, Skipholt 31, 105 Reykjav\u00edk<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Dagatal<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dropdown add-to-calendar-dropdown\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"dropdown-toggle event-dropdown\" type=\"button\" id=\"dropdownMenuButton1\" data-bs-toggle=\"dropdown\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Setja \u00ed dagatal<\/a> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"dropdown-menu\" aria-labelledby=\"dropdownMenuButton1\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"dropdown-item\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/calendar\/render?action=TEMPLATE&#038;text=Samhengi: Composition &amp; Improvisation: the works of John McCowen&#038;dates=20250905T121500Z\/20250905T130000Z&#038;details=Sko\u00f0a n\u00e1nar https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/vidburdur\/samhengi-composition-improvisation-the-works-of-john-mccowen\/&#038;location=Dynjandi, Skipholt 31, 105 Reykjav\u00edk&#038;sprop=&#038;sprop=name:\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-google\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> Google dagatal<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"dropdown-item\" href=\"data:text\/calendar;charset=utf8,BEGIN:VCALENDAR%0AVERSION:2.0%0ABEGIN:VEVENT%0AURL:https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/vidburdur\/samhengi-composition-improvisation-the-works-of-john-mccowen\/%0ADTSTART:20250905T121500Z%0ADTEND:20250905T130000Z%0ASUMMARY:Samhengi: Composition &amp; Improvisation: the works of John McCowen%0ADESCRIPTION:Sko\u00f0a n\u00e1nar https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/vidburdur\/samhengi-composition-improvisation-the-works-of-john-mccowen\/%0ALOCATION:Dynjandi, Skipholt 31, 105 Reykjav\u00edk%0AEND:VEVENT%0AEND:VCALENDAR\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-apple\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> iCal dagatal<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"dropdown-item\" href=\"data:text\/calendar;charset=utf8,BEGIN:VCALENDAR%0AVERSION:2.0%0ABEGIN:VEVENT%0AURL:https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/vidburdur\/samhengi-composition-improvisation-the-works-of-john-mccowen\/%0ADTSTART:20250905T121500Z%0ADTEND:20250905T130000Z%0ASUMMARY:Samhengi: Composition &amp; Improvisation: the works of John McCowen%0ADESCRIPTION:Sko\u00f0a n\u00e1nar https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/vidburdur\/samhengi-composition-improvisation-the-works-of-john-mccowen\/%0ALOCATION:Dynjandi, Skipholt 31, 105 Reykjav\u00edk%0AEND:VEVENT%0AEND:VCALENDAR\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-microsoft\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> Outlook dagatal<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"intro-section \"  >\n\t<div class=\"container animation\">\n\t\t<p>Samhengi: Lunch-hour-performance-lecture<br \/>\n05.09.25 &#8211; 12:15-13:00<br \/>\nDynjandi, Skipholt 31, 105 Reykjav\u00edk<br \/>\n___________________________<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John McCowen\u2019s work has become an obsession with discovering a polyphonic language on a historically monophonic instrument &#8211; the clarinet. This has led him to a unique acoustic vocabulary that is similar to a shifting soundscape of electronic feedback. John&#8217;s multiphonic approach is based in drones, difference tones, and beating harmonics as a means to showcase the compositional potential within a single, acoustic sound source. His work has been described by The New Yorker (Steve Smith) as \u201cthe sonic equivalent of microscopic life viewed on a slide\u201d and \u201can astonishing demonstration of pure sound and human will\u201d by The Wire (Phil Freeman). He began playing in punk, hardcore, and experimental bands in the US DIY circuit. These years led to international rock tours as a saxophone &amp; flute player in his early 20\u2019s. After reaching burnout, he decided to pursue classical clarinet performance with contemporary clarinet pioneer, Eric P. Mandat. He holds a BA in Clarinet Performance\/Music Composition from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and an MA in Music Composition from Mills College in Oakland, CA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/John-McCowenMynd.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/John-McCowenMynd.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/John-McCowenMynd-600x800.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John has collaborated extensively with the composer and instrumentalist, Roscoe Mitchell (The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians &#8211; AACM). He has orchestrated, arranged, and transcribed Mitchell\u2019s works for orchestras and other ensembles &#8211; as well as performing as a duo of bass saxophone and contrabass clarinet. He has several active ensembles: a contrabass clarinet duo with NYC-based clarinetist Madison Greenstone playing McCowen&#8217;s book of compositions <em>Mundanas, <\/em>a trio with Berlin-based musicians Lucy Railton (cello) and Weston Olencki (trombone) performing McCowen&#8217;s composition <em>Pressure Chords<\/em><em>,<\/em> a duo with Sk\u00fali Sverrisson (electric bass), and a duo with Swedish-Finnish sound artist, Marja Ahti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John has been artist-in-residence at Headlands Center for the Arts (Sausalito, CA-2024), ISSUE Project Room (Brooklyn, NY-2020), &amp; Lijiang Studio (Yunnan, China-2017,2019). He has released recordings on International Anthem, Edition Wandelweiser, Astral Spirits, Dinzu Artefacts, Superpang, Full Spectrum, Mengi, and others. John teaches Music Improvisation at the Iceland University of the Arts and serves as director of the experimental arts space, Mengi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John remains stubbornly dedicated to acoustic phenomena. His works do not utilize amplifier feedback or electronically-generated sounds unless specified.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/1094524152836673?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22left_rail%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D%2C%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22create_dialog%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D&amp;onload_action=open_invite_flow&amp;show_created_event_toast=true\">Facebook event<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John McCowen's work has become an obsession with discovering a polyphonic language on a historically monophonic instrument - the clarinet. This has led him to a unique acoustic vocabulary that is similar to a shifting soundscape of electronic feedback. John's multifonic approach is based in drones, difference tones, and eating harmonics as a means to...  <a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/vidburdur\/samhengi-composition-improvisation-the-works-of-john-mccowen\/\" title=\"Read Context: Composition &amp; Improvisation: the works of John McCowen\">Read more \u00bbC\u00bb<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":27071,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_departmens_cat":0,"wds_primary_global_cat":0,"wds_primary_events_cat":0,"footnotes":""},"departmens_cat":[123],"global_cat":[],"events_cat":[231,210],"class_list":["post-27040","events","type-events","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","departmens_cat-tonlistardeild","events_cat-fyrirlestur","events_cat-samhengi"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/events\/27040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/events"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/events"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27040"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/events\/27040\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27073,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/events\/27040\/revisions\/27073"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"departmens_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/departmens_cat?post=27040"},{"taxonomy":"global_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/global_cat?post=27040"},{"taxonomy":"events_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/events_cat?post=27040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}