The neighbors decided to close the pool this weekend. Peggi and I have been on duty the last two weeks, making sure the bottom was vacuumed and there were no leaves on the surface. We took a final swim while Peggi’s bread was in the oven and waited for the alarm to sound.
We had tickets for Alarm Will Sound at the Eastman at 8 pm. The group was started twenty-five years ago at the Eastman by some of the same music students who started Ossia, the New Music group I’ve written about over the years in these pages. The students started Ossia, not the school, in order to perform pieces they wanted to perform, adventurous music that doesn’t fit in the classical or jazz categories, pieces by Morton Feldman or Steve Reich or even their own compositions, in Kilbourn Hall.
I prefer the minimal side of New Music. With twenty-two members, Alarm Will Sound leans mostly in the other direction, although they performed one absolutely beautiful solo piano piece last night. They have a fascination with Aphex Twin, and the group performed two of his pieces last night, both from their new CD. Alarm Will Sound won a 2026 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, and their Grammy was under glass in the lobby.
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I share their fascination with Aphex Twin. Especially his experiments.
There is a great compilation of them circulating called “APHEX TWIN user48736353001”.
0ver 220 pieces and 16.5 hrs long.