Interdisciplinary Arts Collective presents Erik Satie’s Vexations – 1 pianist, 8 dancers, 840 repetitions, 38 hours.
“In order to play the theme 840 times in succession, it would be advisable to prepare oneself beforehand, and in the deepest silence, by serious immobilities.” – Erik Satie
Prior to 1963, Erik Satie’s Vexations was a relatively obscure piece of 19th-century piano music. But John Cage reimagined this work and its possibilities when he chose to take Satie’s instructions literally. His original 18-hour performance became a cultural touchstone for pianists, inspiring performances of greater and greater duration. The longest recorded concert lasted 36 hours, played by Interdisciplinary Arts Collective musician Aaron D. Smith in August 2021.
In a unique collaboration between sound, movement, and color, Smith will be performing Vexations alongside 8 dancers in a 38-hour concert, featuring an evolving visual art installation by Dani Mendez. Beginning the morning of Friday, July 1 and continuing non-stop until the evening of July 2, the performance is open for audience members to come and go as they please. We invite listeners to join us for 10 minutes, an hour, or 38 as we explore the mutability of time, the radical potential of listening, and the consequences of sustained effort alone and in partnership.
Vexations will be performed at Sugar Space Arts Warehouse, 132 S 800 W, on July 1-2, starting at 8am on Friday and ending at 10pm on Saturday. Admission to the concert is pay-what-you-can, with cash or Venmo accepted at the door. Audience members are welcome to come and go for any duration of the concert. More information at interdisciplinaryartscollective.com/vexations
The concert is available as a livestream: https://youtu.be/NLibk9V_1uI
Vexations is supported by the Utah Division of Arts and Museums
Admission to the concert is pay-what-you-can, with cash or Venmo accepted at the door. Audience members are welcome to come and go for any duration of the concert.
2022/07/01 - 2022/07/02
Additional time info:
Audience members are welcome to come and go for any duration of the concert. Join us for 10 minutes, 1 hour, or 38!
Sugar Space Arts Warehouse
132 South 800 West , Salt Lake City, UT 84104
ADA Accessibility: We will be using the west entrance to the warehouse, which is at street level and is wheelchair-accessible. There is a ramp leading from the main lobby into the performance area. Bathrooms are down the hall from the lobby and have ADA stalls.
Parking: Attendees are welcome to park on the street on 800 W or pull directly into the lot to the west of the warehouse. There is designated ADA parking in that lot.
Lighting: The performance space will be well-lit for the entirety of the concert.
Sound: The sound for the concert consists solely of piano music played live at a generally medium level, with no large fluctuations in dynamics or sudden loud sounds.
Movement in the Space: Audience members are welcome to come and go for any duration of the concert that they wish. They are also encouraged to move through the performance space as needed at any time during the show.
COVID-19: Masks are encouraged and welcome for audience members, but not required.