A visionary composer, virtuoso cellist, and interdisciplinary performer, Seth Parker Woods has been challenging audiences for nearly two decades. His works synthesize a polyglot musical upbringing in Houston with his training in cello and electronics at institutions throughout the U.S. and Europe, combining materials from custom, frozen instruments to archival recordings, visual projections, and spoken-word poetry. He speaks here of his concept of “unabashed adornment,” relating it to the notion of self-care during this time of collective uncertainty. His compositions, including Difficult Grace (2020), which uses Jacob Lawrence's paintings from The Migration Series (1940–41) as a visual background, and Iced Bodies (2017), a work inspired by the legacy of the cellist and performance artist Charlotte Moorman, have been performed at numerous international venues, such as the Tate Modern, Seattle Symphony, Basel Ballet, and the Berlin Staatsballet. These works comprise a unique, rich dialogue with the explorations of the...
Sonic Ecologies
Michael Maizels is a historian and theorist who has written widely on the histories of twentieth-century art, music, and culture. His most recent book, In and Out of Phase (University of Michigan Press), addressed collaborations between “minimalist” artists and composers, including Richard Serra and Steve Reich. Maizels holds a PhD in the history of art from the University of Virginia and an MBA from MIT Sloan. He is currently at work on an intellectual history of music and finance during the early Cold War period.
Michael Maizels is a historian and theorist who has written widely on the histories of twentieth-century art, music, and culture. His most recent book, In and Out of Phase (University of Michigan Press), addressed collaborations between “minimalist” artists and composers, including Richard Serra and Steve Reich. Maizels holds a PhD in the history of art from the University of Virginia and an MBA from MIT Sloan. He is currently at work on an intellectual history of music and finance during the early Cold War period.
Seth Parker Woods, Michael Maizels; Sonic Ecologies. PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art 2022; 44 (2 (131)): 71–80. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/pajj_a_00611
Download citation file:
Sign in
Client Account
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionEmail alerts
Advertisement