Music and Performance

Facilities for the Tang’s programming include a 150-seat interdisciplinary space; classrooms for lectures, receptions, events and film screenings; flexible galleries which can simultaneously accommodate several temporary exhibitions; and the rooftop space which is home to the UpBeat on the Roof music series.

Music

Music for a Sunday Afternoon series
Music for a Sunday Afternoon was originally created to bring attention to the recently restored 1904 Steinway piano previously owned by the college’s founder, Lucy Scribner. This series of informal Sunday afternoon recitals began in the fall of 2003 with four-hand piano works by Mozart, Schubert, and Poulenc performed by David Porter, president emeritus and Richard Hihn, senior artist-in-residence of Skidmore College. Music for a Sunday Afternoon has since expanded to present performances of small choral groups, classical guitar, and woodwind quartets. Please check our calendar for upcoming performances.

UpBeat on the Roof
UpBeat on the Roof is a summer music series that highlights regional artists and, as the name suggests, takes place on the rooftop of the museum. The music covers a range of styles from swing to folk to classical. All concerts are free and open to the public.

Concerts are held most Fridays in summer at 7pm.

Special Events

"Traditional hierarchical and programmatic separations merge as spaces visually eavesdrop and the distinction between display and archive, subject and object dissolve. The building invites one to pause, reflect, perform and explore."

Antoine Predock, Tang Museum Architect

Beginning with the Tang’s inaugural season, Skidmore faculty members have collaborated to bring to life the interdisciplinary spirit of the museum through unique performances created specifically for Tang exhibitions. They include:

MAK3
Fall 2004

In a unique programming twist, planning for a performance of George Crumb's “Music for a Summer Evening (Makrokosmos III) for Two Amplified Pianos and Percussion” (1974) actually spawned the idea for the Tang exhibition A Very Liquid Heaven. Margo Mensing, associate professor of art; Mary Crone Odekon, associate professor of physics; David Porter, Skidmore President Emeritus; Richard Hihn, senior artist-in-residence in music; and Deb Fernandez, associate professor of dance worked for two years planning the performance and exhibition. Beginning with interviews of figures from the history of astronomy and culminating in a live performance of Crumb's “Makrokosmos III,” Mak3 was an interdisciplinary mix of music, dance, and theater performed in the Tang’s Wachenheim Gallery.

Link: Skidmore Scope Winter 2005 Article on MAK3

Balls
Fall 2002

Debra Fernandez, associate professor of dance, choreographed several pieces based on Paul Henry Ramirez’ Elevatious Transcendsualistic painting series. The pieces were performed by Fernandez and current Skidmore dance students along with Skidmore dance department alumni and guest artists.

PDF: Skidmore Steps Article on the performance Balls

A Satie/Cage Tango
Fall 2000

Inspired by the Tang’s inaugural exhibition S.O.S.: Scenes of Sound, the Satie/Cage Tango featured Erik Satie’s Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano and John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano. The experimental performance work created by nearly two dozen Skidmore faculty, students, alumni, and guest artists was a blend of music, dance, art, readings, and audience participation. Skidmore faculty performers and organizers included David Porter, Skidmore President Emeritus; Richard Hihn, senior artist-in-residence in music; Mary DiSanto-Rose, associate professor of dance; Debra Fernandez, associate professor of dance; Margo Mensing, associate professor of art; John Anzalone, professor of French.

Link: The Skidmore News Article on Satie/Cage Tango

PDF: Satie/Cage Tango Press Release Satie-Cage_Press_Release.pdf