Stix, part 1

Fast Forward is a New York based english composer and performer who makes music with almost anything. Widely known for his in depth musical explorations of the steel pan, his music theatre works for diverse instrumentation and his other area of making music - with any kind of object. With a sculptural approach to creating sound, he examines the sensual, tactile qualities of the objects, then ties the sound of the objects to the physical gesture that creates the sound. The result is a stage presence that integrates the visual element of the performance with the music. Past concerts have included the use of "explosif-hammers" in Berlin, the metal walls of a ferry-boat in the sea of Japan and the cooking of a twelve-course dinner for an audience in New York. In the early seventies, he studied media and performance with Stuart Marshall in Newcastle, England. In 1976 he emigrated to California to study electronic music with Robert Ashley and David Behrman at Mills College in Oakland. He moved to New York in 1981. In addition to his own music, he has produced music and musical events for various artists and organisations. In 1993 in conjunction with The Wooster Group, he curated "The Accident" nine evenings of performance music at The Performing Garage in New York City. He has toured extensively as a guest composer and musician for The Merce Cunningham Dance Company. He has composed and performed music for numerous dance companies and choreographers. including the music for "Channels", the dance theater work by Parisian based choreographer Mark Tompkins. He recently (February 1999) performed his cooking concert 'Feeding Frenzy' at The Kitchen in New York and before that at The National Gallery in Berlin, to celebrate the 15th year anniversary of the contemporary music presenting organisation Freunde Guter Musik. His work has been honoured with several awards and commissions, including a 3 month composing fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council's 'Japan - United States Arts Program' (1996-1997) the Tenjin Barca festival in Osaka, Japan (1993), residencies from the Kunstlerprogram des D.A.A.D. in Berlin (1988-89 and 1998), music commissions from the New York State Council on the Arts (1986 & 1992), Meet the Composer and a fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts (1989). Some noted musicians who have performed Fast Forward's music include : David Behrman, Yuval Gabay, Anthony Coleman, Guy Klucevsek, Takehisa Kosugi, Ikue Mori, David Moss, John King, Ben Neill, Vicki Bodner, David Shea, William Parker, Chris Cochrane and Min Xiao Fen. He has collaborated and performed live with Fred Frith, Takehisa Kosugi, David Moss, Christian Marclay, Rhys Chatham, Samm Bennett, Ikue Mori, John Gibson, Pauline Oliveros, Masahiko Kono, Yasunao Tone, Kazue Sawai, Gerry Hemingway and Ron Kuivala to name a few. Recordings of his music are available on the RZ, Apollohuis, XI, Lovely Music, Nova Era, God Mountain, Obselete, Touch, Musicworks, Tellus, Bring your own walkman and Ear-Rational recording labels. This double CD-set is the companion to the final book reporting on the activities of Het Apollohuis. The recordings on these CDs give an idea of the music and the sound art presented in concerts at Het Apollohuis in the priod from 1980 through 1997. Out of a total of 500 performances I chose 38, from which exceprts of varying lenght have been included in this anthiology. These have been arranged in chronological order. The diversity of the selected pieces is characteristic of the programme of Het Apollohuis. Only limited number of composers and musicians who performed can be heard in brief fragments o these discs. Consequently a considerable number has been excluded. There simply was no way to include them all (this selection does not imply we value one above the other). The choice of the particular musicians has been my responsability (P: Panhuysen). liner notes: René van Peer sound selection: René Adriaans mastering: Frank Donkersgoed design: Tom Homburg, Marcel d'Anjou (Opera)