Julius Eastman (1940-1990)

Donald Macleod attempts to unravel the enigmatic, remarkable
story of Julius Eastman and his music.


When this week’s composer died homeless and alone in 1990, almost
no one knew, not even his friends, and his work threatened to
disappear with him. Julius Eastman had lit up America’s
contemporary music scene as a spellbinding performer and a
visionary composer whose music is difficult to pigeonhole. A gay,
black man in the predominantly white world of new music, Eastman
was often misunderstood. His musical voice fused minimalism with
pop and the avant-garde, and was inextricable from his identity
politics - a sound that was provocative then and remains so
today. He collaborated with luminaries such as Pierre Boulez,
Peter Maxwell Davies and Meredith Monk but also faced many
struggles, leading to his premature and tragic decline. This
week, Donald Macleod shares his long-overdue story, with insights
from American baritone Davone Tines, a performer and champion of
Eastman’s music.


Music Featured:


Stay On It (excerpt) Piano 2 (1st movement) Gay Guerrilla If
You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich? (excerpt) Colors (extract)
Ensemble Tra I Tempi Michael Veltmann, conductor Meredith Monk:
Dolmen Music (Men’s Conclave – WaOhs) Peter Maxwell Davies: Eight
Songs for a Mad King (Scotch Bonnet, Spanish March) Prelude to
the Holy Presence of Joan D’Arc Colors Joy Boy Stay On It Fugue
No 7 Arthur Russell: Instrumentals, Part I Dinosaur L: No, Thank
You! Femenine (Part 1 – Prime) Evil N***** Touch Him When Piano 2
(2nd movement) The Holy Presence of Joan of Arc Buddha Femenine
(Final section, Must Return)


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced in Cardiff by Amelia Parker


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Julius Eastman (1940-1990)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00106ny


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z