New Music Research Committee

Chair: Eugene Novotney . E-mail: edn1@humboldt.edu
The New Music/Research Committee oversees the PASIC Focus Day activities including theme development, artistic programming, panel development, and production. It is the mission of the New Music/Research Committee to propose creative, innovative, and imaginative themes that allow Focus Day hosts to explore programming that exposes new compositional trends and challenges and provokes audiences, while maintaining connections to the historically significant composers and performers who together shaped the contemporary art-form of new music for percussion.

Committee Report and PASIC 2007 Meeting Minutes
Submitted January 15, 2008
by New Music Research Chair Eugene Novotney
The New Music/Research Committee had very successful meetings at PASIC 2007 in Columbus, Ohio as well as an outstanding Focus Day coordinated by host, Michael Bump. Our deepest appreciation goes out to Bump for all of his hard work behind the scenes, his dedication, and his long-standing commitment to the presentation and performance of new music.

Focus Day 2007 marked the first time in PASIC history where an entire day was devoted to one of our most ancient Western instruments, the timpani. Certainly, this was a day to remember, and it was both noted and appreciated by all in attendance. In new business, the committee welcomed a new member, Morris Palter, to its ranks. Palter joins the New Music/Research Committee with a resume that demonstrates a strong commitment to the exploration and performance of new music, and he is welcomed with great enthusiasm.

The primary business at hand during PASIC for the committee is the selection of hosts and themes for future PASIC Focus Days. This coming Fall, PASIC 2008 Focus Day will be hosted by Ben Toth, and the theme for the day will be “Out of Africa: Exploring African Influence in Contemporary Percussion Music.” Through this day, the New Music/Research Committee hopes to expose the PAS community to the African influences in our repertoire and instrumentation, pay homage to the homeland of a significant body of percussion music, and generate new works that reflect African musical forms, compositional styles, and the usage of traditional African and/or African influenced instruments.

In looking further ahead, the committee confirmed Greg Beyer as the host of Focus Day 2009, and new member, Morris Palter, as the host of Focus Day 2010. The committee is exploring several new and innovative themes for the future, and we are especially interested in exploring the feasibility of incorporating new “Internet2” technology in future presentations. Through the use of this emerging Internet technology, we hope to expose the possibility of immediate global musical exchange, and also, to defy the notion of location as a defining cultural boundary.

PASIC 2007 Meeting Minutes

Committee Members Present: Eugene Novotney, chair
Greg Beyer, Michael Bump, Rob Falvo, Tom Goldstein, Brian Johnson, Kathy Kastner, Rick Kurasz, Larry Snider, and Ben Toth.
Representing the Executive Committee: Gary Cook and John R. Beck
Visitors present: Fred Bugbee, David Collier, Sean Daniels, Douglas Nottingham, Morris Palter, and Eric Shuster.

Committee Meeting Agenda:
PASIC 2007, Columbus, Ohio
PAS New Music/Research Committee
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Open Session 1:00-2:00 PM

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Chair Report
3. Focus Day PASIC 2008: Ben Toth
4. Focus Day PASIC 2009 & PASIC 2010:
1. Hosts: Greg Beyer? & Rick Kurasz?
2. Themes?
5. PASIC 2011
1. Host?

Closed Session (Committee Members Only) 2:00-3:00 PM

1. New membership
1. Old Applications
2. New Applications
2. Hosts as Performers
1. Gary Cook e-mail
2. Committee Discussion & Recommendation

Meeting Minutes:
Open Session Minutes:
Gary Cook addressed the committee, first commending Eugene for his fine leadership of the committee over the past three years and then explaining, according to the PAS bylaws, that Eugene’s term as chair will expire at the end of 2007, though he has the option to apply for two more terms for a total of nine years of service maximum. Eugene then announced that he intends to re-apply for another term as chair.

Kudos were given to Michael Bump for his outstanding work on the Focus Day. Michael then thanked both Eugene and Larry for their help throughout the process. He stated that there had been 90 applications for Focus Day performances/sessions and that the decisions had been difficult. It was decided that both Eugene and Michael would write a letter on behalf of the committee to Guy Bardo, thanking him for his involvement with the evening concert and acknowledging the University of Akron orchestra’s outstanding performance. Gary Cook added that a letter of appreciation would also be written to Guy Bardo from the PAS office.

Discussion of Focus Day, 2008 began with Ben Toth outlining some of the possibilities he envisions for the day. The committee affirmed the importance of the closing event and noted a couple other considerations: taking a lunch or some other breaks during the day; having someone on door duty to minimize interruptions in performances and presentations; and requesting bigger stages to allow for more efficient movement of equipment between pieces and after sessions.

Greg Beyer presented two Calls for Proposals for Focus Day, 2009 and asked committee members to send him feedback in the next couple of weeks. He can be reached at gbeyer@niu.edu.

Conversation followed regarding the 2010 and 2011 Focus Day. Rick Kurasz had previously expressed an interest in hosting for 2009; Brian Johnson added his name for consideration to host that year as well. Discussion about these options followed.

Closed Session Minutes:
Members present:
Eugene Novotney, chair
Greg Beyer, Michael Bump, Rob Falvo, Tom Goldstein, Brian Johnson, Kathy Kastner, Rick Kurasz, Larry Snider, and Ben Toth.

The committee went into closed session and proceeded to discuss the issue of new membership. Eugene outlined several candidates. Morris Palter was added to the committee membership. 

Eugene announced that he has ended his first three-year term as chair, but is eligible for a second term and is planning on applying if the committee so desires. Larry Snider asked Eugene to step out of the room and the rest of the committee decided to send a letter to Gary Cook, unanimously in support of Eugene as continuing his leadership of the committee as chair. Michael Bump will send a letter to Gary Cook on our behalf.