Artist Propulsion Lab

In this audio essay, violinist Alexi Kenney reflects on the music of two composers who had vastly different musical careers, but were also almost exact contemporaries and both lived in New York City: Samuel Barber and John Cage.

Special thanks to the New York Public Radio archives for audio of interviews with Samuel Barber and John Cage, and to the Bellingham Festival Orchestra.

Music:

John Cage: Six Melodies for Violin and Keyboard
-Alexi Kenney, violin; Janice Carissa, piano

Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto
-Alexi Kenney, violin; Bellingham Festival Orchestra, cond. Tito Muñoz

Samuel Barber: Canzone for Violin and Piano
-Alexi Kenney, violin; Janice Carissa, piano

John Cage: Eight Whiskus
-Alexi Kenney, violin