S.E.M. Ensemble
Encyclopedia
S.E.M. Ensemble is a leading American
group dedicated to the performance of contemporary classical music
. It was founded in 1970 by the Czech composer Petr Kotik
, who serves as its director, and is based in New York City
.
The ensemble has performed numerous new works by a wide range of composers, which include Muhal Richard Abrams
, John Cage
, Roberto Carnevale
, Morton Feldman
, Pauline Oliveros
, Henry Threadgill
and La Monte Young
, as well as works by Kotik himself.
In 1992, Kotik established The Orchestra of the S.E.M. Ensemble, which performs new compositions for full orchestra.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
group dedicated to the performance of contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
. It was founded in 1970 by the Czech composer Petr Kotik
Petr Kotik
Petr Kotik is a composer, conductor and flutist living in New York City. He was educated in Europe...
, who serves as its director, and is based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The ensemble has performed numerous new works by a wide range of composers, which include Muhal Richard Abrams
Muhal Richard Abrams
Muhal Richard Abrams is an American educator, administrator, composer, arranger, clarinetist, cellist, and jazz pianist in the Free jazz medium. Abrams compresses both contemporary and traditional ideas into lean, elegant pieces.- Biography :Abrams attended DuSable High School in Chicago...
, John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
, Roberto Carnevale
Roberto Carnevale
Roberto Carnevale is an Italian composer, pianist and conductor.- Biography and career :Born in Catania, he started studying piano at the age of seven. He took a degree in Arts at the University of Catania and he attended the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena...
, Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman was an American composer, born in New York City.A major figure in 20th century music, Feldman was a pioneer of indeterminate music, a development associated with the experimental New York School of composers also including John Cage, Christian Wolff, and Earle Brown...
, Pauline Oliveros
Pauline Oliveros
Pauline Oliveros is an American accordionist and composer who is a central figure in the development of post-war electronic art music....
, Henry Threadgill
Henry Threadgill
Henry Threadgill is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. Threadgill came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating a range of non-jazz genres....
and La Monte Young
La Monte Young
La Monte Thornton Young is an American avant-garde composer, musician, and artist.Young is generally recognized as the first minimalist composer. His works have been included among the most important and radical post-World War II avant-garde, experimental, and contemporary music. Young is...
, as well as works by Kotik himself.
In 1992, Kotik established The Orchestra of the S.E.M. Ensemble, which performs new compositions for full orchestra.