Sirius Quartet at Greenwich House Music School

NYC has long been an incubator for cross-genre pollination and experimentation in all corners of the music community, not least of all in the classical and jazz scenes. From the minimalism of Reich and Glass in the 60s and 70s to the experimental genius of Zorn and the Knitting Factory scene of of the 80s and 90s, there has been an unparalleled openness to break down walls and assumptions of what so-called "art" music can be and how it should be presented.

As these lines continue to blur and fade into one another, there continues a steady stream of artists and ensembles continuing to carry the torch and push the boundaries...

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NYC has long been an incubator for cross-genre pollination and experimentation in all corners of the music community, not least of all in the classical and jazz scenes. From the minimalism of Reich and Glass in the 60s and 70s to the experimental genius of Zorn and the Knitting Factory scene of of the 80s and 90s, there has been an unparalleled openness to break down walls and assumptions of what so-called "art" music can be and how it should be presented.

As these lines continue to blur and fade into one another, there continues a steady stream of artists and ensembles continuing to carry the torch and push the boundaries. The 2nd annual Progressive Chamber Music Festival, curated by the Sirius Quartet, will feature two evenings of such ensembles, each with unique identities and a shared desire to define chamber music on their own terms. The festival, spread across two days in October at Greenwich House Music School in the West Village will put NYC's vibrant and eclectic music scene on full display. These are chamber music ensembles of the 21st century, not defined by genre, nor limited by the distinction between concert and popular music, and blurring the lines between performer, composer, and improviser. This is progressive chamber music.

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