John Butcher's Tarab Cuts at Philadelphia Arts Alliance

"In Arab culture, the merger between music and emotional transformation is epitomized by the concept of tarab, which may not have an exact equivalent in Western languages." - The Culture and Artistry of Tarab, Dr. A. J. Racy.

Ars Nova Workshop is pleased to present saxophonist/composer John Butcher’s Tarab Cuts, night two of our British Contemporary Music Festival.

Presented in conjunction with the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the UK’s largest international festival of new and experimental music, Ars Nova Workshop’s two-night festival celebrates Britain’s extraordinary contributions to jazz and contemporary music. Night two features saxophonist/composer John Butcher and percussionist Mark Sanders performing Butcher’s hour-long composition Tarab Cuts, which was shortlisted as one of the Best Contemporary Jazz Compositions of the Year in the 2014 British Composer Awards....

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"In Arab culture, the merger between music and emotional transformation is epitomized by the concept of tarab, which may not have an exact equivalent in Western languages." - The Culture and Artistry of Tarab, Dr. A. J. Racy.

Ars Nova Workshop is pleased to present saxophonist/composer John Butcher’s Tarab Cuts, night two of our British Contemporary Music Festival.

Presented in conjunction with the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the UK’s largest international festival of new and experimental music, Ars Nova Workshop’s two-night festival celebrates Britain’s extraordinary contributions to jazz and contemporary music. Night two features saxophonist/composer John Butcher and percussionist Mark Sanders performing Butcher’s hour-long composition Tarab Cuts, which was shortlisted as one of the Best Contemporary Jazz Compositions of the Year in the 2014 British Composer Awards.

The concept of “tarab” stems from Arabic classical music and refers to a state of musical ecstasy, a melding of music and emotional transformation. Butcher’s piece, which draws inspiration from classical Arabic and Sufi music, grew out of a shorter 2011 commission that was part of a five-hour performance conceived and programmed by Lebanese musician Tarek Atoui.

John Butcher earned his PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Surrey in England before turning his full attention to music. He’s since become a vital and prolific contributor to the British contemporary music scene, both as a renowned improviser and composer. He’s well known for his solo work, often employing multitrack effects, extended techniques, and acoustic explorations of his environs. A regular duo partner with Butcher, percussionist Mark Sanders has played with many renowned musicians including Wadada Leo Smith, Derek Bailey, Henry Grimes, Roswell Rudd, Peter Brotzmann, Otomo Yoshihide and William Parker. He also has a longstanding duo with Sarah Gail Brand and works with Christian Marclay in his “Everyday” piece for film and live music.

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