Erik Satie’s Vexations
1 pianist, 6 dancers, 840 repetitions, 36 hours
- performed 8am August 13, 2021 to 8pm August 14 -
Aaron D. Smith, piano
Choreographed and directed by Indigo Cook
“In order to play the theme 840 times in succession, it would be advisable to prepare oneself beforehand, and in the deepest silence, by serious immobilities.” – Erik Satie
Prior to 1963, Erik Satie’s Vexations was a relatively obscure piece of 19th-century piano music. But John Cage reimagined this work and its possibilities when he chose to take Satie’s instructions literally. His original 18-hour performance became a cultural touchstone for pianists, inspiring performances of greater and greater duration. The previous longest recorded concert lasted 35 hours in Paris in 2012.
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IAC pianist Aaron D. Smith performed Vexations alongside 6 dancers in a 36-hour concert, held in the basement of an old church that was transformed into an intimate performance space featuring artwork designed for the concert by Dani Mendez.
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We invited listeners to join us for 10 minutes, an hour, or 36 as we explored the mutability of time, the explosive potential of stillness, and the consequences of sustained effort alone and in partnership.