Spectral Continuum for Piano

Artist(s): Charlemagne Palestine

Date: January 27, 1974

On January 27, 1974, minimalist composer-performer Charlemagne Palestine gave the New York debut of his Spectral Continuum for Piano as the second music event in The Kitchen’s 1974 Walter Series. Palestine’s composition relied heavily on improvisation, exploring the myriad resonances and overtones of ostensibly similar-sounding chords. Lasting more than two hours, the piece allowed for listeners to move in and out of various states of concentration, from acute attentiveness to absent hypnosis and everywhere in-between.

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