For 60 years, Christian Wolff has been at the center of composing’s avant-garde, working alongside such figures as John Cage, Merce Cunningham and Cornelius Cardew. In these two nights of exceptional performances, Wolff pays tribute to fellow great Elliott Carter with a work played by the Formalist Quartet, followed by a world premiere of Nick Deyoe’s Lullaby 3, in the spirit of Wolff’s musical experimentation and featuring the Formalist Quartet with cellist Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick. A second don’t-miss evening of Wolff’s groundbreaking music is curated by renowned composer Michael Pisaro and includes the compelling and unique Changing The System (1974) and John Heartfield (2003), as well as the touching Trio V for James Tenney (2006), most heard for the first time on the West Coast.

Monday, April 22, 8:30pm
All first-half works by Christian Wolff. All works performed by the Formalist Quartet: Andrew Tholl, violin; Mark Menzies, violin/viola; Andrew McIntosh, violin/viola; Ashley Walters, cello.

• Summer (1961) for string quartet
• For E.C. (2003) for string quartet
• For 2 violinists, violist and cellist (2008)

Intermission

• Lines (1972) for string quartet
• Nicholas Deyoe: Lullaby 3, World Premiere with cellist Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick

Tuesday, April 23, 8:30pm
All works by Christian Wolff

• You Blew It (from the Prose Collection) (1971)
• John Heartfield (Peace March 10), section 4 (2003)
• Trio V for James Tenney (2006), Vicki Ray, Danny Holt, piano four hands; perc. TBA
• Fall III (2000) (12 percussion), CalArts Percussion Ensemble; David Johnson, director

Intermission

• For 1, 2 or 3 People (1964), Michael Jon Fink, electric guitar; Brian Walsh, clarinet; Andrea Young, voice with electronics
• Changing the System (1973–74), Casey Anderson, alto saxophone; Matt Barbier, trombone; Eric KM Clark. violin; James Klopfleisch, contrabass; Kathryn Pisaro, oboe; Cassia Streb, viola; Christine Tavolacci, flute