Artist Statement

A Multi-media Performance, composed by George Lewis, performed by Douglas Ewart, Joel Ryan, Ray Edgar, Steve Potts and Misha Mengelberg

The Empty Chair (1988) is an integrated composition for human and computer performers. One of the humans plays an acoustic musical instrument and is accompanied sonically by a computer controlled orchestra and visually by a computer controlled video system. A computer video instrument is making a real-time video portrait of a second human performer, who is sitting (as for a portrait) in a room well removed from the stage and concert hall activity, or for that matter, from any other activity or sounds
Douglas Ewart woodwinds, saxophones
Joel Ryan sonic spacialization software
Ray Edgar Fairlight video systems software writer
Steve Potts performer
Misha Mengelberg [1935–2017] performer

• George Lewis has been active as a composer working in the field of computer music since 1979,with particular emphasis on software composition, the construction of real-time composing and listening machines and computer programs that interact with performing musicians in concert. Lewis recently took part in the first hyper instruments project in collaboration with Don Ritter at MIT’s Media Laboratory. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lewis_(trombonist)

Acknowledgments: Paul Berg, Frans de Ruiter, Stichting STEIM