Ethnomusicologist Andrew Raffo Dewar is Changing the Way We Think About Musical Compositions

Southern Constellations is an NEA funded curatorial project now in its second season at Elsewhere, Greensboro's living museum.

The fellowship program brings six dynamic artist teams from across our region for special residencies at Elsewhere, and each team explores experimental art in the South. Composer, soprano saxophonist, ethnomusicologist, and educator Andrew Raffo Dewar was among the first group of Southern Constellations fellows to work on site at Elsewhere. 

When you think of Western Classical Music, you might picture a series of dots and lines on a page. Through his work as a noted performer Andrew is well acquainted with this traditional system of notation, but his musical background extends far beyond the traditional. From his longtime involvement in traditional and experimental Indonesian music, and recordings with NEA Jazz Master Anthony Braxton, and the Bill Dixon Orchestra, to performances with musicians from around the world, Andrew has pushed the boundaries of how music is shared and interpreted.

In 2013, the Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts in New College and the School of Music at the University of Alabama spent two weeks at Elsewhere creating a graphic and tactile score entitled “Material Music”, and we sample from a live performance recording of the work in today's show. 

Note: Elsewhere is now accepting applications for residency and fellowship opportunities, staff positions, internships, and university retreats. Deadlines are coming up in January 2015.