Chamber Composers’ Hangout

Six young American composers will gather this week at the 15-acre, Paolo Soleri-designed Arcosanti environment in central Arizona to hear and rework their own compositions.

Under the mentorship of veteran composer Terry Riley, the emerging composers--from Arizona, California and New Jersey--will hear their own chamber music rehearsed by members of the California E.A.R. Unit Monday through Saturday, with a final concert performance of the new works on Saturday.

Riley says seminars of this kind are extremely valuable, since “usually there is not much interaction between composers and performers.” The 61-year-old minimalist icon, from his studio near Nevada City, agrees with the truism that composition cannot be taught but adds that “we can expose musicians to new things and ideas.”

Among them: North Indian instruments and vocal techniques and the chance to respond to one another’s work.

“Composers tend to be solitary people,” Riley says. “Hanging out with each other” has many benefits, not least of which is the opportunity “to enjoy the back and forth of ideas.”

Each of the young writers has submitted a completed work so that the E.A.R. Unit players can prepare. The composers are Sean Heim (Williamstown, N.J.), Shaun Naidoo (Los Angeles), Peter Spande (Tempe, Ariz.), Jim Schomer (Mesa, Ariz.), Charles Morogiello (North Hollywood) and Robin Phillips (Nevada City, Calif.). Participating in the weeklong activity are E.A.R. Unit members: flutist Dorothy Stone, cellist Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick, keyboardist Vicki Ray, percussionist-bass guitar player Arthur Jarvinen, percussionist Amy Knoles, violinist Robin Lorentz, woodwind player James Rohrig.

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