SCRATCH!

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Arraymusic presents

SCRATCH!
March 20, 21, & 22, 8:30pm
Artword Alternative Theatre, 75 Portland Ave.
Box Office: 416.532.3019
Contact: Christina Loewen (416) 532-3019

"Scratch means freedom to create, to make things without vanity. There are
limitless possibilities...any number of ways of doing things, any number of
musics"

                -- Howard Skempton, former Scratch Orchestra member

Toronto, March 20, 21, & 22, 2003 -  Arraymusic presents Scratch!: A
Three-Day Music Event, featuring some of the most innovative Canadian and
international composers and performers of contemporary music.

In the spirit of Britain's Scratch Orchestra, the influential avant-garde
ensemble of the late 1960's and early 1970's, Arraymusic will present a
broad range of experimental and improvised music by a diverse group of
composers.

On Thursday, March 20, 2003,  four world premieres have been commissioned by
Arraymusic from Dan Friedman, Daniel Olson, Diane Labrosse, and Allison
Cameron, accompanied by the Arraymusic Ensemble and special guests The
Draperies (Eric Chenaux, Doug Tielli, Ryan Driver).

On Friday, March 21, Martin Arnold, curator of the Toronto-based
Rat-Drifting series, will be joined by The Draperies to perform Gavin Bryar'
s 1971 classic '1,2,1-2-3-4', among others.  This will be the first time
Arraymusic integrates into its mainstage activities guests from Arnold's
experimental loft series.

The final night of the three-day event, Saturday, March 22, features
selections and performances from guest curator Lori Freedman. Hailed as a
bass clarinet virtuoso and one of the country's finest interpreters of
contemporary music, Freedman has selected "Volo Solo" by Scratch Orchestra
founder Cornelius Cardew and "Workers Union" by the Dutch composer Louis
Andriessen, and her own works and improvisations.  The final night of
Scratch! is sponsored by the Netherlands Consulate -Toronto and is a part of
HOLLANDFEST TORONTO, a week long celebration of Dutch culture, March 20-29,
2003.

Following the first night's performances, starting at 11:15 pm there will be
a free improv jam with guest composers Diane Labrosse (sampler), Dan
Friedman (sax) and ensemble member Richard Sacks (percussion).  On the last
night, Saturday, March 22nd at 11:15 pm, Allison Cameron spins CDs of
electronic music by Gilius van Bergeijk, Jan Boerman and Dick Raaijmakkers -
three of Holland's best known composers of tape music.

Scratch! will take place at Artword Alternative Theatre, located at 75
Portland Avenue (one block East of Bathurst, south of King), March 20, 21,
and 22, starting at 8:30pm each night.

-30-

www.arraymusic.com

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