The Graham Foundation is pleased to present a live performance of The Thousand Symphonies, a seminal work by Fluxus artist Dick Higgins. In 1962, Higgins wrote a series of events called Danger Music, which were designed to alternately put the body of the performer, composer, or audience member at risk. In 1968, he realized one of these pieces by having a New Jersey police officer fire a machine gun at a few hundred sheets of orchestral music paper. An ensemble later played the holes. An act of simultaneous destruction and creation, the gesture emphasized the use of guns for a purpose other than killing Viet Cong and scattering protestors.

Recently, Rosenthal Fine Art, in collaboration with the Dick Higgins Estate, arranged with the City of Chicago to have four Chicago Police officers shoot new notation paper. On November 21 at the Graham Foundation, a live orchestra led by Stephen Burns will play the new sheets following the presentation of a short film documenting their creation. The ensemble will borrow the form of Stravinsky's L'histoire du Soldat (The Soldier’s Tale),with instruments from every section of the orchestra, plus electric guitar, which effectively updates the orchestration.

Special Thanks to the Chicago Police Department, James and Susan Allen, and to the Fulcrum Point New Music Project ensemble:

Stephen Burns, artistic director/conductor
Janice Misurell-Mitchell, flute
Lewis Kirk, bassoon
Jeremy Ruthrauff, saxophone
Andy Baker, trombone
Tina Laughlin, percussion
Alison Attar, harp
Steve Roberts, electric guitar
Reiko Seko, violin
Collins Trier, bass