Present Music offers the world premiere of “26 Little Deaths” by violinist Carla Kihlstedt.

As part of the events with which the non-profit organization Present Music celebrates its fortieth anniversary, the duo will offer the world premiere of 26 Little Deaths, by the American violinist and composer Carla Kihlstedt (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1971). 26 Little Deaths is a twenty-six song cycle based on Edward Gorey‘s darkly humorous masterpiece, The Gashlycrumb Tinies. The premiere will take place in the Jan Serr Studio at the Peck School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

Published in 1963, the book depicts with extreme black humour the demise of twenty-six children (suffocated by carpets, engulfed by mud, attacked by bears or consumed by flames, etc.) in a lurid satire of early children’s stories. Kihlstedt, who has worked on occasion on projects with the likes of Tom Waits, John Zorn and Fred Frith, says that “In this disarmingly charming book, each of 26 children meet their untimely ends. Impending Doom is fast becoming a part of our collective psychology. Might as well shake hands with it and have a little fun”. In addition to the two performances with an audience at the venue, the performance on Friday the 24th will be webcast on www.newmusicusa.org at 19:30 (GMT-5).

© Photo downloaded from Carla Kihlstedt’s website.