Charlemagne Palestine is an American composer, performer, and visual artist. Palestine has studied at New York University, Columbia University, Mannes College of Music, and the California Institute of the Arts. A contemporary of Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Phill Niblock, and Steve Reich, Palestine wrote intense, ritualistic music in the 1970s, intended by the composer to rub against Western audiences’ expectations of what is beautiful and meaningful in music. A composer-performer originally trained to be a cantor, he always performed his own works as soloist. His earliest works were compositions for carillon and electronic drones, and he is perhaps best known for his intensely performed piano works. Palestine’s performance style is ritualistic: he generally surrounds himself and his piano with stuffed animals, smokes large numbers of kretek, and drinks cognac.

Please RSVP to contact@emptygallery.com. This event is free and open to all, RSVP essential. The performance will take place on the 18th floor, and the gallery will be open late with special hours until 10pm that day.