Susan Stenger
Forma commissioned and produced the 96-day sound score by Susan Stenger for the project Soundtrack for an Exhibition.
Susan Stenger has bridged the rock and art music worlds throughout her career. After studying classical flute in Prague, she joined Petr Kotik's New York City-based SEM Ensemble and devoted herself to the performance of new and experimental music, especially that of John Cage, Phill Niblock and Christian Wolff. She soon began composing and performing her own music for flute and electronics, as well touring with Rhys Chatham's all-electric-guitar group. In 1987 Stenger joined Robert Poss in forming Band of Susans; her role evolved from bassist to singer and songwriter as BOS went on to release nine critically acclaimed CDs.
Full Biography +
Stenger moved to London in 1996 and formed The Brood, a unique gathering of musicians from the fields of rock, electronics and improvisation with a common interest in 'classic' experimental music. Performers have included Finnish electronics duo Pan Sonic, Justine Frischmann of Elastica, Bruce Gilbert and Robert Grey of Wire, David Thomas of Pere Ubu and composer/bassist Gavin Bryars.
In 1997 Stenger recruited visual artists Angela Bulloch, Cerith Wyn Evans and Tom Gidley and musician J. Mitch Flacko to form all-bass-band Big Bottom, which has served as both sound and set for dancer/choreographer Michael Clark's productions. Stenger's work for Big Bottom and solo bass explores the fundamentals of sound and structure through the primal power of amplified vibrating strings and reflects her continued fascination with the gestures and vocabulary of rock and heavy metal.
She continues to perform the music of other composers on flute and bass and has toured with Siouxie Sioux, John Cale and Nick Cave.
Photos: Frank Scwere (L) | Blaise Adilon (R)
Productions
Soundtrack for an Exhibition
Artist's official website
www.susanstenger.co.uk
Further information for presenters of Forma projects
Professional
