On Friday, Feb. 5, Guy Klucevsek played with the Fireworks Ensemble at Miller Theatre, Columbia University, NYC, in a performance of Lou Reed’s 1975 piece, “Metal Machine Music”, transcribed and arranged for acoustic instruments by Ulrich Krieger. Here’s some background on it:

Lou Reed’s (b. 1942) music written for the Velvet Underground propelled him to rock stardom. His “Metal Machine Music”, a distorted sound wall of guitar feedback, has been called the precursor to punk. Critical rejection at its first release in 1975 led to a cult-like interest. Ulrich Krieger has accomplished a feat once deemed impossible by transcribing and arranging “Metal Machine Music” for classical instruments. Ulrich Krieger is a conductor and saxophonist.

In 1996 Lou Reed was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of The Velvet Underground. He received the Heroes Award from the New York NARAS in 1997, and the French government awarded him the Chevalier Commander of Arts & Letters. In 2001 and 2002 the avant-garde German music collective zeitkratzer performed “Metal Machine Music” and other electronic music written by Reed. Reed spent much of 2003 touring, and in March 2004 released “Animal Serenade”, which was recorded live at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles.

The Fireworks Ensemble combines the talents of eight classically-trained but musically omnivorous young virtuosi who pride themselves on being able to play just about anything. Fireworks burst onto the music scene in 2002 with its rock-inspired reinvention of Stravinsky’s masterpiece, “The Rite of Spring”. Since then, the ensemble has developed a national reputation as one of the premiere ensembles of its kind with its acclaimed programs such as Dance Mix, Cartoon, and its 2007 Composer Portrait of iconoclast Frank Zappa at Miller Theatre. In the course of its seven- year history, Fireworks has premiered over 100 new works, promoting emerging composers worthy of wider recognition and commissioning works by established masters.

Guy Klucevsek was the accordionist in the February 5th performance of the Fireworks Ensemble. For his biography please read the article in the February USA News called: “Guy Klucevsek Presents February Performances.”

For further information: gklucevsek@si.rr.com