Alarm Will Sound

Alarm Will Sound
Name	Alarm Will Sound
Background	classical ensemble
Origin	Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Genres	contemporary classical, experimental, chamber orchestra
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Cantaloupe Music, Nonesuch Records, New Amsterdam Records
Associated acts	Bang on a Can, Kronos Quartet, Ensemble Modern, International Contemporary Ensemble

Alarm Will Sound is a contemporary chamber orchestra founded in Providence, Rhode Island, that specializes in new music, cross-genre collaborations, and virtuosic interpretations of experimental repertoire. The ensemble is noted for commissioning works from leading composers, performing complex arrangements of popular music, and maintaining an active recording and touring schedule. Alarm Will Sound has strong ties to institutions, festivals, and artists across the contemporary music world.

History

Alarm Will Sound was formed in 1996 by students emerging from the Eastman School of Music and the Yale School of Music with early mentorship from figures associated with Bang on a Can, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and American Composers Orchestra. The group established a residency at the Wichita State University and later developed affiliations with the Miller Theater at Columbia University, the Spoleto Festival USA, and the Tanglewood Music Center. Over time the ensemble worked with presenters such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Royal Albert Hall, and the Sydney Opera House. Alarm Will Sound has participated in international festivals including the Aix-en-Provence Festival, Donaueschinger Musiktage, ISCM World Music Days, and the Bangkok International Piano Festival.

Members and Leadership

The ensemble's roster has included musicians drawn from conservatories and orchestras like the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Royal Academy of Music, and the Cleveland Orchestra. Artistic leadership has involved collaborations with directors and conductors affiliated with Michael Tilson Thomas, Alan Pierson, Bradley Lubman, and guest conductors linked to Guillermo Klein and Steve Reich. Administrative and executive roles have interfaced with organizations such as the League of American Orchestras, the New Music USA, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Musicians in the ensemble have collaborated with soloists and ensembles including Claire Chase, Eighth Blackbird, Bang on a Can All-Stars, and Kronos Quartet.

Repertoire and Commissions

Alarm Will Sound's repertoire spans composers associated with John Adams, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Cage, and Arnold Schoenberg alongside contemporary voices like David Lang, Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon, Tyshawn Sorey, and Missy Mazzoli. The group has commissioned pieces from composers connected to Terry Riley, Iannis Xenakis, Georg Friedrich Haas, Kaija Saariaho, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Brian Ferneyhough, Oliver Knussen, and Matmos. Additionally, the ensemble produced acclaimed arrangements of works by popular-music figures such as Radiohead, Bjork, The Beatles, David Bowie, and Aphex Twin, often in collaboration with arrangers associated with Mark Anthony Turnage and Gavin Bryars.

Recordings and Releases

The ensemble's discography includes releases on labels like Cantaloupe Music, Nonesuch Records, and New Amsterdam Records featuring albums with works by Steve Reich, David Lang, John Adams, and adaptations of pieces by Aphex Twin and Radiohead. Recordings have been reviewed in publications tied to The New York Times, The Guardian, Pitchfork, and Gramophone Magazine. The ensemble has participated in archival projects with institutions including the Library of Congress and has released multimedia albums that intersect with producers associated with Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Jonny Greenwood.

Performances and Tours

Alarm Will Sound regularly performs at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, and The Barbican Centre, and has toured through regions including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The ensemble has appeared at festivals like Tanglewood, BBC Proms, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, SXSW, and the Oberlin Summer Festival. It has undertaken residencies linked with Princeton University, Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of Chicago, and has collaborated on projects presented by presenters including MOMA, Tate Modern, Sydney Festival, and Festival d'Aix-en-Provence.

Educational and Community Activities

Alarm Will Sound runs educational programs and workshops in partnership with institutions such as the Young Peoples Concerts initiatives, New York University, Eastman School of Music, and community organizations connected to Americans for the Arts and George Mason University. Their outreach includes masterclasses, composer labs, and youth ensemble coaching that collaborate with initiatives like Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. The ensemble has engaged in cross-disciplinary projects with choreographers and artists from Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, William Forsythe, Merce Cunningham Trust, and filmmakers associated with Terence Malick.

Category:Contemporary classical ensembles