Vierk Lois V

Vierk, Lois V, American composer; b. Hammond, Ind., Aug. 4, 1951. (The middle V is without punctuation; it is derived from Von Viereck, the old version of her family name, traditionally abbreviated without a period.) She studied composition privately with Stein and at the Calif. Inst. of the Arts with Powell and Subornick (M.F.A., 1978); also studied gagaku with Suenobu Togi in Los Angeles (1971-78), and ryuteki (a transverse flute) in Tokyo with Sukeyasu Shiba (1982-84). She produced radio programs of world music for KPFK-FM in Los Angeles and collaborated with choreographer Anita Feldman to create a unified approach to tap dance and sound. In 1989 she formed LVV, an ensemble devoted to the performance of her music, which was featured on the “Lois V Vierk Special” on WNYC-FM in N.Y. Her minimalistic music is often microtonal and monochromatic, involving numerous similar instruments live or on tape; they typically reach an intense, gradual climax consisting of sensually overlapping textures. Her most frequently played work, Go Guitarsfor five Electric Guitars (1981), makes use in its title of the Japanese character for “five,” transcribed as go

Works

Go Guitarsfor 5 Electric Guitars (1981); Tuskfor 18 Trombones (1981); Hyaku Man No Kyu (One Million Spheres) for 8 Ryuteki Flutes (1983); Crane With 1,000 Wingsfor 8 Violins (1984); Dark Bournfor 4 Bassoons and 4 Cellos (1985); Manhattan Cascadefor 4 Accordions (1985); Simoomfor 8 Cellos (1986); Cirusfor 6 Trumpets (1987); Attack Cat Polkafor Accordion, Voice, and Chamber Ensemble (1988); Hexafor 3 Tap Dancers on Tap Dance Instrument (patented), Percussion, and Electronic Processing (1988); Red Shiftfor Cello, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, and Percussion (1989), 2 for 2 Cello, Synthesizer, and Percussion (1990), 3 for Trumpet, Cello, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, and Percussion (1991), and 4 for Cello, Trumpet, Electric Guitar, Piano/Synthesizer, and Percussion (1991); Jagged Mesafor 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones, 2 Bass Trombones or Larger Brass Ensemble (1990); Yeah Yeah Yeahfor Piano (1990); Timberlinefor Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Viola, String Bass, Piano/Synthesizer, and Percussion (1991); Devil’s Punchbowlfor Orch. (1993); River Beneath the Riverfor String Quartet (1993); Twisterfor Cello, Marimba, and 2 Tap Dancers on Tap Dance Instrument (patented) (1993; in collaboration with A. Feldman); Into the Brightening Airfor String Quartet (1994); Swashfor 2 Tap Dancers and 2 Singers (1994; in collaboration with A. Feldman); To Stare Astonished at the Seafor String Piano (1994); Spin 2for 2 Pianos (1995); Blue Jets Red Spritesfor Accordion (1996); Demon Starfor Cello and Marimba (1996); Silverswordfor Gagaku Orch. (1996); Europafor Brass Quintet (1997); Iofor Amplified Flute, Amplified Marimba, and Electric Guitar (1998); Shoofor Percussion and 2 Tap Dancers on Tap Dance Instrument (patented) (1998; in collaboration with a. Feldman).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire