Bill Dixon: Intents and Purposes (a metamorphosis)
Course Description
Summary
“Music is something that you can’t see, and painting is something that you can’t hear...so they balance each other’.” (1)
William Robert Dixon (October 5, 1925 – June 16, 2010). This year the world will celebrate the centennial of Bill Dixon, a visual artist, composer, musician, curator, writer, activist, and professor whose contributions to the canon of American music is undeniably significant. Dixon’s compositional innovations, organizing, and writings were quite prolific, just as his teaching, lectures, and conducting of ensembles at 51 and beyond are world renowned. Art came first, music came later. Dixon’s squares, circles, and uniquely imaginative geometric shapes continue to sound from the canvas as his compositions parallel by creating a multiplicity of visual shapes through sound. In this 7-week seminar students will discover the practice and innovation of Dixon through his written correspondence, recordings, teaching, photographs, video archives, and creation of the Black Music Division at 51.
(1)Andrew Raffo Dewar / Aesthetics, Music and Visual Art of Bill Dixon / Unpublished MA Thesis, Wesleyan University / 2004
Learning Outcomes
- 1) Exploring the work of visual artist and music
icon Bill Dixon and the Black Music Division
2) Close examination of Dixon's writings, visual
art, and music compositions
3) Examining the October Revolution in Jazz
4) Co-founding of the Jazz Composers Guild
5) Exploring Dixon's discography