Merce Cunningham, the choreographer who worked with Radiohead on ‘Split Sides’ passed away yesterday. The choreographer, leading the Merce Cunningham Dance Company was one of the most important artists of the 20th century throughout his six-decade career.
Radiohead posted a statement on their website just now:
We are very sad to hear about Merce Cunningham’s death yesterday, aged ninety.
Merce invited us to take part in his Split Sides project, in October 2003. It was a collaboration of music and dance, but one where each of the elements – set, costume, choreography and music – were randomly combined, to create a performance around chance. He was very kind and hospitable, and invited us around to his apartment the night before the show. He showed us his computer program which generated random sequences of gesture and movement for wire-framed mannequins, like Kraftwerk’s Robots. He also showed us, the next night, that discipline and focus can create the space for an unexpected moment, when something new can suddenly exist: such a contrast to the scripted world of rock.
Radiohead news on this day..
- Colin Greenwood: Fans are key for Radiohead – 2008
- Harrowdown Hill video premieres on Channel 4 – 2006
- OK Computer book available for pre-order – 2004
- That message board – 2003
- Radiohead.tv: Episode 2 – 2003
