hcmf// mixtape

A staple of the hcmf// programme, our annual mixtape reimagines performance as playlist. This year, the programme features a startling rendition of Julius Eastman’s ferocious opus, Evil Nigger. Having taken on a much-deserved legacy in recent years, this work represents a turning point in Eastman’s career towards unflinching and confrontational expressions. A deeply political act considering the way work was billed and presented in the predominantly white music institution he occupied, the piece presents the essential voice Eastman provided and was often maligned for. Originally written for four pianos, Eastman noted it could be played on any set of instruments; here, it is reworked as a string piece, performed by the Arditti, Bozzini and Ligeti quartets.